Innovative Research Incentives Scheme

Veni

Veni provides researchers who have recently gained their PhD (within 3 years, by submission deadline) the chance to develop their ideas further for a period of three years.
The maximum grant amount is 250,000 euros.
A researcher may apply for a Veni grant on a maximum of 2 occasions.

(Source: NWO website)

NWO VENI – 2019 Erik van den Akker: Title: Age-related clonal hematopoiesis: the good and the bad of clonally expanding immune subsets

Dr.Ir. E.B. van den Akker
Department of Biomedical Data Sciences / Molecular Epidemiology (link)

NWO VENI 2019 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Virtually all exceptionally old individuals have an early form of blood-cancer, yet, in contrast to middle-aged individuals, they do not seem to suffer from any adverse effects. What is their secret? This study investigates the protective mechanisms that make the extreme old capable to withstand the test of time.
NWO VENI – 2019 Nienke de Glas: Title: Treatment of older patients with advanced melanoma - Towards personalized medicine

Dr. N.A. de Glas
Department of Medical Oncology (link)

NWO VENI 2019 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Older patients with cancer are rarely included in immunotherapy trials, leaving oncologists with limited knowledge to make evidence-based treatment decisions. In this project, clinical, geriatric and immunological data will be generated in order to develop a prognostic model for clinical benefit of immunotherapy in older patients with melanoma.
NWO VENI – 2019 Irene Hernández Girón: Title: Through the eyes of AI: safe and optimal integration of Artificial Intelligence in Radiology

Dr. I. Hernández Girón
Department of Radiology (link)

NWO VENI 2019 - TTW
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Artificial intelligence will shift the Radiology paradigm, supporting and even replacing radiologists in their diagnostic tasks. There is a risk that these technologies are applied without proper knowledge by users. This research will create a framework to validate and safely integrate artificial intelligence in the clinical workflow.
NWO VENI – 2019 Maartje Huijbers: Title: Deciphering and targeting pathogenic IgG4-responses

Dr. M.G.M. Huijbers
Department of Neurology (link)

NWO VENI 2019 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
IgG4 is a peculiar antibody. It does not activate inflammatory responses and, in contrast to other antibodies, binds two different antigens. This project will investigate whether the unique properties of IgG4 contribute to the development of IgG4-mediated autoimmune diseases and whether IgG4 immune cells can be therapeutically targeted specifically.
NWO VENI – 2019 Sophie Schmid: Title: Challenging the elderly brain

Dr.Ir. S. Schmid
Department of Radiology (link)

NWO VENI 2019 - TTW
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Vascular components contribute significantly to neurodegeneration in the elderly and constitute one of the first changes, long before clinical symptoms become overt. The researcher aims to develop MRI-tools suitable for use in a clinical setting to assess the status of the vasculature in the brain in a non-invasive way.
NWO VENI – 2019 Bart Pijls: Title: Besieging the biofilm fortress

Dr. B. Pijls
Department of Orthopaedics (link)

NWO VENI 2019 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
The main problem with infected implants is that microorganisms are organized in a biofilm, a fortress, protecting them against our immunesystem and antibiotics. I will use non-invasive induction heating to kill the micro-organisms and damage the biofilm fortress walls in order to cure the infection.
NWO VENI – 2018 Wyger Brink: Title: Personalized Dosimetry in MRI: Tailored to fit

Dr. W. Brink
Department of Radiology (link)

NWO VENI 2018 - TTW
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Safe MRI scanning is based on statistical models of the energy absorption, with large one-size-fits-all safety margins that negatively affect image quality. In this project we will develop fast computer simulations to determine a patientspecific safety margin at the start of the MRI examination, to maximize image quality.
NWO VENI – 2018 Ece Ercan: Title: C'est Multiple Sclerosis!

