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Eleven research consortia across diverse scientific disciplines are launching ambitious projects that will advance science and strengthen the economic and social prosperity of the Netherlands. These initiatives range from developing a highly detailed virtual model of the Dutch energy system, led by TU Delft, to creating a next-generation MRI scanner capable of imaging people in motion, spearheaded by UMC Utrecht.
Funded through the National Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Infrastructure, these projects enable the construction and renewal of essential facilities that keep the Netherlands at the forefront of global research and innovation.
AMICE: The Dutch Infrastructure of Advanced Multimodal Imaging Centers
Main applicant: Dr. M. Bernsen, Erasmus Medical Centre
Consortium partners: Eindhoven University of Technology, LUMC, Maastricht University, Radboudumc (represented by Prof. Tom W.J. Scheenen, Prof. Amanda Kiliaan, Dr. Maximilian Wiesmann, Prof. Chris de Korte, Dr. Anne Saris, Prof. Sandra Heskamp, Dr. Joanes Grandjean), UMC Amsterdam, UMC Groningen, UMC Utrecht, Wageningen University & Research centre.
Imaging inside living beings is important to understand how life develops, how healthy bodies work, and how diseases begin and progress. This demands specialized equipment and knowledge. AMICE will develop such techniques and bring them into a nationwide preclinical infrastructure. This will help researchers acquire more information. In addition, AMICE will promote re-use of images to increase efficiency in science. Through this AMICE will help Dutch life scientists revolutionize their research with unique and innovative imaging techniques and to stay at the top of the international science community.
BioMotive: Imaging the biomechanics of the internal human body in motion
Main applicant: Prof. C.A.T. van den Berg, UMC Utrecht
Consortiumpartners: Amsterdam UMC, Central Military Hospital, Erasmus MC, Klimmendaal, Kortradio, Leiden UMC, Maastricht University, Radboudumc (represented by Dr. Donnie Cameron en Prof. Nico J.J. Verdonschot), Technical University Eindhoven, University of Twente, UMC Groningen, VU Amsterdam, Wageningen University & Research.
Medical imaging only captures the human body in a static, horizontal view, which doesn’t reflect the forces and function that occur during everyday activities like standing or exercise. BioMotive aims to revolutionize this with an advanced MRI infrastructure that can scan the body upright and during movement. This will allow us to see how muscles, bones, and even the heart behave under real-life conditions, such as during exercise. By applying advanced MRI techniques, BioMotive enables real-time visualization of internal forces and physiological processes, providing deeper insights into conditions of the muscles, digestion and blood circulation influenced by posture and movement.
BioBeyond_NL: Molecular Complexity Beyond the Genetic Code
Main applicant: Prof. R.M.A. Heeren, University Maastricht
Consortium partners: LUMC, Radboudumc (represented by Prof. Dirk J. Lefeber, Dr. Hans J.C.T. Wessels, en Fokje Zijlstra), Utrecht University.
The understanding of cellular biological processes, which lie at the basis of human health and disease, but also animal, microbial, and plant biology, requires the realization of a research infrastructure that allows the in-depth investigation of this complex biology beyond the genome. BioBeyond_NL is an accessible, large-scale national infrastructure that provides combined access to cutting-edge mass spectrometry, spatial biology, and glycoscience to enable researchers to unravel biological information beyond the genetic code. Through its solid foundation and future-proof innovation, BioBeyond_NL aims to be a sustainable, (inter)national research infrastructure enabling continuous scientific breakthroughs in biomedicine.
EMPower: Electron Microscopy from whole organism to atomic resolution
Main applicant: Prof. F.G. Förster, Utrecht University
Consortium partners: Genmab, Hubrecht Institute, LUMC, Leiden University, Maastricht University, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Radboudumc (represented by Prof. Nico Sommerdijk), Delft University of Technology, UMC Amsterdam, UMC Groningen, UMC Utrecht, University Groningen, VU Amsterdam.
A national infrastructure to resolve life's secrets at the molecular level. Understanding and designing molecular structure is core to science and technology. Electron microscopy (EM) enables high-resolution imaging of biological samples to see molecules at the atomic level and visualize them in 3D in cells and organs. To keep the Netherlands at the forefront of this revolutionary field, a national infrastructure is created, integrating the latest innovations in cryo-EM and volume EM. The infrastructure will offer users tools for cutting-edge sample preparation, data acquisition and analysis, train and expand the EM community in the Netherlands, and pave the way for new discoveries and scientific advances in medicine and technology.
