Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded Veni grants to 200 promising researchers across all scientific disciplines, including 13 from Amsterdam UMC and 2 affiliated with the Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (AI&I). Each recipient will receive up to €320,000 to develop their own research over the next three years. Congratulations to AI&I researchers dr. Kaspar Bresser and dr. Hung Jen Chen (Oliver)!

Kaspar Bresser – Reprogramming Diseased T Cells

T cells are essential players in our immune system. When functioning properly, they destroy harmful cells. But when this system goes off track, the consequences can be serious: underactive T cells may fail to eliminate cancer, while overactive ones can mistakenly attack the body, leading to autoimmune diseases.

With support from the NWO Veni grant, Dr. Bresser will investigate how T cells develop along different functional paths:

• capable of killing cancer cells or, in extreme cases, damaging healthy tissue;
• that lose their function and allow tumors to grow;
• that provide long-term protection by quickly responding to recurring threats.

Flipping the Right Molecular Switches

Dr. Bresser’s goal is to uncover the molecular signals that guide T cells in these different directions. By identifying which proteins and regulatory mechanisms influence T cell fate, his research could lay the foundation for targeted therapies:

• Boosting immunity in cancer treatment;
• Dampening overactive responses in autoimmune disease;
• Designing vaccines that strengthen long-lasting immune memory.

‘By understanding which ‘switches’ steer T cell behavior, we can begin to design new therapies that either activate or suppress the immune response, depending on the condition,’ dr. Bresser explains. ‘What fascinates me is how immune cells decide how to respond to certain triggers. Why does the immune system successfully destroy cancer in some cases, and why do T cells become exhausted in others? The more we understand these fundamental processes, the better equipped we’ll be to collaborate with others to develop effective treatments—and ultimately, help patients.’

Dr. Kaspar Bresser

Hung Jen Chen (Oliver) – Misguided Immunity in Severe Viral Infections

Our immune system relies on a careful balance: strong enough to fight infections, but restrained enough to avoid self-damage. In severe viral infections like COVID-19, particularly in people with obesity, this balance can break down, leading to harmful inflammation and poor viral control.

Supported by an NWO Veni grant, Dr. Hung Jen Chen will investigate how obesity-related signals and abnormal antibody responses reprogram immune cells called macrophages, shifting them from protective to pathological. His research centers on three key questions:

• Why do abnormal antibody responses trigger inflammation instead of antiviral defenses?
• How does obesity make immune cells more sensitive to harmful signaling?
• Which molecular “switches” control this immune misfiring?

Restoring the Balance

Dr. Chen aims to identify the key molecules behind this immune dysfunction and explore ways to reset them. His findings could lead to:

• Targeted therapies that reduce inflammation while preserving antiviral defenses;
• Improved protection for high-risk groups, such as people with obesity;
• New approaches to prevent or treat Long COVID, which is often linked to a lingering dysregulated immune response.

‘What excites me,’ says Dr. Chen, 'is uncovering how one part of the immune system can throw everything off and how we might intervene before that happens. These insights could help us not just in future pandemics, but in chronic inflammatory diseases as well.'

Dr. Hung Jen Chen (Oliver)

About the NWO Talent Programme

The Veni grant is part of the NWO Talent Programme (alongside Vidi and Vici), which empowers early-career researchers to pursue bold, curiosity-driven research. With a focus on innovation and diversity across disciplines and backgrounds, the programme helps shape tomorrow’s science and society. Read more on the NWO website.