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Paul Coffer, Madelon Maurice, and Linda van Laake, along with their teams, have been awarded a grant in the ZonMw Open Competition 2024 round. This funding enables them to develop innovative team science initiatives that contribute to the long-term advancement of fundamental (bio)medical science and healthcare. Strong team science is at the heart of each project. Read below about the research projects: 

Cracking the code of early development

Prof. Dr. P.J. Coffer, UMC Utrecht, Dr. M.S. Bauer, Delft University of Technology, Dr. K.F. Sonnen, Hubrecht Institute
How do metabolic processes and signaling pathways in mammalian embryos work together to control early development? Working together with teams at the Hubrecht Institute and TU Delft, the research team of Paul Coffer aims to answer this question. This project integrates biology, biochemistry, and computational modeling to explore new uncharted areas in developmental biology. The teams focus on the study of somites — structures that give rise to bones, muscles, and vertebrae. Specific genes and signals regulate this process, but recent research suggests that metabolism also plays a crucial role. “By studying the interaction between metabolism and gene activity, we seek to explain how cells determine their fate and organize themselves during development,” explains Paul Coffer, professor of Cell Biology. “Using cutting-edge techniques, such as single-cell imaging and biochemical tools, we will explore how metabolic enzymes impact gene regulation. This knowledge not only enhances our understanding of congenital disorders, tissue regeneration, and stem cell therapy but also provides valuable insights for bioengineering applications.”

Studying gene activity in heart tissue

Prof. dr. L.W. van Laake, UMC Utrecht, Prof. L.H. Franke, University Medical Center Groningen
Advanced heart failure is a life-threatening condition that often requires heart transplantation or other radical treatments. Genetic variations in DNA can influence a person’s susceptibility to advanced heart failure or the progression of the disease. However, little is known about which genetic variations play a role in advanced heart failure, making it difficult to assess patient risk or optimal treatments. Through the SPAR-HF project, Linda van Laake’s team will use advanced technologies to study gene activity in human heart tissues in unprecedented detail. This innovative approach will help the team identify new genetic variations underlying advanced heart failure. The team is particularly motivated to understand the mechanisms behind idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy—one of the most common yet poorly understood forms of heart failure. This knowledge could also help explain how other forms of heart failure progress and identify new therapeutic targets to prevent disease advancement.

Novel (immuno)therapy approaches in colorectal cancer using targeted protein degradation

Prof. M.M. Maurice, UMC Utrecht, Prof. M. Vermeulen, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Dr D.S. Thommen, Netherlands Cancer Institute
Current precision medicine commonly blocks the function of specific proteins. Despite successes, many patients have remained unresponsive and, moreover, these treatments often generate severe side effects and toxicity. In this project, the team focus on a novel strategy to interfere with cancer cells in which target proteins at the cell surface are removed and destroyed by the cell itself. An important goal of this project is to obtain an in-depth understanding of how this strategy works and how this approach can be optimized for treatment of cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues.

A total of 29 research teams have been selected to receive funding from a total budget of €24 million. Read about the other projects .