Cell biologist, Dr. Catherine Rabouille and molecular neurobiologist Dr. Jeroen Pasterkamp from the UMC Utrecht have both received a TOP-grant of 675,000 Euros from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW). Rabouille is conducting research on the protein integrine and the development of cancer in epithelial cells. Pasterkamp’s research is on brain cell communication. In addition, the psychiatrist René Kahn will receive funds for research on bipolar disorder.
Rabouille is interested in the role of integrine proteins in the malignancy of tumors. Integrines are responsible for the attachment of cells to an extracellular matrix. When metastasizing cancer cells are on the verge of moving, it is highly probable, that they have to temporarily deactivate integrines and then reactivate them when they have attached to a new surface.
Rabouille has discovered a new way with which cells activate integrines in epithelial cells of fruit flies. She is also going to investigate that in mammalian cells. She wants to find out what the exact role of integrines is in the transition from benign to malignant tumors.
Brain scientist Dr. Jeroen Pasterkamp from UMC Utrecht and the Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neuroscience has also received a TOP-grant of 675,000 Euros from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW). He shares the grant with Dr. Ruud Toonen (VU, Amsterdam) and Dr. Casper Hoogenraad (Erasmus MC, Rotterdam). The three researchers are interested in special molecules, semaphorins, which play a part in the development of and the communication between neurons. Semaphorins are responsible for neurons making proper contacts in the brain. Pasterkamp and colleagues hope to eventually better understand the learning process and memory. This ties in with the research on psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions.
In addition to this, psychiatrist Professor Rennin Kahn from UMC Utrecht and the Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neuroscience has received a grant for his research. He is collaborating with Erasmus MC with a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW) that was applied for by the University Medical Center of Groningen (UMCG). The study compares the brains of patients with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) with those of healthy controls. The scientists hope to gain more clarity regarding the genetic and environmental factors that cause bipolar disorder by way of a twin study.
TOP-grants from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) support innovative research. Strong groups receive the space for renovating their research lines from the grant. This allows them to pursue new, venturesome avenues.