8 July 2026
The Open Competition Domain Science – XS grants of a maximum of € 50,000 are intended to support promising ideas and to facilitate innovative and more speculative initiatives within the seven Domain Science disciplines. The proposed research is ground-breaking and high-risk. What counts is that all results, be they positive or negative, must contribute to the advancement of science.
The UvA Faculty of Science projects that receive a grant are:
dr. B. Baumgartner (UvA-HIMS)
Modern chemical manufacturing still relies on fossil resources and inefficient oxidation processes, creating a need for cleaner and more selective approaches. We tackle this challenge brick by brick by developing a bio-inspired system that generates and uses oxidants only when and where they are needed. We assemble complementary metal-organic framework (MOF) building blocks that create nanoscale, controlled spaces where reactants meet and react more precisely. This approach aims to improve selectivity, reduce waste, and lower energy demand. The project tests whether this integrated approach can replace conventional bulk oxidant use and enable more sustainable chemical synthesis.
dr. M.A. Fernández Ibanez (UvA-HIMS)
This project explores a new method of activating medicines using mechanical force. We will develop "prodrugs" that remain inactive until activated by ultrasound, a safe and widely used medical technique. Unlike current methods, which rely on heat or chemical reactions, our approach uses small, specially designed molecules that convert mechanical energy into a precise trigger for drug release. This could allow medicines to be activated only in specific areas of the body, reducing side effects and improving treatment effectiveness. The project aims to establish an entirely new strategy for controlled, targeted drug delivery.
dr. T. Šolomek (UvA-HIMS)
Liver cancer patients often face high surgical risks due to poor blood clotting. Current ultrasound therapies also struggle to treat tumors located near major blood vessels. This project develops a chemical system that responds to both light and sound. Light pre-activates pro-drugs or drug carriers, making them more sensitive to low-power ultrasound. When triggered, the released therapeutic agent could eliminate cancer cells directly. This method provides an unprecedented, yet precise and safe, treatment that protects vital vessels and nerves, offering a solution for patients who cannot undergo traditional surgery or heat-based therapies.
dr. J.A. Soto Oton (UvA-IoP)
Neutrinos are among the most abundant particles in the universe yet interact so weakly that they are extraordinarily hard to detect. At the heart of neutrino experiments are sensors that must detect extremely faint flashes of ultraviolet light in large tanks of liquid argon. This project will test whether a special plastic can be 3D‑printed into new light‑collecting structures that operate in liquid argon. If successful, this could simplify the construction of next‑generation neutrino and dark‑matter detectors and help inspire new medical‑imaging technologies.