The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) awarded six projects in their research programme Human Measurement Models 2.0 which aims for better predictive health research and less dependency on animal experiments. Grants were awared to Jolanda van der Velden and Elga de Vries.

Jolanda van der Velden, professor of Physiology, received the award for the project "Proof-of-concept for a human heart model to test patient-specific therapy-responsiveness (PROPER-THERAPY)". The CONNECT project by Elga de Vries, professor of molecular cell biology at Amsterdam UMC and Elly Hol, professor of biology and brain diseases at UMC Utrecht, aims to develop a human cell model that is closer to the patient than current cell and animal models. They do this by using the latest technology from human stem cells to develop blood-brain barrier cells and link them to mini-brains.

Human measurement models 2.0

The focus of these public-private partnerships is the development of human measurement models for research into the treatment and/or prevention of diseases. It is expected that research models based on human material, such as cells and tissues, or computer models based on human data, will better approximate the situation in humans than laboratory animal models. With a boost of more than 5 million euros, researchers and the partners involved will work on innovative measurement methods to better understand and treat heart, brain and eye diseases, for example. This Partnership programme is funded by the Association of Collaborating Health Foundations (SGF) with a PPP allowance made available by Health~Holland (Top Sector Life Sciences & Health), and by ZonMw and NWO Domain AES.

Read more about the NWO grant for research into human measurement models.