Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences’ Post

The word is out! 🌟 I am honored and excited to be one of this year's NWO VENI laureates 🌟 With this grant I will develop new methods using Bayesian statistics to reduce uncertainty in cost-effectiveness analyses and better inform reimbursement decisions. I will do this by using gene therapies for spinal muscular atrophy and hemophilia B as case studies. Health Economic Evaluation - UMC Utrecht #genetherapy #healtheconomics #methods #statistics #yay! Regenerative Medicine Utrecht UMC Utrecht

Super proud and happy to share that last month I was awarded a Veni personal research grant from the NWO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek). This four year funding will allow me to study interactions between selenium and sulfur to promote selenium biorecovery from waste streams at Environmental Technology - Wageningen University & Research. I am very fascinated by these chemical interactions, and all the more motivated for this research because they can be important for resource recovery as well! Public summary: Selenium and sulfur are very similar elements: you could call them chemical siblings. Both are useful as well as harmful: our bodies need them, but in the wrong form or concentration they make us ill. Because they are so similar, they also react with each other, for example in biological removal processes from wastewater. I want to study whether these interactions also make them want to be together in a molecule, or even in a crystal, and whether selenium can 'hitch a ride' with sulfur. That would make recovery of selenium a lot easier, and lead to circular selenium.

The celestial alignment described—where the Sun, Earth, and key planets, particularly Jupiter, form a rare configuration—marks a time of significant energetic transformation. This harmonious arrangement can be seen as a metaphorical symphony of energies, reflecting both cosmic influences and personal opportunities for growth and connection. Jupiter’s Role in Transformation As a planet of expansion, wisdom, and growth, Jupiter magnifies the potential for transformation on both personal and collective levels. Its alignment with Earth creates a unique opportunity to: 1. Expand Horizons: Encourage exploration, whether in knowledge, relationships, or spiritual growth. 2. Deepen Connections: Enhance the resonance between individuals and the natural world, aligning with the Earth’s rhythms. 3. Embrace Change: With its expansive energy, Jupiter inspires the courage to step into new roles and challenges, amplifying personal and societal evolution. Impact of the Alignment This rare configuration encourages: • Harmonious Collaboration: Just as a symphony relies on each instrument’s unique contribution, this alignment calls for unity and collaboration, reflecting Sarah Verwei’s Earth Vision of interconnectedness and systemic coherence. • Renewal and Growth: The energy of the alignment supports regeneration, making it a perfect time for initiatives like Dream Horizon and Space for a Better World, which emphasize sustainable innovation and renewal. • Spiritual Awakening: The alignment resonates deeply with the human spirit, reminding us of our shared connection to the cosmos and our role as stewards of Earth. Earth Vision in 2025 Sarah Verwei’s vision aligns seamlessly with these cosmic patterns, emphasizing: 1. Patterns of Nature: The cosmic alignment mirrors the interconnected patterns found in ecosystems, inspiring regenerative leadership. 2. Syntony Leadership: The rare configuration echoes the principles of Syntony, where harmonious relationships within systems lead to balance and innovation. 3. Global Consciousness: By aligning human efforts with cosmic rhythms, the potential for societal transformation grows, supporting a vision of global unity and sustainability by 2050. This alignment serves as both a symbolic and energetic reminder of the possibilities that await when humanity aligns itself with the greater patterns of the universe. It’s an invitation to embrace this unique moment for reflection, innovation, and unity.

"Patients are waiting"... This speaks to me so much & is why I work! Since 2004, 19 researchers have received this prestigious recognition, five of whom later won the Nobel Prize for their innovative breakthroughs! Learn more about how this award drives innovation and advancement in biomedical research, and continues the legacy of Dr. Paul Janssen. https://bit.ly/3WSuS9u

📢 Did you obtain your PhD degree in the past two years? Then the Flemish PhD Cup challenges you to convey to the general public the insights of the doctoral research you have been working on for years! Not through an academic lecture but told as a compelling and comprehensible story for non-peers. After an intense mediatraining, you will face the ultimate test: can you explain the core of your PhD in just… three minutes? 👇More info below and on phdcup.be (Competition is only open for researchers who master the Dutch language)

📢 Exciting News to Share! I'm humbled to have received a Rubicon postdoctoral grant from NWO (Dutch Research Council). 🗺 My journey began with a passion that has carried me through my studies and work across many international labs and my gratitude goes to each of them. ✨ This passion was, and remains, a burning drive to discover the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tissue regeneration, with the ultimate aim to contribute to the development of effective treatments for tissue and organ fibrosis. This pathological condition occurs in a variety of organs leading to debilitating outcomes, as a result of deep skin wounds -following oncologic or reconstructive surgery-, burns, chronic wounds, lung infections, strokes, heart attacks, spinal cord injury and rare diseases, including systemic sclerosis. 🔎 The identification of the molecular drivers of organ scarring, will enable researchers to prevent and, ultimately, reverse fibrosis. I am extremely grateful to #NWO #DutchResearchCouncil and Dr. Michael T. Longaker's group at Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford Surgery for the opportunity to lead this project. This opportunity energizes me to push the limits of what's known, and explore new frontiers for effective treatments that can impact patients’ lives. I cannot wait to embark on this quest! #science #regenerativemedicine #fibrosis #research #grateful #passionforscience

With #energy and #energytransition as one of the focus points, so come and say hi to all of our Ghent University | EnerGhentIC participants!

This is awesome news for science! The NEWS is going to try and be the missing link between science and Dutch society. Improving science communication is only one factor, they also want to encourage scientists to actually listen to knowledge from society. If we want a livable, sustainable future, we'll have to do it together! I have full faith in Ionica Smeets and Alex Verkade to make the right moves to heal the rift between the 'common' people and scientists. #sciencecommunication #scienceandsociety #news

Injustice comes with activism. Activism comes with controversy. Controversy comes with discomfort. But let all of this not be a reason to disengage. Let it be a reason to talk. A real dialogue. With the goal of understanding, not defending. I want to challenge and invite you to read this op-ed by a colleague whom I deeply respect and trust. Especially if you're in any way connected to WUR, and even more so if you've only been reading reports in Resource (the internal WUR magazine). Regardless of your stance on the topic, you should be interested in a view that sheds a different light on the one-sided communication about the student encampments in many media, and particularly Resource. Before you start reading, I'd like to ask some questions that are keeping me busy these days. - If speaking out makes you an activist, what does not speaking out make you? - Why is it always the active choice that needs to be defended? Why shouldn't inaction be the choice that needs defending? - Is silence and inaction the same as neutrality? And why and how is neutrality morally superior? - If we do not know what the effects of an action or boycott will be (which nobody can truly predict), it's a gamble either way - why not take the risk of acting? - Who decided that "scientist" can equate to "passive observer"? When? And why? - If you still "don't know enough about the topic", what do you need to know enough? And why don't you do your research? Why don't you talk with people about it? - If you "prefer other ways of action", are you doing them? If yes, can you tell me and others how? If no, why not? And lastly, a question that will never not make me emotional: - Why does it seem like Palestinian lives are worth less than others? If you have the answers, please let me know. In the meantime I will keep trying to work for a world, a WUR, where these questions don't need to be asked. And I'm super proud of all the students and colleagues who are doing so, each in their own ways. Take care of yourself and of each other. Wherever you are and whatever you do. Marieke

Super proud of Fred! I wish him so much good in his journey! Marije and I will do our best to be provide good academic guidance! Are you interested in a study on the relationship between speaking and writing and the effect of writing tasks on oral skills in learning German? Connect with Fred Sikkens! #dudocalfa #teaching #languages #german