The research group Omnes Pro Uno (OPU) of Utrecht University is one of the two winners of the Ammodo Science Award for groundbreaking research 2022. The Ammodo Foundation announced this today. The team will receive a cash prize of 1.2 million euros that can be used to explore new areas of research.
The Utrecht research group OPU, winner in the Biomedical Sciences domain, has had the mission for ten years now to cure patients with a genetic disease before irreparable damage occurs in the body. Their research led to groundbreaking discoveries. Among other things, the researchers succeeded in cultivating mini-organs from tissues of the human body, so that treatments can be tested and genetic errors can be corrected. The next ambitious step is that Omnes Pro Uno aims to correct the genetic cause of diseases directly in the body of patients via the bloodstream, so that the disease has no chance to affect the body.
Sabine Fuchs, principal investigator of OPU and pediatrician for metabolic diseases at UMC Utrecht: “By combining basic, clinical, societal and ethical research in all phases of our work, our team offers patients a unique perspective on treatment.” Fuchs is pleased with the award: “Thanks to the Ammodo Science Award, our team can now ethically use the unprecedented advances in genetic engineering to develop innovative gene correction therapies. It concerns treatments for a large group of patients with hereditary diseases.”
All rectors of the universities affiliated with the VSNU have been asked to submit a nomination. “Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht are extremely proud of this team of scientific frontrunners,” says Prof. Dr Henk Kummeling, Rector Magnificus Utrecht University. “By bringing together their complementary expertise in organoids, genetics, ethics and translational medicine in Omnes Pro Uno, they make an important contribution to the treatment of rare diseases. Because these diseases are so rare, less money is usually invested in developing therapies. Moreover, the research is closely linked to education in Utrecht, which means that the team will also inspire researchers and doctors of the future.”
The Ammodo Science Award for groundbreaking research expresses appreciation for research that is internationally recognised, of high quality, has the potential to be groundbreaking and which is carried out jointly. The Award includes two equal cash prizes and is awarded in even calendar years. In addition, Ammodo has been presenting the Ammodo Science Award for fundamental research in odd calendar years since 2015, which is intended for excellent mid-career scientists.
