NWO HTSM Call: six projects awarded

The high-tech sector plays an important role in solving social problems and creating economic opportunities for the Netherlands. NWO and we, as the top sector High Tech Systems and Materials (Holland High Tech), have therefore joined forces to finance fundamental and application-oriented research into high-tech, systems and materials. We do this through the NWO HTSM Call. Six research consortia, consisting of researchers and companies, will use this funding to start research into, among other things, innovative techniques for testing food quality and less invasive MRI technology.

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Leo Warmerdam, General Manager Holland High Tech: "We believe that the involvement of Dutch high-tech companies in innovation is of great importance. This is precisely how knowledge and insights from research can quickly lead to value creation in the business community. Holland High Tech welcomes the collaboration with NWO in this joint NWO HTSM Call in which we stimulate scientific research on specific key technology topics. The six projects will contribute to the development of the key technology Imaging Technologies, and thus also to our earning capacity in this important technology."

NWO HTSM Call

The NWO HTSM Call ties in with our innovation domains and the National Technology Strategy (NTS). This strategy identifies key technologies that are needed for urgent transitions, including the energy transition, the circular transition and the development of digitalisation. Specifically, the awarded projects from this round of the HTSM NWO Call tie in with the key technologies Energy Materials and Imaging Technologies.

Awarded projects

1. DUAL-mode IMaging for Production and Automated Control Technologies (DUAL-IMPACT) | Prof. dr. K.J. Batenburg, University of Leiden

In manufacturing and maintenance industries, traditional quality control methods are often slow, labour-intensive and error-prone. This is particularly critical in sectors such as food processing and energy infrastructure, where rapid and accurate detection of contaminants or defects is essential to prevent risks to public health and safety. The need for faster, more reliable detection of internal defects is the reason for this project. Advanced imaging techniques that combine detailed three-dimensional imaging with the efficiency and speed of high-throughput systems are required. Research within the project aims to transform industrial quality control by developing a new imaging workflow that integrates a ‘3D mode’ into these systems.

Co-applicants: Dr S.A. van den Berg, The Hague University of Applied Sciences (HHS), Dr H.R. Doughty, Leiden University, Prof. T. van Leeuwen, Institutes Organisation of NWO, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Dr A.J. Lock, The Hague University of Applied Sciences (HHS)
Partners: Meyn Food Processing Technology, APPLUS
Innovation Domains Holland High Tech: Imaging Technologies and Optical Systems & Integrated Photonics

2. Cryogenic-soft landing imaging mass spectrometry: an ultrapure biological sample preparation platform for cryogenic-electron microscopy | Dr. A. Mathew, University of Maastricht

Macromolecular assemblies (MMAs), such as protein complexes and viruses, play a crucial role in biological processes such as signal transduction and cellular transport. Understanding their molecular structure is essential for insights into human health. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a powerful tool for determining the atomic structure of MMAs. However, several challenges related to sample preparation, data collection and processing, electron beam damage and instrument limitations hinder further progress in spatial resolution. The project focuses on image-guided native mass spectrometry (nMS) as a tool for sample preparation for cryo-EM.

Co-applicant: Prof. dr. R.M.A. Heeren, Maastricht University
Partners: Amsterdam Scientific Instruments, DEMCON, Thermofisher Scientific, VitroTEM
Innovation Domains Holland High Tech: Imaging Technologies and Artificial intelligence and data

3. CLEAR-water: Contrast-agent Free Hemodynamic MRI by Spin Labelling Enabled by Acquisition and Reconstruction Advances | Prof. dr. ir. M.J.P. van Osch, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum

Most MRI scans of the brain use a contrast agent based on gadolinium. The contrast agent leaves the patient's body via urine and ends up in sewage water. Gadolinium is difficult to filter out of surface water, and pollution above the limit values is often measured in Dutch river water. This makes it important to minimise the use of MRI contrast agents. This project is developing new MRI techniques that use magnetic labelling of the blood. This is a completely risk- and damage-free method that measures the same information without the use of contrast agents.

Co-applicant: Prof. dr. ir. M. Staring, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum
Partner: Philips
Innovation Domain Holland High Tech: Imaging Technologies

4. DeepSIM: Live tissue imaging at the nanoscale | Prof. dr. B. Rieger, TU Delft

Diseases such as cancer, where there are significant differences between patients, require treatment plans tailored to individual patients. Molecular medicine can reduce healthcare costs by moving away from ineffective treatments. The necessary developments take time, and in an ageing society, the urgency is high. A better understanding of the molecular origins of diseases is key to innovation, but this requires effective 3D imaging tools in the preclinical phase. The project aims to develop microscope technology and methodology that increases the spatial-temporal bandwidth, enabling faster, high-resolution 3D multi-label imaging in tissue.

Co-applicant: Dr. C.S. Smith, TU Delft
Partners: Amsterdam Scientific Instrumens, Confocal.nl, DELMIC, Lumicks, Flexible Optical (Okotech), Technolution
Innovation Domain Holland High Tech: Imaging Technologies

5. PRISTINE: PReclinical validation of multi-modal Imaging Systems and Technologies In NEuromuscular disorders | Prof. dr. ir. T.W.J. Scheenen, Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum

Muscle diseases have a huge impact, not only on patients, but also on their families and those closest to them. These conditions limit daily functioning, lead to reduced quality of life and cause both emotional and physical stress. This project aims to improve healthcare and the lifespan of individuals living with a muscle disease through the development of advanced multimodal imaging. A comprehensive preclinical muscle imaging tool is being developed. The multimodal imaging protocol will provide robust assessment of muscle contractility and tissue quality to characterise the changes in muscle health observed in the FLExDUX4 mouse model of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

Co-applicants: Prof. dr. N. van Alfen, Radboud UMC, dr. J.C. de Greef, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, prof. dr. ir. N.J.J. Verdonschot, Universiteit Twente
Partners: iThera Medical, Solve FSHD
Innovation Domain Holland High Tech: Imaging Technologies

6. Advanced acquisition and image reconstruction for total-body positron emission tomography | Prof. dr. ir. C. Tsoumpas, Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen

Positron emission tomography (PET), combined with computed tomography (CT), can be used to measure molecular interactions in both humans and animals. This capability significantly improves the diagnosis of many diseases, such as Alzheimer's and cancer. The application of PET imaging is limited by the amount of harmful ionising radiation involved. To make PET imaging more widely applicable in medical practice, clinical research and drug development, a significant reduction in radiation dose is essential. By significantly reducing radiation levels, this project will improve the safety of the technology for routine clinical use and expand its applications in both clinical settings and research.