Awarded Rubicon Grants round 2011-1
Below you will find a list of awarded researchers in alphabetical order and the title of the research project. This is followed by gender, current employment and the host institution (department) where the Rubicon research will be conducted.
Blocking cell division in breast cancer
Dr M. (Marieke) Aarts (f) 1980, VU University Amsterdam –> Institute of Cancer Research - The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre (UK), 24 months
Cancer develops due to uninhibited cell division. Inhibiting the proteins that control this process causes the cancer cells to 'crash' during cell division thus knocking them out. The researchers will investigate which factors determine if a breast cancer cell is sensitive for this form of treatment.
Towards an individualised treatment of depression
N. (Niki) Antypa MSc (f) 1982, Leiden University –> University of Bologna - Psychiatry (IT),
24 months
Depression is an exhausting condition which is highly prevalent and still difficult to treat. The researchers will combine genetic data with the social and clinical data from patients to determine 'what works for who' in the treatment of depression.
Plastics help to realise the potential of stem cells
Dr E. (Erhan) Bat (m) 1981, University of Twente -> University of California, Los Angeles - Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry / California Nanosystems Institute (US), 24 months
Various proteins cooperate in the body to induce a certain function in a stem cell. The scientists will attach such proteins to patterns of plastic so that they can effectively manage the behaviour of stem cells.
A closer look at cancer cell metabolism
Dr C.R. (Celia) Berkers (f) 1980, Leiden University -> Beatson Institute for Cancer Research (UK), 24 months
Cancer cells have a different metabolism from healthy cells. This might make cancer cells more susceptible to some forms of chemotherapy. Using chemical techniques the researchers will examine how the protein p53, which is often disabled in cancer cells, influences the metabolism of cancer cells.
The significance of coagulation in atherosclerosis
Dr J.I. (Julian) Borissoff (m) 1980, Maastricht University -> Harvard Medical School - Immune Disease Institute (US), 24 months
Coagulation is not just important for stopping a wound from bleeding. It it also influences atherosclerosis. The coagulation enzyme thrombin appears to play a key role in this. This study will investigate how thrombin affects inflammation of the atherosclerotic wall. Inhibition of thrombin using new anticoagulant drugs may become important in the future for treating atherosclerosis in humans.
The lifespan of coal tits
Dr S. (Sandra) Bouwhuis (f) 1980, University of Groningen –> University of Oxford - Edward Grey Institute (UK), 24 months
The lifespan of coal tits varies from 1 to 9 years. Yet what causes this variation? In this study detailed behavioural observations will be made of five generations of coal tits and this will be combined with ecological and genetic data from fifty generations of coal tits in order to answer this question.
Delving deeper into brain data
Dr C. (Chris) Donkin (m) 1983, University of Newcastle (AUS) -> University of Amsterdam - Cognitive Science Center (NL), 24 months
Images of brain activity tell us about the areas of the brain essential for various behaviours. Linking this activity with specific cognitive processes can be difficult, however. We will make it easier to make such links by combining brain imaging data with formal theories of behaviour.
When do immune cells talk to each other?
Dr C. (Carmen) Gerlach (f) 1980, Leiden University / Netherlands Cancer Institute –> Harvard Medical School - Pathology (US), 24 months
The researcher wants to gain a better understanding of how cells from our immune system control infections. She will use a microscope to film when different immune cells talk with each other so that they know an infection must be controlled.
Contact with the neighbours
Dr M. (Martijn) Gloerich (m) 1983, Utrecht University -> Stanford University School of Medicine - Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology (US), 24 months
As soon as cells make contact with each other this can lead to changes in their form and function. Many cells have a characteristic asymmetric shape to realise specific functions well. This study will investigate how this cell asymmetry is facilitated by neighbouring cells.
I see what you don't: perspectives on growing up
Dr A.D. (Amaranta) de Haan MSc (f) 1981, Utrecht University -> Ghent University - Developmental Psychology (BE), 24 months
This study will test if the behaviour of young people is more strongly determined by how they experience their upbringing than by the upbringing reported by the parents. It will also be investigated whether personality traits determine how young people experience their upbringing and how sensitive they are for the effects of upbringing.
Attention in the brain
S. (Saskia) Haegens MSc (f) 1984, Radboud University Nijmegen –> Columbia University Medical Center - Department of Psychiatry (US), 24 months
Attention is crucial in everyday life, for example when driving a car, holding a conversation or paying attention at school. The brain researcher will examine how the distribution and control of attention in the brain is managed by brain waves.
Side effects of medicines viewed at the molecular level
Dr H.I. (Helgi) Ingólfsson (m) 1979, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY (US) -> University of Groningen - Biophysics (NL), 24 months
Medicines frequently have side effects because they cause disruptions in the cell membrane. The aim of this research is to clarify the molecular basis of this effect using computer models so that better medicines can be designed.
The chicken and the egg paradigm of obesity and psychological problems
Dr P.W. (Pauline) Jansen (f) 1980, Erasmus University Rotterdam -> Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) - The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria (AUS), 12 months
Obese children often suffer from psychological disorders. But does obesity lead to psychological problems or are psychological problems the cause of obesity? Or are both propositions true? This research aims to unravel the causes and consequences within this complex relationship.
St. Joachim as the ideal of masculinity
Dr A.S. (Adriaan) van Klinken (m) 1982, Utrecht University –> University of London (SOAS) - Centre of Gender and Religions Research (UK), 24 months
A catholic mens' organisation in Zambia is promoting St. Joachim as the role model for men during the era of HIV/AIDS. The researcher will analyse the background, significance and effects of this type of religious gender politics with a view to forming theories about religion and masculinity.
