Dutch Medical Centers Boost Health-Tech Innovation with €320,000 Grant Program
Nijmegen, Friday, 18 October 2024.
Radboudumc and University of Twente have awarded €320,000 in TURBO grants to four cutting-edge medical technology projects. This initiative, part of their HealthTech Nexus partnership, aims to address critical healthcare challenges through innovative research, ranging from improved carotid artery treatments to sustainable kidney disease care.
Innovative Medical Projects at the Forefront
The TURBO grants, totaling €320,000, are set to propel four pioneering medical technology projects led by collaborative teams from Radboudumc and the University of Twente. These projects not only aim to improve existing medical procedures but also pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in healthcare technology. The focus is firmly on addressing pressing medical challenges with innovative solutions, underscoring the commitment of these institutions to enhancing patient outcomes through research and development.
Project Highlights: BEAT and Liver Cancer Treatment
The first of these projects, ‘Blood Flow Evaluation After Carotid Surgical Treatment (BEAT),’ led by Michel Reijnen from the University of Twente and Anne Saris from Radboudumc, aims to enhance understanding of blood flow patterns following carotid artery surgeries. Utilizing ultrasound-based velocity vector imaging, the study will compare two surgical techniques to determine their impact on restenosis risk, ultimately benefiting approximately 3,000 patients annually in the Netherlands[1]. Meanwhile, another project led by Erik Groot Jebbink and Frank Nijsen, ‘Combining Bubbles and Spheres to Optimize Liver Cancer Treatment,’ seeks to refine radioembolization techniques using microbubbles, offering hope to the 80-90% of liver cancer patients unable to undergo curative treatments[2].
Advancements in Kidney Research and Sustainable Healthcare
Furthering the scope of the TURBO initiative, the ‘Novel Tubular Renal Bioreactor for Ion Transport’ project, led by Dimitrios Stamatialis and Jeroen de Baaij, focuses on developing sophisticated culture systems to study renal ion transport. This research could significantly impact treatments for genetic kidney disorders[3]. Additionally, the ‘Towards Green Healthcare’ initiative, under the guidance of Shiva Faeghinezhad and Hugo Touw, aims to integrate environmental sustainability into health technology assessments, particularly for chronic kidney disease treatments. This project highlights the growing importance of incorporating ecological considerations into healthcare solutions[4].
Impact and Future Prospects
Since its inception in 2017, the TURBO grant program has supported 28 research groups with over €2 million in funding, leading to more than €19 million in joint research projects. These initiatives not only enhance the research capabilities of Radboudumc and the University of Twente but also exemplify the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration in driving medical innovation. By preparing researchers for subsequent funding applications, TURBO ensures that these projects have a sustained impact, potentially revolutionizing healthcare practices and patient care globally[5].