16 December 2025
In the NWO Open Competition Domain Science researchers can apply individually or in collaboration for curiosity-driven, fundamental research in the research fields of the NWO Domain Science (ENW).
The UvA Faculty of Science projects that receive a grant are:
dr. B. Baumgartner (UvA-HIMS)
Enzymes are nature’s superheroes: fast, selective, and efficient. Yet many of the reactions needed for producing medicines or green chemicals, take place under harsher conditions where enzymes quickly fail. Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) act as protective suits, that can extend their lifetimes for industrial chemical production. But once inside these suits, enzymes fight hidden battles in a black box, and scientists don’t know if their powers remain intact. This project uses a one-of-a-kind “X-ray vision” platform to watch enzymes in action. By revealing how protection affects performance, we aim to design better biocatalysts.
dr. T.R. Pollmann (UvA-IoP and Nikhef)
Dark matter makes up most of the universe, yet we cannot see it directly; it is known only by its effect on galaxies. We build sensitive detectors to catch faint signals from dark matter particles passing through Earth, but these detectors often pick up false signals instead. We believe we have found the cause of these false signals. In this project, we will build a false-signal screening station for materials used in detectors. If it works, this will both confirm our idea and help us prevent fake signals - a key step toward finally discovering dark matter.
prof. dr. J.N.H. Reek (UvA-HIMS)
Alzheimer’s – the most common neurodegenerative disorder – is a horrible disease. Current therapies are only able to reduce symptoms, not stop disease progression, let alone prevent it. Through gene therapy, we might be able to halt progress or even cure neurodegenerative disorders. However, current methods to delivery gene therapeutics do not suffice. In this project, we explore a new gene therapeutics delivery agent – metal organic cages. Through computer simulations and experimental techniques, we gain insight into cage-therapeutic binding and interactions with various neural cells that will result in optimized cages as delivery agents for Alzheimer’s treatment.
dr. T. Šolomek (UvA-HIMS)
Targeted cancer chemotherapies use antibody–drug conjugates to guide the drug directly to the tumor. Despite substantial improvement of such targeting, off-site toxicity often persists because biochemical processes sever the antibody–drug link prematurely. This decreases efficacy and the quality of life of patients. An alternative strategy that hijacks photons and iron to induce cancer cells death avoiding toxic spillovers is proposed and validated here. The latter is done by performing the experiments on cancer cells in vitro. Thereby, the potential of this ground-breaking approach as a competitor to the current principles of chemotherapy will be explored.