Biotech Booster grant for FSE researchers

Prof. Marc van der Maarel and Prof. Geert van den Bogaart of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (UG) will receive a Biotech Booster grant of EUR 200,000 from the National Growth Fund Program. Van der Maarel will use the grant to market glycogen from microalgae as a sustainable ingredient in cosmetic products. Van den Boogaart is developing new tests for better treatment of diseases, including cancer.

The Biotech Booster grant allows researchers to commercialize biotechnology inventions. Both projects run for two years and will begin October 1.

Making cosmetic market more sustainable

Van der Maarel's project focuses on scaling up glycogen produced by Galdieria microalgae as a sustainable moisturizing ingredient in a variety of cosmetic products such as shampoo and body lotion. These acid-loving microalgae thrive in the dark on local agricultural products such as glycerol from vegetable oil or sugar from sugar beet. The project is a collaboration with Mariska van der Hoek of the startup ModAlgae B.V. Van der Maarel and Van der Hoek previously received an NWO Take-off grant to research the feasibility of the project.

New test for better treatment of diseases

Van den Bogaart, together with Dr. Frans Bianchi, has developed a highly sensitive test to detect very small amounts of dividing cancer cells in biological fluids. The new test can improve the accuracy of cancer diagnoses and prevent recurrence. The test can also be used to determine the effectiveness of cancer treatment and to diagnose certain infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Van den Boogaart and Bianchi will now test these applications and then bring the diagnostic test to market. Van den Boogaart previously received an NWO Impact Explorer grant to explore the effectiveness of the test and develop a roadmap for its clinical application.

About Biotech Booster

The Biotech Booster program aims to make the Netherlands a leader in global biotechnology. Promising ideas are identified, guided and financed in a business-like manner. Successful projects receive support from committed top entrepreneurs in finding new partners. This allows them to grow through a start-up or within an existing company.

Read more

• NWO Take-off grant for Marc van der Maarel and Mariska van der Hoek

• NWO Impact Explorer for Van den Bogaart