Three researchers active in the medical sciences are to receive funding from the KNAW Van Walree Fund to pursue innovative activities that support sustainable, peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing. The three researchers are Joyce Browne (Utrecht University Medical Centre), Malon Van den Hof (Amsterdam University Medical Centre/Statistics Netherlands) and Veerle Heesters (Leiden University Medical Centre), who will each receive up to EUR 10,000 in funding.
Joyce Browne is affiliated with Utrecht University Medical Centre, where she studies methods for reducing health inequalities worldwide, for example by improving the health of pregnant women or securing fairer international partnerships. The KNAW Van Walree Fund is providing financial support for the establishment of regional 'hubs' in low- and middle-income countries within the context of the biennial European Congress on Global Health, which this year is focusing on the theme of Planetary Health. The hubs represent a relatively novel approach to engaging researchers from around the world in this event, in particular those working in the fields of global health, planetary health and tropical medicine.
Malon Van den Hof is a postdoctoral researcher at Amsterdam University Medical Centre and Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Her research delves into the relationship between early-life circumstances and health later in life. She believes that public health can be improved by putting preventive measures in place in early childhood. The KNAW Van Walree Fund is helping her set up a Statistics Netherlands community by supporting a kick-off symposium and the establishment of a digital learning environment. Statistics Netherlands collects data from official records on 17 million people in the Netherlands, but many researchers do not yet have the skills needed to use this data for research purposes. Utilising this vast repository of data responsibly in scientific research can make a valuable contribution to long-term public health.
PhD candidate Veerle Heesters is affiliated with Leiden University Medical Centre, where she is researching video reflection. This valuable method for improving the quality of care involves physicians and nurses watching real-time video recordings of acute procedures together to evaluate interventions. Video reflection of real-life care quite literally puts the focus on local expertise, allowing medical professionals to learn about certain procedures in detail. Heesters will use the funding to develop an online toolbox that makes it easier for other departments to introduce the video reflection method. Knowledge-sharing by means of video reflection will not only help to cut down on travel but also benefit care teams who do not have the resources to acquire local expertise abroad.
Scientific researchers can apply for up to € 10,000 for new initiatives that enable (more) sustainable knowledge sharing about medical-scientific research between professional colleagues, preferably (also) for researchers from low and middle income countries.
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