The NWO Vici grants for 2024 have been released, and AGEM-PI, Chun-Xia, has received one for her research on weight regain after weight loss.

The NWO Vici grants 2024

Vici is one of the largest scientific grants for individuals in the Netherlands and is intended for advanced researchers. This funding enables scientists to set up their own innovative line of research and put together their own research group.

Facts and figures this year demonstrate an allocation rate of 33% for both women and men based on the number of applications submitted, as detailed in this figure.

Following the exciting news that Chun-Xia received the grant, we interviewed her about her research and the grant proposal process.

A little bit about her research

Weight regain after weight loss poses a major obstacle in obesity treatment. This research explores how microglia in the brains of obese individuals store an "obesogenic memory," affecting neurons that regulate food intake and body weight, ultimately driving weight regain once treatments are discontinued. The pathways identified in this process will be validated in human brain cells, offering new insights that could pave the way for more effective anti-obesity therapies.

And what about in laymans terms?

I am studying how certain immune cells in the brain, called microglia, interact with the nerve cells that control hunger and body weight in people with obesity. Using animal models, human brain tissue, and advanced brain imaging, I’m exploring how these immune cells might be influencing weight regain after weight loss. By understanding this process, we hope to develop new treatments to help people maintain their weight loss and prevent the cycle of regaining weight.

When it comes to inspiration, the most valuable source is yourself. Trust your vision and drive the process forward.

How did this research come to be?

My research on body weight rebound - why individuals tend to regain weight after losing it - originated during my postdoctoral studies in Cincinnati, where I first became interested in the brain’s role in body weight regulation. Over the past decade, my focus has narrowed to understanding how microglial cells, the immune cells of the brain, influence this process. Through studies using animal models and human brain tissues, my team has gathered compelling evidence that microglia actively drive weight regain.

Now, with my expertise in neuroimmunology, energy metabolism, and human brain cell research, I am uniquely positioned to tackle this challenge. Additionally, by collaborating with experts in genetics, immunometabolism, and anti-obesity drug development, we are making significant strides toward uncovering the mechanisms behind weight rebound and developing strategies to prevent it.

How will this grant affect your research? and what do you forsee the implications of this research will be?

The research questions outlined in my proposal have been on my mind for years. The VICI grant gave me the opportunity to put them all into a structured plan. I have always been driven by a desire to answer fundamental questions about the human brain, I never give up an opportunity to do so, and now, thanks to this grant, I have the best support to pursue this research at the highest level.

The major goal of my research is to identify druggable targets within microglial cells that can prevent weight regain after weight loss.

Tell me a little bit about how you found the application procedure?

The VICI grant application process was intense but rewarding. I had a clear vision for my proposal and refined it with valuable feedback from research support team of Amsterdam UMC. I submitted my second “draft” just before the deadline, trusting that the key elements were in place. The referee reports were mostly very positive, with one concern about the technological aspects, which I fully addressed in the rebuttal. Surprisingly, the interview turned out to be the most enjoyable part - the committee was very friendly and asked highly professional questions. My lighthearted and humorous approach helped create a relaxed and constructive discussion. Overall, the experience was both challenging and fulfilling.