VICI grant for Sander Tans

AMOLF group leader prof.dr. Sander Tans received a VICI grant by NWO. He receives his grant of 1.5 M€ for his reasearch on Molecular origami.

In our cells mysterious proteins help to fold new chains of amino acids into a 3D functional protein. Folding mistakes of these so-called chaperones can lead to conditions such as Alzheimer. Tans  will study  the secrets of this complex form of origami by looking at the folding of single proteins, using optical tweezers. This will enable the researchers  to directy observe the the pushing and pulling forces that are part of the folding process.

About the vici grants
The Innovational Research Incentives Scheme has been set up in 2000 by NWO, KNAW and the universities jointly. The aim is to promote innovation in the academic research field. The scheme is directed at providing encouragement for individual researchers and gives talented, creative researchers the opportunity to conduct their own research programme independently and promote talented researchers to enter and remain committed to the scientific profession. It includes three forms of grant: Veni (for researchers who have recently completed their doctorates), Vidi (for experienced researchers) and Vici (for researchers of professorial quality).

Sander Tans