ZonMW grant for research into preventing metastasis of malignant cancer cells and making them susceptible to therapy again

By recognising and valuing researchers in a new way, ZonMw funds research that fits in with the changing role of science in society. In this competition, 16 research teams that set up innovative collaborations that contribute to long-term innovation in science and healthcare will each receive up to 750,000 euros. One of these teams is a collaboration of Pouyan Boukany of Chemical Engineering, TU Delft with LUMC and Erasmus MC.

The grant is awarded to this research:

Targeting the Mesenchymal Cancer Cell Phenotype for Therapeutic Gain

Most cancer patients die from malignant metastases, or because the patients have become insensitive to chemotherapy. In this project, we aim to identify and repurpose existing drugs to selectively change the behaviour of aggressive cancer cells into non-invasive and therapy sensitive cancer cells or benign fat cells.

Dr P.E. (Pouyan) Boukany – TU Delft
Prof. ir. P. (Peter) ten Dijke – Leiden University Medical Center
Prof. J.W.M. (John) Martens and prof. S. (Stefan) Sleijfer – Erasmus MC Cancer Institute