UM closely involved in six other National Roadmap projects
EMPower: a national infrastructure to unlock the secrets of life at the molecular level
Understanding and designing molecular structures is essential for innovation in science and technology. Electron microscopy (EM) creates high-resolution images of biological samples, making molecules visible at the atomic level and allowing 3D visualisation within cells and organs. To strengthen the Netherlands’ pioneering position in this field, this Utrecht-led consortium is creating a national infrastructure that brings together the latest innovations in cryo-EM and volume EM. Kèvin Knoops from UM’s Microscopy-CORE lab is contributing to this project to achieve scientific breakthroughs in medicine and technology.
AMICE: Advanced Multimodal Imaging CEntres
Imaging techniques let us look inside the body to understand how life develops , how a healthy body functions and how diseases arise and progress. This requires specialist equipment and expertise. Led by the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the AMICE project is developing a national infrastructure for new and improved imaging techniques, enabling researchers to extract substantially more information from images. It will also allow images to be reused, increasing scientific efficiency. Ludwig Dubois, Marc van Zandvoort, Eline Kooi en Ingrid Dijkgraaf from UM’s GROW, CARIM en MHeNs research institutes are involved in this project.
BioMotive: imaging the biomechanics of the body in motion
The current state of medical imaging allows the human body to be visualised only in a static, horizontal position. This does not reflect the forces and functions involved in everyday activities, such as standing or moving. Coordinated by UMC Utrecht, the BioMotive project is developing an advanced MRI system that can scan the body upright and in motion, enabling scientists to see how muscles, bones and the heart behave under exertion. The use of advanced MRI techniques allows for direct visualisation of internal forces and physiological processes in realistic conditions. This will offer deeper insight into the muscular, digestive and circulatory systems, which depend on posture and movement. Professor and Scannexus CEO Jeanine Prompers is responsible for Maastricht’s contribution to this project on behalf of the NUTRIM research institute.
EBRAINS-Neurotech: an assembly line for brain technology
In 2023 UNESCO declared that we stand on the threshold of a new revolution: neurotechnology. This emerging field focuses on the development of devices that interact with the brain to read signals and/or influence brain activity. Neurotechnology offers innovative ways to understand the brain and treat brain disorders. Led by the University of Amsterdam, the EBRAINS-Neurotech project will promote far-reaching integration of this field in the Netherlands by creating a coherent national infrastructure. The aim is to develop smart materials to interact with the brain, test brain implants and design computational models to better understand how these systems affect the brain. Neurosurgeon Pieter Kubben of the MHeNs research institute is heading up UM’s contribution to this project.
FASTTRACK: ultrafast imaging of particle collisions in the Large Hadron Collider
To solve the fundamental mysteries of physics, we need to know more about how the smallest particles shape our universe through fundamental interactions. This can be done by studying collisions between such particles at the LHC, the European particle accelerator at CERN in Switzerland. With the LHC set to generate many more collisions, this consortium—led by the National Institute for Subatomic Physics (Nikhef)—is developing new technologies that allow detectors to capture images much more rapidly and to distinguish near-simultaneous collisions more effectively. Professor Marcel Merk is leading Maastricht’s contribution to FASTTRACK on behalf of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
NCC: the Netherlands Cohort Consortium for medical data
The Netherlands Cohort Consortium brings together health data from just under half a million Dutch people. Combining data enables scientists to conduct cutting-edge research into the causes of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia and depression. It also allows researchers to investigate why these conditions increasingly occur at younger ages, how to prevent them, and how to help people live healthier lives for longer. The NCC is developing a new infrastructure with optimal IT facilities for future data collection and joint analyses that safeguard data privacy and security. UM is the lead applicant for this consortium, spearheaded by Miranda Schram (CARIM/MHeNs ) and Annemarie Koster (CAPHRI). Read more in this in-depth article.