NVBMB prize

About the NVBMB Prize

The NVBMB Prize is a prestigious recognition awarded by the Netherlands Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, celebrating outstanding contributions in the field. Established to honor excellence and innovation, the prize highlights individuals who have significantly advanced the understanding of biochemical processes.

Members of the 2025-2026 jury: Fred van Leeuwen (non-voting administrative chair), Alessandra Cambi (Radboud University), Monique Mulder (Leiden University), Dolf Weijers (WUR), Raimond Heukers (VU, NVBMB board member).

The 2026 NVBMB prize has been awarded to Dr. Rik Lindeboom, Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam

The jury of the NVBMB prize was unanimous in its advice to award the 2026 prize to Dr. Rik Lindeboom from the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI). Rik has already made several seminal achievements and is clearly one of the rising stars in the field.

Following a BSc training at Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Deventer, Rik did a Master of Biomedical Sciences in Utrecht. During his PhD training in the lab of Michiel Vermeulen at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Rik studied gene regulation in embryonic development, stem cell differentiation and cancer using innovative multi-omics strategies and advanced computational analyses. This work gave many new key insights into how gene regulation is orchestrated at a system-wide level. Rik completed his PhD with honors and received the H.G.K. Westenbrink prize for this in 2020.

During his postdoc training in the lab of Sarah Teichmann at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, UK, Rik applied his knowledge and skills to apply single cell and spatial technologies to study immune responses during COVID infection. In 2023, Rik was appointed as Junior Group Leader (tenure track) at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, where he runs his independent research group, focusing on systems approaches to biochemical aspects of gene regulation and novel proteomics methods for charting antigen presentation. 

Rik has had a stunning productivity as a PhD student and as a postdoc and his work spans a broad range of topics, from innovative analysis of RNA decay, to a novel way of measuring transcription factor binding affinities to the chromatinized genome (BANC-seq), and single cell decoding of immune responses. At the time of the nomination, Rik already published 39 papers, with 10 as (shared) first and 6 as (co-)corresponding author. 

From the CV and support letter, it is clear that Rik is an extremely energetic young scientist who is bubbling with ideas. He is very ambitious and focuses on research questions and approaches that not may not be easy to tackle, but that will be very impactful eventually. Rik is highly successful in fundraising. Within the first 2.5 years of becoming independent, he obtained an NWO-VENI grant, and ERC Starting Grant, and a Young Investigator Grant from the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF), among others. 

Finally, Rik makes an effort to make his novel wet-lab and computational tools available to the community, further increasing the value and impact of his work for the field of biochemistry and molecular biology, and much beyond.

The 2025 NVBMB prize has been awarded to Dr. Danny Sahtoe, Hubrecht Institute and Oncode Institute in Utrecht

For the 2025 edition of the prestigious NVBMB prize, the jury unanimously selected Dr. Danny Sahtoe from the Hubrecht Institute and Oncode Institute. Danny has an excellent scientific record and unique expertise in computational protein design, a transformative field where biochemistry meets engineering.

The undergraduate training of Danny in Biomedical Sciences (BSc Leiden University) and Biomolecular Sciences (MSc VU Universiteit) led him to a PhD training in the lab of Titia Sixma at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. There he studied at the level of protein structures the regulation and role of ubiquitin modifications on histones in the context of epigenetics. This work led to breakthrough discoveries in molecular understanding of protein de-ubiquitination, including of proteins mutated in aggressive cancers with poor prognosis.

Supported by a long-term EMBO fellowship, in 2016 Danny moved to the lab of David Baker at the Institute for Protein Design of the University of Washington in Seattle (USA), recognizing the potential of computational protein design for enabling the manipulation of protein-protein interactions in ways not possible with traditional methods. There, Danny developed new computational protein design methods to create de novo protein-protein interactions, designed synthetic multi-protein complexes, and established approaches to bind intrinsically disordered proteins. One of the approaches is currently being pursued by commercial partners via a patent on which Danny is co-inventor. In a study published in Science, he accomplished a major feat by designing large non-obligatory reversible multi-protein complexes. 

The basic building blocks he designed have now brought within reach the design of a wide range of synthetic protein systems such as receptor-ligand systems, multi-component protein fibers, designed liquid-liquid phase separation, multicomponent vaccine platforms and more. In 2023, Danny received an NWO-VIDI grant, started his independent research group at the Hubrecht Institute, and was selected as Oncode Junior Investigator.  

The jury was impressed with the consistent strong output of Danny, during PhD and Postdoc training, making groundbreaking discoveries by using innovative and state of the art approaches. Danny is seeking to gain a deep understanding of biological systems, focusing on molecular principles at atomic level and by developing unique computational tools, with a high impact for understanding human health and disease

The jury concludes that Danny Sahtoe is one of the most talented young scientists in biochemistry, gearing up to become a mainstay leader in the field of protein design and an outstanding ambassador of this rapidly evolving field for the Netherlands.

The 2024 NVBMB prize has been awarded to Dr. Christian Büll, Radboud University Nijmegen.

