ZonMW clinical fellowship grant for three LUMC researchers

Why do we all respond differently to vaccines?

Vaccination is the most effective and globally applied strategy to prevent or control infectious diseases. Despite our ample experience with vaccines, it is still not known why different persons respond differently to vaccines. Anna Roukens, internist specialised in infectious disease, will investigate how this immune response is established.

“This research will look at immune cells in the lymph nodes, as this is where vaccine responses initiate. Using fine needle aspiration, we will compare vaccine-induced immunity in the lymph node of healthy donors with persons that have impaired immunity due to and HIV-infection. This knowledge will enable us to enhance vaccine design for different populations, such as persons with an impaired immune system,” says Roukens.

Who will develop hypertensive complication during pregnancy?

Oocyte donation enables women with no (functioning) ovaries to conceive. The fertility technique is also characterised by a higher risk of developing hypertensive complications during pregnancy. The question is: which patient will develop this condition, requiring intensive care during pregnancy?

Lashley, gynaecologist specialised in reproductive medicine, explains: “To do this, we will monitor the pregnancy of patients who have undergone oocyte donation at different clinics in the Netherlands. Additionally, we will measure the level of dissimilarity between foetus and mother – a characteristic that is typically elevated in such pregnancies. This data will enable us to establish a prediction model. Hopefully, the results will improve the obstetric outcome by providing new insights for the development of a new treatment and preventative options.”

How is redness caused by inflammation measured in patients of skin of colour?

Certain chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin that result from the activity of the immune system present more frequently and more severely in patients with skin of color. However, these patients less often receive appropriate treatment or participate in clinical trials.

According to Balak, dermatologist specialized in immune-mediated skin diseases: “Inflammatory skin diseases are mainly determined by the degree of redness of the skin. Redness is less visible in patients with skin of colour, so the severity of skin inflammation can be easily underestimated. In this research project, two novel imaging techniques are investigated to measure skin pigmentation and inflammation in those with skin of color. The aim is to develop non-invasive, objective and more reliable methods to assess the severity of skin inflammation across the full spectrum of skin pigmentation, thereby diminishing health disparities.”

ZonMw Clinical Fellowship

The ZonMw Clinical Fellowship is a personal incentive grant for a doctorate and specialized clinician who wishes to integrate scientific research and clinical work. The program focuses on supporting professionals who are at the beginning of their scientific careers, enabling them to initiate their own research line. ZonMw’s Clinical Fellows Talent Programme has previously led to projects with practical results.

Access the ZonMW website for an overview of this round’s funded projects.