Prof. Van Zwieten Award

Home Awards Prof. Van Zwieten Award

Dutch Pharmacological Society awards the Prof. Van Zwieten Award for the best PhD thesis defended in the Netherlands in the field of pharmacology. The award will be received at the Spring NVF meeting.

Nomination deadline: 7th February 2025

Please send a thesis and a support letter to a.roks@erasmusmc.nl; a.m.dolga@rug.nl or contact@nvfarmacologie.nl

Selection criteria are:

  • the scientific quality of the PhD thesis
  • the focus on pharmacology
  • being a NVF membe

2024: Dr. Eva Viho (for year 2023), with her thesis entitled ‘Diversity of glucocorticoid receptor signaling -Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implication’ obtained the van Zwieten award 2023. She performed her studies at the University Leiden, under supervision of Prof. Onno Meijer and Dr. Jan Kroon. Eva performed her elaborated studies composed of a variety of a spectrum of different techniques ranging from in vivo, ex vivo, bioinformatics approaches and biochemical characterization. The work of Eva provided us with novel insights into the mode of action of glucocorticoid receptors, s he applied several pharmacological modulators of the receptors. The work has been published in several peer-reviewed high ranking journals. The candidate is now postdoc at the Helmholtz Institute in Munich, Psychiatry. She recruited travel grants, and won a price for one of her manuscripts.


2023: Dr. Rugina Neuman (Erasmus MC) and Dr. Laurens Verscheijden, Radboud UMC (year 2022)

The PhD thesis of Dr. Rugina Neuman is entitled: “Circulating factors in preeclampsia: From prediction to treatment” with promoters: Prof. A.H.J. Danser, Prof. E.A.P. Steegers, and co-promoter:  Dr. W. Visser.

The PhD thesis of Dr. Laurens Verscheijden is entitled: “Mechanistic models for the prediction of brain drug exposure and response in the paediatric population: A virtual child reaching maturation” with promoters: Prof. Frans Russel, Prof. Saskia de Wildt, and co-promoter Dr. Jan Koenderink.


2022: Dr. Amer Jamalpoor (The Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences) (year 2021)

Title: Investigating the pathophysiology and potential therapeutic approaches for nephropathic cystinosis

Abstract: Nephropathic cystinosis is an autosomal recessive monogenic kidney disorder characterized by lysosomal accumulation of cystine throughout the body, causing organ damage, particularly the kidneys. This is due to pathogenic mutations in the CTNS gene, which encodes for the lysosomal cystine transporter cystinosin, transporting cystine from the lysosome into the cytoplasm.

Patients with nephropathic cystinosis usually develop symptoms of renal Fanconi syndrome, and if not treated, progress to end stage renal disease within the first 12 years of life. The mainstay for cystinosis treatment is life-long therapy with cysteamine, a cystine depleting agent. Although cysteamine efficiently lowers lysosomal cystine levels and improves some clinical outcomes, it does not reverse the established renal Fanconi syndrome and cannot prevent the loss in renal function. This suggests involvement of complex pathophysiological processes in disease progression that may not be directly related to cystine overload. Therefore, this thesis aimed to investigate the disease pathophysiology and to find new potential therapeutic interventions that could replace or compliment cysteamine therapy for patients with cystinosis.


2021: Dr. Emilie Hitzerd (Erasmus MC) (year 2020)

Title: Towards novel therapies for preeclampsia – restoring vascular dysfunction

 

 

 

 


2021: Dr. Haoxiao Zuo (University of Groningen) (year 2019)

Thesis title: Compartmentalized cAMP signaling in COPD. Focus on phosphodiesterases and A-kinase anchoring proteins


2019: Dr. Miloš Mihajlović (Utrecht University) (year 2018)

Thesis title: A next step towards bioartificial kidney: preclinical safety evaluation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


2018: Dr. Birgit Honrath (University of Groningen) (year 2017)

Thesis title: Mitochondrial dysfunction in oxidative stress: On the impact of neuronal KCa channels & calcium signaling in neurodegeneration.

2017: Dr. Tom Schirris (year 2016)

Thesis title: Identifying on- and off-target mitochondrial drug effects by systems medicine