Why these 6 Erasmus researchers will receive €800,000

The Vidi grant is awarded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) to researchers who, after obtaining their doctorate, have successfully conducted research for a number of years.

The best of the best
With the money, €800,000 each, the researchers can develop their research or set up their own research group. NWO selects Vidi laureates based on the quality of the researcher, innovative character of the research, expected scientific impact of the research proposal and possibilities for knowledge usage. The chosen academics are among the top 10-20% in their field.

This is the research they were awarded for:

• Prof. Dr. Renske Keizer: Dads, dimes, and quarters. There is a Dutch saying: The one who’s born a dime, will never be a quarter. In this project Keizer investigates whether this is true. Specifically how fathers may influence this. Attention is also given to the role context (the extended family, peers and country characteristics) plays.

• Dr. Jeroen van der Waal: Why do the less educated distrust institutional professionals? The less educated distrust politicians, judges and scientists more than their more educated counterparts. This project develops a theory and method to uncover the role of institutional knowledge and colliding lifestyles and attitudes.

• Dr. Anne Gielen: Welfare – dependency from parent to child. This study investigates how getting welfare during childhood impacts socio-economic outcomes in adulthood. Are positive effects from income protection offset by transmission of a culture of dependency from one generation to the next? What are the underlying mechanisms? And does this have long-term impacts on an individual and on society?
   
• Dr. Judith Rietjens: Patient engagement of patients with advanced cancer. Patients with advanced cancer increasingly need to take a significant role in managing their healthcare. Many patients and their family caregivers are ill prepared for this complex task. The researchers will examine who has more difficulties with self-management, why this is the case, and how they can best be supported.

• Dr. Natasja de Groot: Eliminate a trial fibrillation. Progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) is caused by abnormalities in electrical conduction (‘electro pathology’). This can be uncovered by applying a dedicated electrical stimulation technique. The severity of electro pathology is indicated by the level of electrical biomarkers, which can be used to individualize diagnosis and therapy of AF.
   
• Prof. Dr. Robin Peeters: Monitoring fetal hormones by measurements in maternal serum. Low maternal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy result in a decreased child IQ, autism, ADHD and schizophrenia. To improve treatment of hypothyroid mothers (and brain development of their children), this study will develop a method to monitor fetal thyroid status via measurements in maternal serum.