Jun 8: Marie Curie grant for Jonas Kuiper
Translational investigator Jonas Kuiper (CTI and department of Ophthalmology) recently received a prestigious Marie Curie grant, sponsored by the European Commission.
Jonas Kuiper's research focuses on communication in the immune system. “For a long time Wwe have not known that we have special enzymes that regulate whether the specific defenses act with proteins on the cell surface. These are the so-called ERAP enzymes. These enzymes often do too little in cancer and do too much in autoimmune diseases, such as eye inflammation or rheumatic arthritis, ”explains Kuiper. “In our project, we want to find out exactly how ERAPs control communication and how it is disrupted.”
Jonas expects everyone to have their own individual ERAP profile. That profile is mainly determined by someone's genetic background. The chance that the communication of the immune system is disrupted can therefore differ enormously between individuals. Therefore, the researchers study stored body material from a large group of patients with various conditions. The goal is to test new drugs that change the activity of the ERAP enzymes. "This is probably only possible with tailor-made medicines," Jonas thinks. “In the future, we will first determine your genetic profile and which associated ERAP profile you have. Then you can get a mix of medicines that restores communication in the immune system. ” These new medicines will soon be used for various forms of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Jonas: “And maybe we can also make vaccines more effective and improve organ transplantation. Here too, communication in the immune system plays an important role. ”
A total of six investigators at UMC Utrecht received a Marie Curie grant in this round, for a total of € 1.6 million. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) support researchers at all stages of their careers, regardless of age and nationality. Researchers working across all disciplines are eligible for funding. The MSCA also support cooperation between industry and academia and innovative training to enhance employability and career development.