Recently, several prestigious prizes and grants have been awarded to our AII members. Learn more about these accomplished individuals and their projects in the article below!
Amsterdam University Fund Startstipendium – Dr. Fons van den Berg
Dr. van den Berg, a Medical Microbiologist in training, has been awarded the Amsterdam University Fund (AUF) Startstipendium, amounting to €25,000, in recognition of his research project titled "Effects of Tributyrin Supplementation in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis." Dr. van den Berg shares detailed insights into his project below:
Acute pancreatitis, characterized by acute inflammation of the pancreas, manifests in severe abdominal pain, leading patients to seek hospitalization. While most individuals recover with standard treatment involving fluids and pain medication, a subset faces complications like organ failure or infections. Presently, there exists no effective preventive measure for these severe complications.
My research aims to explore the potential of tributyrin, a dietary supplement, as a treatment to ward off infections in patients with acute pancreatitis. Tributyrin, when broken down in the gastro-intestinal tract, releases butyrate—a fatty acid typically produced by beneficial gut bacteria. Recent findings from our collaboration with the Dutch Pancreatitis Study Group and the Alverdy lab (University of Chicago) indicate reduced levels of these bacteria in the stool of acute pancreatitis patients, suggesting a depletion of butyrate. Previous studies have highlighted the positive impact of butyrate on intestinal health and immune response. We hypothesize that supplementing butyrate can restore its deficiency, thereby preventing infections and promoting faster recovery.
This research project involves studying the effects of butyrate in acute pancreatitis patients who are administered either tributyrin or a placebo. Blood and stool samples are collected before and after treatment. Analysis aims to determine if supplementation increases butyrate concentration and alters gut bacteria in stool. Additionally, we assess the integrity of the intestinal wall and its impact on the immune response. The outcomes of this study are anticipated to contribute valuable insights for enhancing the treatment and overall outcomes for acute pancreatitis patients in the future.
ZonMW Create2Solve grant - Prof. Sander Tas
Exciting update! ZonMw is funding our collaborative research project with the University of Glasgow and AstraZeneca. Internist-rheumatologist Sander Tas enthusiastically shares, "We're developing animal-free alternatives for rheumatoid arthritis drug development." Part of the ZonMw Create2Solve program, the researchers receive a maximum of 100,000 euros for this innovative, animal-free approach. The research project is titled: Human 3D synovial tissue organoids as a versatile tool to facilitate anti-rheumatic drug development for rheumatoid arthritis (3D4RA).
NVOI and NVGTP publication awards – Dr. Derk Jan Jager
Dr. Jager and his team secured both the NVOI (first place) and the NVGPT (third place) publication awards for their recent article in Clinical Oral Implants Research. Their research focused on the success of dental implants in individuals with Sjögren's syndrome. Another publication, highlighting the success of implant-supported prostheses in these patients, was recently published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. This collaborative project, supported by FNO and Biohorizons, involved the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery departments of Amsterdam UMC, UMC Utrecht, UMC Groningen, and TP Bocht-Oosterdiep.
Curious to delve deeper into Sjögren's syndrome and the work of Dr. Jager and his team? In 2022, we conducted an interview with Dr. Jager following the NIH/NIAID R34 Clinical Trial Planning Grant (200,000 euros) he was awarded for a clinical trial exploring an anti-inflammatory drug for Sjögren's syndrome. You can find the article here.
Dental implants in individuals with Sjögren's syndrome a research project by Derk Jan Jager, Assistant professor at Amsterdam UMC
Text: Esmée Vesseur