€3 million for cancer research by TU/e professor Jaap den Toonder
Jaap den Toonder receives second ERC grant of €3 million for groundbreaking research into cancer metastasis.
Published on August 6, 2025
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Jaap den Toonder, professor at TU/e, has been awarded the ERC Advanced Grant of €3 million for the second time. With this research budget, he will work on gaining a better understanding of how cancer cells spread through the body via the bloodstream—a crucial process in the development of metastases. Den Toonder hopes that his groundbreaking ‘cancer cells on a chip’ technology will ultimately lead to ways of preventing this spread.
The crucial role of intravasation in cancer
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. The biggest challenge in fighting cancer is the spread of cancer cells throughout the body, a process known as metastasis. To move through the bloodstream, cancer cells must pass through the blood vessel walls, a process called intravasation. Den Toonder's research focuses specifically on this process because it is a crucial step in the spread of cancer. Understanding and potentially blocking intravasation would represent a breakthrough in the fight against cancer.AI as a digital weapon against skin cancerIn our EverydAI section, we highlight an application of AI that makes your life easier every week. Even if you're not an AI expert. Today: AI and skin cancer.
A ‘pass-no-pass’ phase diagram as a breakthrough
A key objective of the Intrap project is to develop a ‘pass-no-pass’ phase diagram. This diagram provides insight into the factors that determine whether a cancer cell can pass through the blood vessel wall or not. Den Toonder considers the production of such a phase diagram to be an extraordinary achievement. To achieve this, he will invest part of the grant in an advanced microscope for live cell imaging. This microscope makes it possible to track cancer cells in real time as they move through the blood vessels on the chip. These detailed observations are essential for understanding the complex interactions between cancer cells and the blood vessel wall.
Recognition of excellence: A second ERC Advanced Grant
The fact that Den Toonder has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant for the second time is remarkable. This grant is awarded to excellent researchers. The success rate for such prestigious grants is low, which makes this achievement even more exceptional. The research contributes to the growing knowledge about cancer and the development of innovative approaches to combat this disease.