Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases

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!

Take-off NWO grant – Phase 1 Feasibility study – Dr Alsya Affandi

Dr. Alsya Affandi, member of the Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (AI&I) and committee member of the Annual Meeting & Seminars Committee, has received a €50,000 Take-off grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO). This grant supports feasibility studies for the commercial application of innovative ideas originating from knowledge institutions, paving the way for potential start-up ventures.

The project: Nanobody as smart vaccine carrier against cancer

Traditional vaccines effectively train the immune system to combat infectious diseases but fall short in cancer treatment. The main challenge is delivering vaccines directly to the immune system’s ‘teacher cells’, the antigen-presenting cells, which are crucial for activating cancer-killing T cells. Dr. Affandi’s team is developing a nanobody-based technology designed to target these cells, enhancing vaccine delivery and effectiveness. This smart vaccine approach aims to trigger a stronger immune response against cancer.

‘We believe vaccines have the potential to transform the future of cancer immunotherapy, and our team is committed to improving them through the nanobody platform to achieve better clinical outcomes.‘

Dr. Alsya Affandi

Senior Researcher at MCBI

For more information about the grant and related projects, visit: 2025 | NWO

From left to right: Hendrik Brink, Joke den Haan, and Alsya Affandi, co-inventors of the patent that will be further developed with support from the Take-off NWO grant.

Gosling Prize – Dr. Laura Boekel

Dr. Laura Boekel, epidemiologist and postdoctoral researcher at Reade and member of the Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, has been awarded the prestigious Gosling Prize by the Dutch Society for Rheumatology for her PhD research.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Laura launched an innovative cohort study, tracking thousands of rheumatology patients and healthy controls through digital questionnaires and at-home fingerprick tests. Her research provided valuable insights into COVID-19 risks, vaccine responses, side effects, long COVID, and the patient perspective. Uniquely, participants received their personal results and study findings directly via the platform.

Laura’s work has had a direct impact on vaccination guidelines and treatment policies for Rituximab, making a real difference for patients and healthcare providers alike.