Grants for new antibiotics, urban resilience and the health impact of nanoplastics
Researchers at the Faculty of Science work every day at the frontiers of knowledge, tackling today’s major societal challenges. Their work is recognised through grants, prizes and other awards. We highlight some of these achievements.
Rubicon grant for research into first light
Timo Kist from the Leiden Observatory has been awarded a Rubicon grant by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The grant enables them to gain experience at a knowledge institute abroad. Kist will spend 24 months at the University of Cambridge studying the epoch of ‘first light’, when the very first stars formed in the universe.
Grant for research into the health impact of nanoplastics
Michael Richardson (IBL) and Marco de Ruiter (LUMC) have received funding through the NWO Open Competition ENW-M to address a pressing question: are nanoplastics harmful to our health?
Our environment contains vast numbers of extremely small plastic particles, known as nanoplastics, which are released from plastic waste on land and in the sea. These particles have now been found in the human body, raising concerns about possible health effects. Using advanced techniques, the project investigates how nanoplastics affect living cells. The research will help clarify potential risks and brings together the Institute of Biology Leiden, LUMC, the Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden and Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
€1.1 million for research into urban resilience
From flooding and heat stress or biodiversity loss: cities everywhere face challenges due to climate change. Arnold Tukker and Mingming Hu (CML) are working on solutions in the Dutch–Chinese ReSURE2 project, which has received €1.1 million in funding from NWO and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
€3 million to develop new antibiotics
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a prestigious Gram-negative Antibiotic Discovery Innovator (Gr-ADI) grant of more than €3 million to an international consortium that includes Gilles van Wezel (Institute of Biology Leiden) and Jos Raaijmakers (NIOO-KNAW).
In the project Nature-inspired discovery of novel anti-Klebsiella drugs, the researchers are working to identify new antibiotics against Klebsiella pneumoniae, a bacterium that is increasingly resistant to existing treatments. By studying microbiomes in water, plants and humans, the consortium aims to discover new antimicrobial compounds inspired by nature.
Gilles van Wezel on the project: ‘Tackling antimicrobial resistance requires a collective effort. We are particularly keen to ensure that new innovations benefit people in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of resistant infections is greatest.’