Three researchers at the UMCG have received a prestigious Dekker Grant from the Dutch Heart Foundation. Campus Groningen congratulates them on this important recognition and support for groundbreaking heart research.
No fewer than three UMCG researchers have been awarded a Dekker Grant this year. With their studies, Jozine ter Maaten, Cristy Verzijl and Rianne Zandijk aim to achieve concrete improvements in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In total, the funding amounts to over one million euros.
Better treatment for heart failure – Jozine ter Maaten (€553,000)
Many patients with heart failure do not receive optimal medication, as some heart failure drugs also affect kidney function. However, there is growing evidence that these medicines do not harm patients’ health—on the contrary, those who do not receive them are more often hospitalized and have a higher mortality risk. Some of these drugs even protect kidney function in the long term. Cardiologist Jozine ter Maaten is investigating whether patients may actually benefit from less frequent kidney checks while still closely monitoring blood values. In a study involving nearly 350 patients, she compares standard care with this alternative approach. The goal: less hesitation among doctors, broader and higher-dosage use of effective medicines, fewer hospitalizations and better quality of life.
Read more about her research on the Hartstichting website.
Smarter cholesterol-lowering drugs – Cristy Verzijl (€334,000)
Not everyone responds the same to cholesterol-lowering medication. For example, women after menopause often experience more side effects. Postdoctoral researcher Cristy Verzijl focuses on how cholesterol is processed in the liver and why this differs between men and women. She investigates, among other things, the role of the ARL8B protein in cholesterol transport within liver cells. The outcomes are expected to lead to new, more effective cholesterol-lowering drugs with fewer side effects, tailored to the individual patient.
Read more about her research on the Hartstichting website.
How heart failure and arrhythmias interact – Rianne Zandijk (€158,000)
Heart failure and atrial fibrillation often occur together and aggravate each other. Medical researcher Rianne Zandijk aims to discover how these conditions influence one another, which patients are at greatest risk, and how doctors can better assess which condition weighs heaviest in a patient. She is investigating whether a simple test, electrical cardioversion, can help determine whether symptoms such as fatigue or shortness of breath are mainly caused by heart failure or atrial fibrillation. This knowledge could lead to more targeted treatments and personalized care.
Read more about her research on the Hartstichting website.
About the Dekker Grant
The Dekker Grant is one of the largest personal research grants in the Netherlands in the field of cardiovascular diseases. It enables researchers to fully dedicate themselves to innovative studies that contribute to better treatment and prevention in the coming years.
Source text and picture: UMCG
Who is developing the most impactful innovation in Life Sciences & Health in the Northern Netherlands? Five companies are in the running for the LIFE Science Innovation Award 2026: Flux Robotics, Limosa Immunodiagnostics, SPCTR, MimeCure and GlycanScan International. The nominees will present their innovations on Tuesday 22 September during the fifth edition of the LIFE Science Conference in Groningen. An independent jury will select the winner, who will receive a €10,000 cash prize.
A much-loved tradition The Campus Trail has become a much-loved tradition on campus. Students, employees and professionals from companies and organisations across the campus ecosystem lace up their running shoes for a sporty 6.4-kilometre route through buildings and past some of the campus’s unique labs. The rapid growth in registrations shows just how much the Campus Trail has become part of the campus community. The combination of sport, meeting others and the unique campus setting makes the run a great opportunity to connect with people outside the usual work and study environment. And there’s no need to head home as soon as you cross the finish line. During the after-party, hosted by Contini Catering, participants can relax together, enjoy a drink and celebrate the afternoon. There’s still time to join: those who want to take part can register online until 3 September, or sign up on the day itself using the PIN Campus Trail 2026 | Campus Groningen.
ZonMw is expected to open the final call for proposals within the PharmaNL Shared Development Infrastructure (SDI) program line. This program line focuses on strengthening the infrastructure for the development, upscaling, and production of innovative medicines in the Netherlands.
