Recently, several prestigious prizes and grants have been awarded to our AI&I members. Learn more about these accomplished individuals and their projects in the article below!
Nominations Hugo van Poelgeest Prize from Proefdiervrij – PhD candidates Henrique Pinto and Giulia Moreni
We are proud to announce that two of our talented PhD candidates, Henrique Pinto and Giulia Moreni, are among the three nominees for the prestigious Hugo van Poelgeest Prize, awarded by Proefdiervrij. Please join us in congratulating them!
The Hugo van Poelgeest Prize recognizes outstanding animal-free research in the life sciences. Presented every two years, the award focuses on encouraging the next generation of scientists to advance research using animal-free models.
Henrique Pinto
Despite advancements in medical research, there are still no effective models for developing medications for brain disorders. A major obstacle is the blood-brain barrier, which shields the brain from harmful substances but also blocks many medications. Henrique Nogueira Pinto aims to recreate a human blood-brain barrier in the lab, linking it to brain organoids. If successful, this model will enhance research on ways to bypass the blood-brain barrier and accurately test how drugs affect the brain.
Giulia Moreni
Giulia Moreni, winner of the 2023 Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge, is working on replacing animal testing in virus research. After reviewing literature on animal use in virology, she identified numerous areas where animal-free alternatives can be used. By developing human stem cell-based models, Giulia’s work paves the way for animal-free research on viral infections, laying the groundwork for personalized treatments for patients suffering from chronic viral infections caused by rare genetic disorders.
Support Henrique Pinto and Giulia Moreni
A professional jury will select the winner of the €5000 Hugo van Poelgeest Prize. Additionally, Proefdiervrij is awarding a public prize of €1500. Cast your vote by November 10, 2024, and the public prize winner will be announced on November 15 during the Toekomstproef event. Voting takes less than a minute via this link.
Photo Henrique Pinto made by Roy Vermeij.
Global Health EDCTP3 EU Partnership Grant – Dr. Henk Schallig
Dr. Henk Schallig and his team have secured a €5 million from the EDCTP3 EU Partnership to launch the Safety of Antimalarials in the FIrst tRimEster (SAFIRE) project in Kisumu, Kenya. SAFIRE marks the first-ever Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of antimalarials in women during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Background: Malaria in pregnancy poses serious risks, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and maternal death. Despite this, there is limited data on antimalarial safety for pregnant women. The WHO recommends only one ACT—artemether-lumefantrine (AL)—for first-trimester treatment, but emerging drug resistance raises concerns. To combat resistance, expanding the use of different ACTs is one potential solution. However, this approach may unintentionally expose first-trimester pregnant women to treatments other than AL. Therefore, there is an urgent need to collect comprehensive data on the safety and efficacy of other ACTs during the first trimester.
The SAFIRE consortium will address this need by conducting an adaptive platform trial combined with social research. This study aims to generate robust evidence on the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of antimalarial treatments in early pregnancy. The results will inform policies and guidelines to ensure that women have access to the best possible treatments
Coordinated by Amsterdam UMC (Dr. Henk Schallig), the consortium includes partners from Mali, DRC, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Uganda, the Medicines for Malaria Initiative (Switzerland), and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (United Kingdom).
SAFIRE team (PIs) during kick-off meeting in Kisumu, Kenya
About the Grant: The Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking (GH EDCTP3 JU) builds on the success of the first and second European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership programs. This new initiative is a collaboration between the EU and the EDCTP Association, with members from several European and African countries.
Margreet Bakker Honored as Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Margreet Bakker, from the Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention department at Amsterdam UMC, has been awarded the prestigious title of Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. This honor recognizes her exceptional contributions to the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS), with special praise for her commitment to the proper storage and preservation of cohort materials.
In addition to Margreet's recognition, the ACS is also celebrating a milestone: its 40th anniversary this year, making it one of the longest-running cohorts in the world. Margreet has been a key member of the ACS team since its launch, making this award a fitting tribute to her long-standing commitment.
About the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS): The ACS on HIV infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) started shortly after the first cases of AIDS were diagnosed in the Netherlands. Since 1984, the cohort has included men who have sex with men (MSM) and injecting drug users in a prospective study, focusing on the natural course, emergence, and development of AIDS. In recent years, the ACS has expanded its research to cover the epidemiology and natural progression of other blood-borne, respiratory and sexually transmitted infections in its participants.