Veni-grant for Wouter Kiekens

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded a Veni grant of up to €320,000 each to 21 researchers of the University of Groningen and the UMCG. The Veni grants are designed for outstanding researchers who have recently gained a PhD.

NWO selects researchers based on the academic quality and the innovative character of the research proposal, the scientific and/or societal impact of the proposed project, and the quality of the researcher. The Veni grants, together with the Vidi and Vici grants, are part of the NWO Talent Programme. In total, the NWO has provided Veni funding to 204 researchers nationwide.

Sex & Drugs: Unraveling Chemsex among Men Who Have Sex with Men

Wouter Kiekens, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

About 27% of Dutch men who have sex with men have used drugs during sex, also known as chemsex, and some of them face social and health problems because of it. Although we know a lot about the risks of chemsex, we still understand relatively little about why men who have sex with men engage in chemsex and when it leads to social or health problems. This research will uncover the motivations behind chemsex and identify when it becomes problematic. The findings will help healthcare providers, prevention programs, and harm reduction campaigns to better support this group.