ZonMw Open Competition Grants for several Radboud researchers

The ZonMw Open Competition 2021 is funding sixteen interdisciplinary teams. Several researchers from Radboudumc and Radboud University received a ZonMw Open Competition grant:

Annemieke van Spriel

Disturbed protein complexes on cancer cells lead to reduced therapy response (link)

Protein complexes on the cancer cell surface can facilitate growth. The researchers are investigating the structure and organisation of protein complexes on the cancer cell surface. This research may provide prospects to make cancer cells more sensitive to immunotherapies.

Dirk Schubert

Linking mTOR to deregulated GABA signaling in developmental epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common neurological disease, affecting approximately 180,000 people in the Netherlands. Treating childhood-onset genetic epilepsies is challenging. This project brings together researchers with expertise in epilepsy, neuropathology and neurophysiology to elucidate the mechanisms underlying altered neuronal network function in epilepsy, using human brain tissue and human cell models.

Chris Verhaak and Anke Oerlemans

Navigating uncertainty in gender incongruence and differences in sex development (DSD)

Transgender and intersex children, their parents, and healthcare providers face substantial uncertainty. This covers medical, psychological, ethical and communicative aspects regarding treatment decisions and long-term development of the conditions. This project aims to understand uncertainty and support children, parents and healthcare professionals in recognizing, discussing and coping with uncertainty.

Olde Rikkert and Geeske Peeters 

Dynamic symptoms networks - a novel paradigm to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of multimorbidity

The researchers aim to develop a novel theory to improve diagnosis and treatment of older people with complex health problems. Symptoms of diseases overlap and influence each other. The insights gained through this theory can inform doctors about the optimal strategy to treat patients with multiple concurrent diseases.

Jo Huiqing Zhou – Radboud University

Cornea regeneration instructed by molecular cell identity characterization (link)

The current treatment for cornea damage depends on stem cells in the patient's own healthy eye. No treatment is available for patients with two injured eyes. Scientists will develop a novel regenerative technology to convert patient's skin and mouth cells into cornea stem cells to restore vision.

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