I'll assume responsibility for this group
R.H.J.M. (Ralf) Kurvers (m) 1981, Wageningen University and Research Centre –> Humboldt University of Berlin - Department of Ecology and Biology of Fishes (DE), 24 months
Individuals in groups often make a joint choice between various alternatives. Which individuals play an important role in these decisions is unknown. This research will examine the role of various personalities in joint decisions.
Therapeutic gene delivery
Dr M. (Min Seok) Kwak (m) 1976, University of Groningen -> Harvard University - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (US), 24 months
Successful gene therapy for a disease such as cancer depends on an understanding of living systems and the efficient delivery of desired genes into organisms. This research will focus on building nanoparticles containing siRNA and fine tuning the effectiveness of the delivery system.
How are dangerous viruses recognised?
M.A. (Martijn) Langereis (m) 1979, Utrecht University -> Radboud University Nijmegen – Department of Medical Microbiology (NL), 24 months
How cells detect viruses is largely unknown. A possible breakthrough in this respect is the recent identification of sensors that are capable of detecting viral RNA. This study will investigate how these sensors can distinguish between 'non-self' viral RNA and 'self' RNA.
Rationality and progress in science
Dr R. (Rogier) de Langhe (m) 1982, Ghent University -> Tilburg University - Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science (NL), 24 months
Scientists like to talk about 'paradigms' yet then it remains unclear how science can be rational and progress made. Science philosophers have hotly disputed this for more than 50 years but thanks to three recent scientific breakthroughs I can resolve these issues.
Statistical tests for variability
Dr J. (Joris) Mulder (m) 1981, Utrecht University -> University of Tilburg - MTO (NL), 24 months
If, for example, the effects of a treatment for depression differ strongly between patients whereas the average depression score decreases only slightly, then the general use of this treatment is not desirable. In this project Bayesian statistical tests for variability will be developed.
Structural improvements to dynamic programming
Dr J. (Jesper) Nederlof MSc (m) 1985, University of Bergen (NO) - > Eindhoven University of Technology - Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (NL), 24 months
Dynamic programming is one of the standard techniques for solving difficult planning problems using computers. The researchers will establish under exactly which conditions the technique can be improved by making use of highly promising recent developments in this area.
Encryption of the future
C.P. (Christiane) Peters (f) 1981, Eindhoven University of Technology -> Technical University of Denmark - Cryptology (DK), 24 months
Nearly all current encryption mechanisms can be cracked as soon as physicists manage to build quantum computers. Fortunately there are alternatives, such as encryption based on coding theory, which are resistant to attacks from quantum computers. This project will prepare coding-based systems for everyday use.
Eurafrica. European cooperation in Europe and Africa
Dr A.-I. (Anne-Isabelle) Richard-Picchi (f) 1980, University of Cambridge (UK) -> Utrecht University - History (NL), 24 months
European cooperation was already being discussed in the nineteenth century. However, these ideas were not limited to Europe. The European powers also had to cooperate in Africa. This project will investigate how this cooperation in Africa took shape and influenced ideas about Europe.
Packaging photocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis
Mr A.M. (Abraham) Shultz (m) 1984, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (US) -> University of Amsterdam -HIMS (NL), 24 months
The growing world population and its growing demand for energy necessitate the use of sunlight as a source of sustainable energy. Artificial photosynthesis, in which sunlight is used to convert water into high-energy hydrogen gas, is a highly attractive option. The researcher will investigate the embedding of existing and new catalysts in well-defined crystalline materials and their immobilisation on electrode surfaces. This will lead to new applications for up scalable photosynthesis in which sunlight can be converted into chemical energy.
One single vaccine for all flu viruses
Dr B.A. (Bram) Slütter (m) 1983, Leiden University -> University of Iowa - Microbiology (US), 24 months
Each years a new flu vaccine has to be produced because the flu virus mutates rapidly. This study will investigate the possibility of developing a vaccine that is targeted at a protein in the core of the virus that mutates very little. We will investigate how enough T cells can be produced to process a flu infection.
Immigration and mother language
A.M. (Anna) Strycharz (f) 1979, University of Edinburgh (UK) -> Meertens Institute (NL), 24 months
When speakers of different dialects move abroad, how does their speech change and do the differences between dialects become smaller? This will be investigated by examining the development of a specific Dutch-Japanese dialect among Japanese immigrants in the Netherlands.
Home sweet home. The effect of species-specific relationships between plants and soil organisms on the breakdown of plant material
G.F. (Ciska) Veen (f) 1981, University of Groningen –> Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE), 24 months
Soil organisms are specialised in the breakdown of organic material from plants in their own environment. In a field experiment on the tundra of Sweden, researchers will study how the climate and characteristics of plants influence the species-specific relationships between soil organisms and plants and what the consequences of changes in these specific relationships are for the breakdown of plant material and thus for the nutrient cycle in terrestrial ecosystems.
How does the immune system suppress 100 billion intestinal bacteria?
Dr M.R. (Marcel) de Zoete (m) 1979, Utrecht University -> Yale University - School of Medicine, Department of Immunobiology (US), 24 months
The intestines contain ten times as many bacteria as the total number of cells in the human body. In this project we will investigate how the immune system is able to regulate the composition of the intestinal flora and so prevent an imbalance in the intestinal flora as happens, for example, in Crohn’s disease.