Five Veni grants for FHML researchers

Heart failure is a serious condition characterised by shortness of breath and fatigue. Eventually, heart failure can lead to hospitalisation and death. Pacemaker therapy can improve heart function or even cure heart failure in some patients. However, most patients have scar tissue in the heart muscle due to heart failure, making them less responsive to pacemaker therapy. In this research by Uyen Nguyen (CARIM), cardiologists and engineers join forces to investigate how scar tissue affects pacemaker therapy and how to improve the treatment of heart failure patients with scar tissue.

Liver fibrosis is the formation of scar tissue in the liver. This can lead to serious health problems, but there are hardly any treatment options. Previous research shows that certain immune cells (macrophages) can break down scar tissue and thus help repair the damage. Sabine Daemen (CARIM) will investigate how these cells do this. With this knowledge, she wants to develop a new therapy that harnesses the power of macrophages to treat liver fibrosis.

Involuntary urine loss (incontinence) is a common problem and has a major impact on the quality of life of patients and caregivers. What brain processes prevent us from losing urine before we want to urinate? What processes go wrong in people who suffer from incontinence? Mathijs de Rijk (MHeNs) will investigate this. He will also look at how these brain processes can be repaired to cure incontinence.

Researchers may have found a surprising ally against allergies in children: microbes from soil and the forest. When infants and toddlers play outside in nature, they ingest up to 60 mg of soil every day, full of these beneficial microbes. However, due to our modern lifestyle, children often stay indoors and miss exposure to these microbes. By studying how these natural microbes strengthen the immune system of infants, Niels van Best (NUTRIM) is trying to find new ways to combat allergies such as asthma. This sheds light on the health benefits of a little dirt and outdoor play.

Want to know more about Niels' research? Watch the Science Stories video on how bacteria from nature can help prevent allergies.

Mass meat production has disruptive effects on climate, animal welfare and human health. That is why David Kilian (MERLN) is working on sustainable food production for the next generation. Using natural ingredients, cells and lab-made proteins, he may be able to grow whole beef cuts with similar taste, texture and protein content to beef from cows. By adjusting the protein composition and by using new bioprinting techniques, David develops edible muscle fibres and makes upscaling possible.

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