11 students, 4 researchers, 3 crowdfunding campaigns
This Fall, Maastricht University’s crowdfunding platform UM Crowd supports campaigns initiated by Mathilde, Marcel, Jeanette, Erik and 11 students from the Maastricht Science Programme. Meet the campaign owners and their projects.
1. Erik Steen Redeker and 11 students – biology competition in Boston
A unique opportunity: 11 students from the Maastricht Science Programme can present their knowledge and expertise during the synthetic biology competition iGEM. This prestigious and international competition will take place November 2019 in Boston. The project that the team wants to present in Boston is the development of a tool for scientists, which can be used to recognise emerging diseases and environmental pollutants with the help of molecules.
The team wants to share the results in a new online database, accessible to scientists all over the world. As a result, we can deal with contemporary diseases and problems in a faster way. However, the students can only participate and present their ideas at the iGEM competition if they raise additional funds. In the video below, Erik Steen Redeker and students Lucie, Julian, Fenna and Ruben share their ambitions.
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2. Mathilde Kennis - research on transgender people
“Even in 2019, transgender people are still being discriminated and not taken seriously. Through my research I want to do the opposite: see them and validate them.” This is a quote from neuroscientist Mathilde Kennis, who started a crowdfunding campaign in order to raise money for research on transgender people.
She is dedicated to explore the associations between the brain, self-concept, and (sexual) well-being of transgender participants, especially during their transition. To get a clear image of how the brain evolves during a transition, Mathilde’s team will make use of a state of the art MRI scanner. The outcomes of the studies can be of value for the development of improved (psychological) guidance of transgender people, to improve their health and happiness. The insights gained can contribute to our general understanding of this group of people, and to make another important step in increasing tolerance and ending discrimination. Watch the video below for more information.
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3. Jeanette Tas and Marcel Aries – innovative treatment of severe brain injury
On 6 October 2019, clinical technologist Jeanette Tas won the half marathon of Meerssen. She participated in this marathon to raise awareness and money for research on brain injury. Jeanette’s and neurologist-intensivists Marcel Aries’ team is busy researching a new treatment of brain injury, which helps us to adjust the blood flow to the bruised brain in a better way. As a result, more brain cells are expected to recover during the initial period. And the more cells that heal, the less likely it is that the patient will become disabled. Every brain cell counts!
The research on the treatment itself is almost finished. But for the analysis of the research Jeanette and Marcel need additional funds. Research on brain injury is very important; every year, around 130,000 Dutch people are affected and for more than 25 years there has been no progress in the treatment. Jeanette will explain more about the research and the campaign in the video below.
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UM Crowd
UM Crowd is an initiative of University Fund Limburg/SWOL (UFL), the external charity foundation of Maastricht University. The crowdfunding platform stimulates research, education and a closer collaboration between UM and the community. In that context, the fund focuses on providing financial resources for concrete, innovative and communal initiatives.
For the three campaigns in this article, companies, individuals and foundations have made an incredible start with their donations. However, the projects need some extra support. Read more about the campaigns and their rewards on the website of UM Crowd.
www.umcrowd.nl
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