Dr. A.E. Ercan
Department of Radiology (link)

NWO VENI 2018 - TTW
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Administration of contrast agents is a common practice for evaluating disease progression in multiple sclerosis. With this project, the researcher aims to develop a new imaging technique (CEST) which will use magnetic properties of the molecules inside the brain to eliminate the need to administer any external substances.
NWO VENI – 2018 Marleen Kunneman: Title: Choice awareness as a prerequisite for care that fits well

Dr. M. Kunnemen
Department of Biomedical Data Sciences / Medical Decision Making (link)

NWO VENI 2018 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Care fits when it responds to patient goals and preferences and integrates well within their lives. After training oncologists in helping patients recognize that treatment options exist and that their input in treatment decisions matters, researchers will test whether his training improves how well cancer care fits within patients’ lives.
NWO VENI – 2018 Sven Mieog: Title: Precision Pancreatic Cancer Surgery: Providing Interpretable Optical Navigation Ensuring Enhanced Resection

Dr. J.S.D. Mieog
Department of Surgery (link)

NWO VENI 2018 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Pancreatic cancer often recurs after surgery. The main challenge during pancreatic surgery is complete removal of all tumor tissue. The researchers investigate whether highlighting of tumor cells during surgery will enhance resection. The overall aim of this project is to achieve complete tumor removal and to improve patient’s prognosis.
NWO VENI – 2018 Sanneke van Rooden: Title: Untangling the vascular component of dementia

Dr. S. van Rooden
Department of Radiology (link)

NWO VENI 2018 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
The researcher has developed a very sensitive method to measure early damage to brain vessels. Damage of brain vessels plays a major role in development of dementia. Now the researcher wants to apply this method in dementia patients to unravel the association between vessel damage and dementia.
NWO VENI – 2018 Susanne van Veluw: Title: Unraveling hemorrhage pathways in amyloid angiopath

Dr. S.J. van Veluw
Department of Radiology (link)

NWO VENI 2018 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Extensive build-up of the protein Amyloid along the small vessels of the brain can result in microhemorrhages in patients with dementia. This proposal investigates the underlying mechanisms of leaky microvessels by combining state-of-the-art imaging techniques in both human brain tissue as well as living mice.
NWO VENI – 2017 Lucia Bossoni: Title: The magnetic brain: Alzheimer’s disease seen through iron

Dr. L. Bossoni
Department of Radiology (link)

NWO VENI 2017 - Interdivisional
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-11-2017 - End date: 31-10-2020
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Abnormal accumulation of iron is found in the brains of patients suffering from several different neurodegenerative diseases, but its potential toxicity is still not understood. This research uses a new multidisciplinary approach to detect and characterize different forms of iron, by exploiting their magnetic properties, and finally leading to new in vivo methods of visualization.
NWO VENI – 2017 Christina Eich: Title: Nanoparticle-Based Gene Therapy of Hemoglobinopathies

Dr. C. Eich
Department of Radiology, Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging Group (link)

NWO VENI 2017 - Interdivisional
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Sickle cell disease/β-thalassemia are deadly gene disorders disrupting erythrocyte function and greatly reducing the patient’s quality of life and expectance. Researchers aim to overcome the disadvantages of current therapies by developing a nanoparticle-based gene therapy using CRISPR/Cas9 to specifically modify erythrocyte precursors in the body to eliminate disease symptoms.
NWO VENI – 2017 Dennis Vriens: Title: Changes in tumour metabolism, a marker of effectiveness of proton therapy?

Dr. D. Vriens
Department of Radiology (link)

NWO VENI 2017 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Head-and-neck cancer often recurs after radiotherapy. This requires additional treatment. The researchers investigate whether molecular imaging of early changes in tumourmetabolism after proton therapy, is able to predict if and where recurrences will appear. This technique could be used to selectively intensify radiotherapy to tumour-regions that seem resistant to treatment.
NWO VENI – 2016 David Falck: Title: Antibody receptor glycosylation and arthritis

Dr. D. Falck
Centre for Proteomics and Metabolomics (link)

NWO VENI 2016 – CW
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-10-2016 - End date: 01-12-2019
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
David Falck will design an instrumental analysis platform to map sugars attached to proteins regulating antibody activated immune responses. He aims to improve diagnosis and treatment by gaining insights into the molecular mechanism of arthritis.
NWO VENI – 2016 Noel de Miranda: Title: A novel immunotherapy for colorectal cancer

