ZonMw grant for Onck

Prof. Patrick Onck (ZIAM) will receive a ZonMw grant. Onck will work with Prof. Jan-Jacob Schuringa (UMCG) on identifying novel ways to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. For this, they receive EUR 750.000 funding. The ZonMw funding enables research groups to develop innovative team science initiatives that contribute to the long-term advancement of fundamental (bio)medical science and healthcare.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a blood cancer that remains extremely difficult to treat. AML is caused by aberrations in the DNA, which disturb the normal differentiation process from hematopoietic stem cells to mature functional blood cells. As a consequence, gene expression control is altered. Based on research over the past years, it has become clear that gene expression control is not only a biological process, but also a physical process. Many transcriptional regulators have unique physical properties, they are often intrinsically disordered, meaning that these proteins do not have a rigid predefined structure. Rather, they have the capacity to interact with various other proteins, thereby forming so-called transcriptional condensates, which are gel-like structures on the DNA. The main aim of the current proposal is to dissect the composition and function of these condensates in detail, with the ultimate aim of identifying novel ways to treat AML patients.

Prof. J.J. Schuringa, University Medical Center Groningen, Prof. P.R. Onck, University of Groningen

https://www.zonmw.nl/en/news/zonmw-open-competition-2024-29-research-teams-receive-funding-totalling-eu24-million