Three NWO grants for Leiden researchers exploring the unknown

Pioneering research at Leiden Faculty of Science awarded NWO grants

Three bold ideas, one shared goal: advancing science for a better future

From smarter drug delivery to cosmic mysteries and innovative solar energy storage, three researchers from Leiden University’s Faculty of Science have been awarded prestigious NWO Open Competition XS grants. Their work reflects the breadth and depth of fundamental research taking place within the Leiden Bio Science Park ecosystem.

Targeting disease from the inside: Peptocarriers for smart drug delivery

Joachim van Guyse (Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research) is developing a new method to deliver peptide-based medicines directly inside cells. While peptide therapies hold great promise due to their precision and lower side effects, they often fail to cross the cell membrane.

Van Guyse’s team is tackling this problem with “Peptocarriers” — smart molecules designed to transport therapeutic peptides across cell membranes and release them precisely where needed. Initially aimed at cancer treatments, this technology has the potential to open new doors for intracellular therapies across a range of diseases.

Is the universe expanding evenly? Probing cosmic asymmetry

Postdoctoral researcher Konstantinos Migkas (Leiden Observatory) is investigating whether the universe is truly expanding at the same rate in every direction. Using the latest X-ray datasets of galaxy clusters — the universe’s largest structures — he is testing a controversial theory: that cosmic expansion may not be uniform after all.

If proven, this discovery could challenge our current cosmological models and reshape our understanding of the universe.

Solar energy, stored in molecules

Julia Villalva (Leiden Institute of Chemistry) is exploring new ways to store solar energy at the molecular level. Her work focuses on “photoswitches,” molecules that can capture solar energy and lock it into chemical bonds by changing shape and energy state when exposed to light.

The challenge? These switches often underperform in densely packed materials. Villalva’s team plans to enhance their efficiency by embedding them in the tiny cavities of nanotubes — a step toward real-world solar storage applications that go beyond batteries and panels.

Supporting bold ideas

The NWO Open Competition XS grants support high-risk, high-reward research with €50,000 in funding for one-year projects. These awards enable researchers to test new ideas, build proof of concept, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in fields ranging from chemistry and physics to life sciences and astronomy.

The awarded projects once again highlight Leiden’s role as a breeding ground for curiosity-driven research that contributes to global scientific progress — and strengthens the innovation landscape at the Leiden Bio Science Park.