Leiden breakthrough in malaria fight awarded
Meta Roestenberg, professor of vaccinology at Leiden University, has been awarded the Mercator Sapiens Stimulus 2025. This €1 million prize is awarded annually by the Royal Holland Society of Sciences (KHMW) to a researcher with a vision for societal impact. Roestenberg receives the prize for her innovative approach in developing a malaria vaccine, using live, genetically attenuated parasites. Her work opens new perspectives in the global fight against malaria.
De Mercator Sapiens Stimulus
The Mercator Sapiens Stimulus is designed to accelerate groundbreaking research - and that is exactly what this award offers Roestenberg. It gives her not only recognition for her scientific vision, but also the space to continue her research in her own way. The prize underlines the importance of long-term thinking in vaccine development and shows confidence in the power of fundamental research with societal relevance.
Breakthrough in the fight against malaria
Malaria still claims hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide every year, especially in countries with limited access to medical care. Roestenberg and her team are betting on an innovative vaccine technique: using genetically modified, live malaria parasites. This approach naturally stimulates the immune system and shows remarkably strong protection in initial studies. The promising results are now attracting international attention, including from leading medical journals.
Room for growth and innovation
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Investing in science and talent
Thanks to the Mercator Sapiens Stimulus, Roestenberg can expand her research and create space for young scientists. The prize money will not only strengthen the malaria vaccine for practical application, but will also be used to invest in a new team of researchers. This will give a PhD student and two postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to work on top research with global impact. According to Roestenberg, this is one of the most powerful aspects of this award: creating opportunities for the next generation of scientists.
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Freedom to innovate
What makes this science prize special is the complete freedom in spending the prize money. There are no fixed frameworks or conditions - the researcher decides how to use the budget. For Roestenberg, that means room to experiment, test new ideas and set her own course. ‘Funding based on trust really makes a difference,’ she stresses. That space for creativity and independent thinking is essential for achieving breakthroughs in complex global issues such as malaria.