Dr. N.F.C.C. de Miranda
Department of Pathology (link)

NWO VENI 2016 – ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-02-2017 - End date: 31-01-2020
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
I have recently discovered an immune cell population with the potential to eliminate cancers that cannot be recognized by T-cells, a major cell type of the immune system. I aim at characterizing this unknown immune cell population and to test its potential application as a novel immunotherapy for cancer patients.
NWO VENI – 2016 Laila Ritsma: Title: Going out for a walk: spying on metastasized skin cancer cells

Dr. L.M.A. Ritsma
Department of Molecular Cell Biology (link)

NWO VENI 2016 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 11-10-2016 - End date: 06-02-2020
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
It is almost impossible to cure patients who have skin cancer metastases in the liver. The applicant will improve the function of a medicine with mediocre function (TGF-β inhibitor). She will use advanced microscopy to define the time point(s) at which metastatic melanoma cells should be targeted by the drugs.
NWO VENI – 2016 Hans Ulrich Scherer: Title: Preserve Protection! – Specific depletion of pathogenic B cells in autoimmunity

Dr. H.U. Scherer
Department of Rheumatology (link)

NWO VENI 2016 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-02-2017 - End date: 31-01-2021
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Our immune system is a powerful weapon. In rheumatoid arthritis, it turns against us. B cells that normally make protective antibodies derail. Here, researchers will use sequencing technology to find the “Achilles’ heel” of these cells. With this information, researchers aim to specifically target them while preserving immune protection.
NWO VENI – 2016 Joost Schimmel: Title: Polymerase Theta, an Achilles’ heel of cancer?

Dr. J. Schimmel
Department of Human Genetics (link)

NWO VENI 2016 – ALW
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 02-01-2017 - End date: 31-12-2019
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
The erroneous repair of chromosomal breaks can lead to serious diseases, including cancer. This is caused by the usage of alternative DNA repair mechanisms in cells. The researcher will study the regulation of this mechanism by Polymerase Theta and whether inhibition of this protein can be used in cancer treatment.
NWO VENI – 2016 Elmar Tobi: Title: When does gestational diabetes leave a mark?

Dr. ir. E.W. Tobi
Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics (link)

NWO VENI 2016 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Gestational diabetes increases a child’s risk on obesity and diabetes. Diagnosis and treatment usually starts in mid-gestation. Is this timely? This study investigates whether metabolism is already altered in the first trimester by maternal glucose metabolism and characterizes the metabolic alterations on the cellular level.
NWO VENI – 2016 Yanan Wang: Title: Dissecting the effects of brown adipose tissue on the vessel wall

Dr. Y. Wang
Department of Internal Medicine (link)

NWO VENI 2016 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-11-2016 - End date: 31-12-2018
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Brown adipose tissue is an emerging target to combat cardiometabolic disease. This project aims to dissect the mechanism(s) how brown adipose tissue activation attenuates atherosclerosis.
NWO VENI – 2016 Diane van der Woude: Title: Cracking the ACPA-code; what anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) can teach us about rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease

Dr. D. van der Woude
Department of Rheumatology (link)

NWO VENI 2016 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-08-2016 - End date: 31-12-2020
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have much more cardiovascular disease than healthy individuals. Specific blood markers which were generally believed to be specific for RA (autoantibodies against citrullinated proteins), have now also been found in the blood of patients with cardiovascular disease who do not have RA. This project will investigate what these markers can teach us about disease development and whether they themselves may cause cardiovascular disease or RA.
NWO VENI – 2015 Camiel Boon: Title: Stress, steroids and poor vision

Dr. C.J.F. Boon
Department of Ophthalmology (link)

NWO VENI 2015 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-09-2015 - End date: 31-08-2018
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a disease of the eye that occurs relatively frequently and that is associated with the use of corticosteroids and with stress (manager's disease). Little is known about its genesis and treatment possibilities are limited. I will search for genetic factors in CSC, the consequences at the cell level, and for better treatments.
NWO VENI – 2014 Ahmad Aziz: Title: The role of DNA repeats in health and disease

