Katerina Dohnalova, a researcher at the Institute of Physics of the University of Amsterdam(UvA), has won the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award 2012. She will receive a prize worth 5000 euros. Dohnalova has developed a silicon nanostructure that can replace rare and toxic components of optical instruments.

The public award worth 1000 euros was won by Carlos P. Fitzsimons and Joan Domingo Espín (Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam). They received the most votes from the public for their research on the use of modular proteins in gene therapy.

The jury consisted of jury chair Louise Gunning (President of the UvA/HvA Executive Board), Kees Donker (IBM Innovation & Technology Executive), Rob Kirschbaum (vice-president of innovation at DSM) and Ben van Dongen (co-founder and CEO BlueBubbleLab).

The other finalists were:

■ Dr Albert Alberts & Prof. Gadi Rothenberg (Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam): A new biodegradable resin made ​​from 100% plant-based materials

■ Dr Jurgen Seppen (Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, AMC): Bacterial spores for intestinal gene therapy

■ Dr Rosalie Luiten (Department of Dermatology, AMC): New immunotherapy for melanoma

■ Theo van Lieshout (Technology Centre, University of Amsterdam): Energy from an unexpected angle

About the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award

The Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award (AMSIA) is organised annually. Researchers and students from the University of Amsterdam (UvA), VU University Amsterdam (VU), Academic Medical Center (AMC), VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences (HVA) and research institutes at the Science Park Amsterdam, can submit their innovative and applicable ideas.

The eighth edition of the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award will take place on Tuesday, 21 May 2013.