Three researchers of Radboudumc receive Vici grants Awards for Martin Dresler, Niels Riksen and Michiel Schreuder 

Neuroscientist Martin Dresler, internist and vascular medicine specialist Niels Riksen and pediatric nephrologist Michiel Schreuder of Radboud university medical center receive an NWO Vici grant, one of the largest individual scientific awards in the Netherlands. It is intended for advanced researchers. This funding enables scientists to set up their own innovative line of research and consolidate and expand their own research group. The Vici grant is one of the largest personal scientific grants in the Netherlands. NWO is awarding a total of 43 Vici grants this year.

Sleep 2.0 – towards a new science of human sleep – Martin Dresler

Sleep is essential for our health, yet we still don’t exactly understand how so. This project, led by neuroscientist Martin Dresler, aims to improve our understanding by developing new concepts and methods to study sleep in a more comprehensive and biologically meaningful way. Creating the infrastructure to gather large data with the help of wearable devices and citizen scientists, the project works towards new insights into the full complexity of sleep, both within and across nights. Ultimately, this research will help improve sleep health, benefiting individuals and society as a whole. 

Preventing recurrent heart attacks – Niels Riksen

Arteriosclerosis is the process underlying most heart and strokes. Of all people that suffer a heart attack, approximately ten percent will have another heart attack or stroke within the next two years. This project, headed by Professor of Vascular Medicine Niels Riksen, investigates the underlying mechanisms. The project focuses on the role of the immune system, which plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. The hypothesis is that a heart attack itself leads to long-term activation of the immune system, accelerating the development of arterial calcification. The results of this project can be used in the future to develop new treatments to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attack or stroke.  

Better kidneys after preterm birth (PREKID project) – Michiel Schreuder

Every year, more than 11,000 children in the Netherlands are born preterm. At that time, kidneys are not yet fully formed but must suddenly start working. This results in the development of the kidney being cut short, with subsequent high blood pressure and damage to the kidneys as an adult. To prevent this, researchers led by Professor of Pediatric Nephrology Michiel Schreuder will investigate whether stem cells can salvage kidney development, and whether medicines can steer the path away from kidney damage.

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