Dr. N.A. Aziz
Department of Neurology (link)

NWO VENI 2014 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-01-2015 - End date: 31-12-2018
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Long stretches of DNA repeats are the cause of certain debilitating inherited neurological disorders characterised by cognitive, psychiatric and metabolic abnormalities. In this research it will be determined whether shorter, but more common stretches of DNA repeats also play a role in the development of highly prevalent diseases such as dementia, depression and diabetes in the general population.
NWO VENI – 2014 Fabrizio Chiodo: Title: Vaccines against worm infections

Dr. F. Chiodo
Leiden Intstitute of Chemistry (Biosyn Department) & LUMC Department of Parasitology (link)

NWO VENI 2014 - CW
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-11-2014 - End date: 31-10-2017
Host institutions: Leiden Institute of Chemistry and LUMC

Short public summary:
Schistosomiasis is a very harmful worm infection. We will develop new approaches to design synthetic vaccines against this parasite and different bacterial infections. We will explore gold nanoparticles as scaffold to combine altogether different pieces of these pathogens (especially carbohydrates) so that the immune system can be instruct in a controlled manner how to defeat these pathogens.
NWO VENI – 2014 Meta Roestenberg: Title: In the skin of malaria parasites

Dr. M. Roestenberg
Department of Parasitology (link)

NWO VENI 2014 - ZonMw
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-12-2014 - End date: 19-12-2018
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a serious infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. In this project it will be investigated how these parasites develop in the skin and influence immune cells so that an effective malaria vaccine that is practical to administer can be developed.
NWO VENI – 2013 Bart Everts: Title: Tinkering with scouting cells

Dr. B. Everts
Department of Parasitology (link)

NWO VENI 2013
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-01-2014 - End date: 31-12-2016
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
An immune response is initiated by specialized scouting cells that detect invading microbes. Recent evidence shows that the function of these cells is determined by what they feed on. This research will investigate how this works and will use this knowledge to introduce new vaccines and/or improve existing ones.
NWO VENI – 2013 Dennis Mook - Kanamori: Title: The role of metabolites in the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Dr. D.O. Mook – Kanamori
Department of Clinical Epidemiology (link)

NWO VENI 2013
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-09-2013 - End date: 30-04-2017
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
New techniques now make it possible to measure hundreds of particles, such as amino acids and fatty acids in just a few hours with a drop of blood. The researchers will apply this technique to investigate the causes of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
NWO VENI – 2013 Anke Smits: Title: The outside of the heart

Dr. A.M. Smits
Department of Molecular Cell Biology (link)

NWO VENI 2013
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-11-2013 - End date: 28-02-2017
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
The outside of the heart, the epicardium, consists of a special layer of cells. When damage occurs, this layer is activated and epicardium cells grow into the wall of the heart to form new heart tissue. The researcher wants to understand how this activity contributes to recovery.
NWO VENI – 2012 Nienke Biermasz: Title: The influence of the biological clock on lipid metabolism

Dr. N.R. Biermasz
Department of Internal Medicine / Endocrinology (link)

NWO VENI 2012
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-01-2013 - End date: 31-12-2015
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
The biological clock in the brain regulates the circadian rhythm of lipid metabolism. The researchers will analyse the consequences of a disrupted night's sleep or jet lag for cholesterol metabolism and ultimately for atherosclerosis.
NWO VENI – 2012 Jeroen Buijs: Title: Destroying tumours root and branch

Dr. J.T. Buijs
Department of Urology (link)

NWO VENI 2012
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-09-2012 - End date: 31-08-2015
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Only a fraction of the cancer cells seem to be responsible for unlimited growth and metastases. These so-called tumour stem cells are relatively insensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The researchers want to develop new therapeutic approaches to tackle these cancer cells in particular.
NWO VENI – 2011 Martijn Luijsterburg: Title: DNA repair: get undressed first!

