Innovations from research: UvA, VU and Amsterdam UMC receive NWO Take-off grants
Publication date: 28 September 2026
From an injectable implant to treat osteoarthritis to a pill-sized camera for detecting oesophageal cancer: five innovations from the UvA, VU and Amsterdam UMC have been awarded NWO Take-off grants.
The projects focus on better treatments for type 1 diabetes, smarter nanotechnology, accessible speech and language therapy using AI, and innovative medical devices with a social impact. And it is worth noting that the projects are supported by IXA.
Recipients of the Take-off 1 grant: intended for feasibility studies
Injectable Implants for the treatment of osteoarthritis – Theo Smit of Amsterdam UMC
Osteoarthritis is a common joint condition that causes pain and restricted movement, for which current treatments often provide insufficient relief. Theo Smit of Amsterdam UMC and SupraPolix B.V. have developed a patented injectable material that acts as a temporary, elastic cushion within the joint, thereby reducing pain. The team will investigate the commercial viability in Europe and the United States.
Recipients of the Take-off 2 grant: further development towards commercial viability
Tolerance-inducing immunotherapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes
AviSia Therapeutics is a company that emerged from Amsterdam UMC. It is working on new treatments for autoimmune diseases, conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells. The idea is to teach the immune system to become tolerant of the body’s own cells again. This works via glycans: complex sugar molecules that cells use to communicate with one another. Type 1 diabetes is the first disease targeted by these innovations, and the initial research results are promising.
InspectT: Accelerating nanotechnology research and development through integrated analysis of size and chemical composition. Giulia Giubertoni from the University of Amsterdam
InSpectT, a spin-off from the University of Amsterdam, develops and commercialises patented technology for the size and chemical analysis of complex mixtures in nanotechnological products, such as smart coatings or mRNA vaccines. Applications lie in the (bio)pharmaceutical, life sciences and materials science sectors, where rapid and reliable characterisation of proteins, polymers and small molecules shortens the development cycle and reduces costs.
Speaklee: Inclusive and accessible speech and language therapy for everyone – Quint Wiersma, VU Amsterdam
Speaklee is an AI-powered digital assistant that supports children with speech and language disorders. The Take-off 2 project focuses on its implementation within the Dutch speech and language therapy sector, thereby preparing the technology for scalable deployment and a broader societal impact.
Lumeniris: a pill-sized camera for improved detection of oesophageal cancer – Anouk Post and Johannes de Boer, VU Amsterdam
Endoscopy has revolutionised medicine by allowing doctors to look inside the body without surgery. However, the method is time-consuming and provides limited diagnostic information. Lumeniris is developing a pill-sized camera for the detection of oesophageal cancer: LightUp. This product detects more early-stage cancers through a faster and simpler procedure, which makes a significant difference to patients.