The 2024 NVBMB Prize, a beacon of recognition in the field of biochemistry, finds its deserving recipient in Dr. Christian Büll of Radboud University. Celebrated for his groundbreaking work in deciphering the mysteries of carbohydrates, Dr. Büll's contributions extend far beyond his expertise, resonating in realms such as cell biology and tumor immunology.

Dr. Büll's journey into the captivating world of glycans commenced during his doctoral studies in Nijmegen, culminating in a cum laude degree in 2017. Notably, he pioneered chemically-modified sialic acid sugars, seeking to reprogram glycan biosynthesis in cancer cells. His quest for innovation led him to the University of Copenhagen for postdoctoral research, supported by a prestigious Marie-Curie fellowship.

At Copenhagen, Dr. Büll revolutionized glycan research by establishing a cell-based glycan array – a groundbreaking library of CRISPR-engineered cells, each presenting a unique glycan feature. This innovation facilitated the discovery of a glycan ligand for a brain receptor linked to Alzheimer's disease. Concurrently, he synthesized human mucins with a complex glycosylation pattern, unraveling the catalytic mechanisms employed by microbial proteases in mucin degradation.

In 2022, Dr. Büll secured a Veni grant from NWO, marking the inception of his independent research group at Radboud University's Biomolecular Chemistry department. Here, his focus delves into the intricate biosynthesis of glycans in the intestine, with a visionary goal of genetically reprogramming human cells to produce glycoproteins bearing custom glycan structures. These molecules hold the promise of modulating the intestinal immune system and microbiome.

The NVBMB jury lauds Dr. Büll as a highly creative researcher, an esteemed authority in the glycan community. His impressive track record and international reputation showcase his commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration. The jury also commends Dr. Büll's keen eye for applying fundamental research findings, exemplified by his role as the co-founder of GlycoTherapeutics BV.

Dr. Büll's work not only propels the understanding of glycobiology but also paves the way for transformative applications in human health. The 2024 NVBMB Prize rightfully honors Dr. Büll's exceptional contributions, marking him as a trailblazer in the dynamic landscape of biochemistry.

2023 NVBMB prize for Dr. roy van der Meel, TUe.

Dr. van der Meel was trained during his PhD studies at Utrecht University in the engineering of lipid- and polymer-based nanomedicines, and evaluation of their therapeutic potential. During that time, he was introduced to the potential of therapeutic gene silencing using siRNA. He immediately realized that nanotechnological developments are crucial to make RNA therapeutics successful, because the molecules must be protected from being degraded in vivo to ensure functional intracellular delivery. After completing his PhD studies in 2013, Roy van der Meel continued his research career as postdoc, first in Utrecht and then at the University of British Columbia, where he gained experience in designing and producing lipid nanoparticle formulations containing siRNA, mRNA, and plasmid DNA. He also helped to develop a platform technology for drug derivatization and engineering of lipid nanoparticles containing siRNA and lipophilic prodrugs for combination therapies. This platform is now marketed by a spinoff company of the University of British Columbia.

In 2019, Dr. Van der Meel was recruited by the Eindhoven University of Technology, where he now focusses on developing RNA nanotherapeutics for programming of the innate immune response. His goal is to establish specific immunotherapeutic treatments for cancer and autoimmune disorders. In 2022, he was awarded a Vidi grant from NWO to support this research program.The NVBMB jury rates Dr. Van der Meel as an excellent researcher and an authority in the field of RNA therapeutics. The jury is impressed by his track record and international reputation and values his mentoring and educational activities.

2022 NVBMB prize for Dr. Nico Claassens, WUR.

Dr. Nico Claassens obtained his PhD in 2017 on the topic of membrane protein production using innovative genetic designs. He then moved to Potsdam, Germany for postdoctoral studies at the Systems and Synthetic Metabolism group of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, supported by a NWO Rubicon fellowship. During this time, he made a major breakthrough by successfully implementing a synthetic pathway for the fixation of the one-carbon substrates CO₂ and formate in a bacterium, for which he used his expertise in genetic engineered obtained during his PhD studies. In 2019, Dr. Claassens was awarded an NWO Veni grant to return to Wageningen University, where he now has a position as assistant professor in Microbial Synthetic Metabolism.

The current research of Dr. Nico Claassens focusses on the introduction and optimization of synthetic one-carbon assimilation pathways in bacteria. The implementation of one-carbon fixation pathways in microbial metabolism leads to fundamental understanding of metabolic plasticity, and is expected to pave the way for biotechnological applications. The use of CO₂ and reduced one-carbon substrates, such as methanol and formate, which can be generated from CO₂ and renewable electricity, will in the future contribute to sustainable production of chemicals, fuels and food. The jury rates the research line of Dr. Claassens as highly innovative, timely, creative and with potential for breakthroughs in sustainable biotechnology, and is impressed by his excellent track record and international reputation. The jury finds his efforts to promote scientific research to the wider society very inspiring.

Nico Claassens organized the NVBMB fall symposium 2022: The expanding world of biological one-carbon fixation - made by nature & engineers.