Dr. M.S. Luijsterburg
Department of Human Genetics (link)

NWO VENI 2011
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-02-2012 - End date: 31-01-2015
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
The repair of damage to our chromosomal DNA is hindered by the fact that the DNA is packaged in various proteins. The researchers will examine in living cells how DNA is unpacked during the repair process and how that contributes to the maintenance of chromosome stability and prevention of cancer.
NWO VENI – 2011 Yaël Nossent: Title: Detours for the blood

Dr. A.Y. Nossent
Department of (Vascular) Surgery (link)

NWO VENI 2011
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-01-2012 - End date: 31-12-2014
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
If an artery becomes blocked, our body is capable of making detours in the circulation to restore the blood supply to organs. The researchers will develop ways of enhancing this process so that patients make a better recovery after a heart attack, brain infarct or peripheral vascular disease.
NWO VENI – 2011 Arjan te Pas: Title: Give premature babies a better start

Dr. A.B. te Pas
Department of Neonatology (link)

NWO VENI 2011
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-01-2012 - End date: 31-12-2014
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Children who are born too early experience difficulties in breathing after birth. Artificial respiration is then life-saving, but also harmful for the still immature lungs. The researchers will solve this problem with a more effective and less harmful non-invasive form of artificial respiration.
NWO VENI – 2011 Marius Staring: Title: Ultrafast matching of medical images

Dr. M. Staring
Department of Radiology (link)

NWO VENI 2011
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-03-2012 - End date: 28-02-2015
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
In radiotherapy it is important that the radiation dose remains properly targeted at the tumour. As the patient moves somewhat due to breathing or intestinal activity then real-time matching between the planningCT and a scan-of-the-day is needed to actually realise the planned radiation treatment. In this research the currently slow matching will be considerably accelerated by using advanced mathematical techniques.
NWO VENI – 2011 Marieke Wermer: Title: Infarct-associated discharges in the brain

Dr. M.J.H. Wermer
Department of Neurology (link)

NWO VENI 2011
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-11-2011 - End date: 31-01-2016
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
In the event of brain damage massive discharges of nerve cells can arise that result in a decreased blood flow. This research project will investigate the extent to which these discharges are harmful during the acute phase of an ischemic stroke and whether the inhibition of these discharges results in a better recovery of patients after an infarct.
NWO VENI – 2011 Kai Ye: Title: Detecting hidden variation in our genome

Dr. K. Ye
Department of Bioinformatics (link)

NWO VENI 2011
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-10-2011 - End date: 30-09-2013
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Current technology can only find small and simple genetic differences between people, not large and complex ones. These large and complex variants can help us understand as yet unexplained diseases. The researchers will develop software to detect those variants.
NWO VENI – 2010 Daniël Pijnappels: Title: How the heart gets out of rhythm

Dr. D.A. Pijnappels
Department of Cardiology (link)

NWO VENI 2010
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-01-2011 - End date: 31-12-2013
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
Heart rhythm disturbances are common, life threatening and difficult to treat. The researchers will systematically adjust the shape and composition of heart tissue in order to better understand how the heart's rhythm becomes disrupted and how this can be restored.
NWO VENI – 2010 Wiep Klaas Smits: Title: Clostridium difficile dissected

Dr. W.K. Smits
Department of Medical Microbiology (link)

NWO VENI 2010
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: TBC - End date: TBC
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
The bacterium Clostridium difficile causes an increasing number of severe infections of the digestive tract in both humans and animals, in and outside hospitals. In this project the researcher will focus on the molecular basis of the bacteria's pathogenic properties.
NWO VENI – 2010 Machteld Tiemessen: Title: Keeping the immune system in balance

Dr. M.M. Tiemesssen
Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion (link)

NWO VENI 2010
NWO contribution: EUR 250.000
Start date: 01-01-2011 - End date: 31-12-2013
Host institution: LUMC

Short public summary:
The immune system protects us from harmful bacteria and viruses. Sometimes the immune system goes haywire - which can result in disease. The researchers will investigate a new way in which the immune system can be monitored, based on stem cell biology.
NWO VENI Archive: VENI archive