In the 2024 round of the ZonMw Open Competition programme, a number of research teams, including two with APH researchers, have been chosen to receive funding from a total budget of €24 million. This funding enables the research groups to develop innovative team science initiatives that contribute to the long-term advancement of fundamental (bio)medical science and healthcare. They have one thing in common, powerful collaboration between different disciplines is key.
One of the research groups that received funding includes APH researcher Anja Lok for her research project:
Guts to beat depression!
Involved researchers: Dr R. Kraaij, Erasmus MC, Prof. S. Brul, University of Amsterdam, Dr A. Lok, Amsterdam UMC, Dr R. Quax, University of Amsterdam
Depressive disorders cause significant disability, mortality and economic impact, with current treatments often inadequate. The gut microbiome - a diverse community of microbes in the digestive system - shows strong, replicable links to depression. This project aims to explore gut microbiota and their products as potential new interventions for depression. The goal is to identify bacterial targets for diagnosing, treating, or preventing depression. This project will extend research to multi-cohort, longitudinal studies, examining temporal and causal relationships and considering ethnic and sex differences. It will also explore interactions between microbial groups and validate promising candidates in preclinical models. The project aims to recommend prebiotics and probiotics for clinical testing, addressing the need for better depression treatments. Results will benefit both academic and industrial partners in food and pharmaceuticals.
Another research group who received funding is the research group of APH researcher Carol Remme for his research project:
PURE-NET-SCD: Unravelling the mechanisms of inherited Purkinje network-based sudden cardiac death
Involved researchers: Dr C.A. Remme, Amsterdam UMC, Dr M. Bellin, Leiden University Medical Center, Dr E.M. Lodder, Amsterdam UMC, Dr P.G. Postema, Amsterdam UMC
Sudden cardiac death due to cardiac arrhythmias in young adults is usually caused by mutations in genes that regulate the function of the heart. In certain hereditary heart rhythm disorders, knowledge of underlying disease mechanisms is insufficient, limiting options for treatment. Patients with a mutation in the DPP6 gene show a high risk of sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmias that arise from the Purkinje network, a part of the heart which is important for proper electrical conduction. Currently, no adequate treatment is available for affected patients and sudden death may only be prevented by an implantable defibrillator, which is often accompanied by complications. This project will investigate the effect of the DPP6 mutation in the different cell types of the Purkinje network, using an animal model and patient-specific stem cells, with the aim of developing new strategies for risk stratification and therapy.
Read more about the ZonMw Open Competition 2024 and the awarded research teams on the ZonMw webpage