Jacques Neefjes wins ERC Advanced Grant
In its second competition for established top researchers, the European Research Council (ERC) has selected research leaders to perform their pioneering research throughout Europe. Grants are awarded to exceptional research leaders who have distinguished themselves in their originality and significance of their research contributions. Netherlands Proteomics Centre researcher Jacques Neefjes (Netherlands Cancer Institute) has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant of € 2.1 million.Neefjes aims to acquire further insight into the way that the immune system is controlled. In pursuing this objective, he focuses on a certain group of molecules, known as the MHC class II, which are essential for the production of antibodies and the stimulation of killer cells. As such, they are involved in processes such as immune reactions to infections and cancer, but also auto-immune diseases that may occur following transplants.