The successful UvA / AMC researchers
Mr C.J.J. Boogerd (Medicine): What causes congenital heart defects?Boogerd is going to study the role of the TBX20 protein on the construction of heart valves and heart muscle. The protein may be involved in congenital heart defects. This protein will be isolated from a mouse heart, to gain insight into congenital heart defects.
The research will be conducted at the University of California, San Diego (USA).
Dr S. van Gaal (Psychology): Measuring consciousness in damaged and healthy brains
Van Gaal will measure brain activity in healthy people and patients with consciousness problems. For example, people who find themselves in a coma or a vegetative state. This will allow him to find out how the brain generates our consciousness and what goes wrong when we lose consciousness.
The research will be conducted at the Neurospin Institute (France).
Mr L. Huijse (Physics): Understanding foreign materials with black holes
Some materials have special properties. They can conduct electricity without resistance for example or have infinite low-energy states. Materials with these special properties are often poorly understood. Huijse will try to gain more insight into these materials
The research will be conducted at Harvard University, Cambridge (USA).
Dr M.T.M. Mommersteeg (Biology): How is the heart controlled?
The rhythm and the strength of the heart are controlled via nerves from the brain. Mommersteeg will examine how the connections between the heart and brain come to being and what mechanism underlies it.
The research will be conducted at University College London (UK).