Amsterdam Research Board

The Amsterdam Research Board (ARB) is the advisory body for the Board of Directors, advising on the strategic and tactical policy to be followed. The ARB met ten times in 2025 to discuss 46 topic provide advice as required. Impact has been made on various fronts to strengthen the quality and collaborative nature of research. For instance, there have been active efforts to strengthen both internal and national collaboration through research infrastructure, facilities and cohorts. Work has also started on following up the recommendations resulting from the research institutes’ SEP (Strategy Evaluation Protocol) evaluations in 2024. This is helping to ensure continuous improvement of research quality and research processes. Raising awareness about publication in predatory journals, including by incorporating this into the criteria for Principal Investigator (PI), was another important key area. The eligibility criteria for the PI position have been tightened. Lastly, talented researchers have been identified by announcing award winners, and a successful buddy system has been set up for the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grants.

The CTA has set out the career profiles and associated criteria for university lecturer, senior lecturer and full professor for research, education, clinical work, valorisation and societal impact in greater detail. The Vice-Deans for Education and the Vice-Dean for Valorisation have provided important input in this regard. Expectations are that it will be possible to adopt these profiles in 2026.

The CTA has drawn up a recruitment plan to recruit new members with expertise in the areas of education, valorisation and clinical work. This reflects the shift in the type of cases on which the CTA advises, resulting from the change in culture brought about by the national Recognition & Rewards programme.

A CTA sub-group has worked on updating the Qualification Portfolio (QP) in which candidates describe their CVs, career steps and future plans. Based on the QP, the CTA makes a recommendation to the dean regarding the proposed appointment. A second sub-group has been working on improving the visibility of the CTA and transparency regarding appointment processes. For instance, the Committee for Talent and Appointments has been updated and a link to the CTA has been posted on the HR Tulpintranet: Career development| Amsterdam UMC.

Committee for Talent and Appointments (CTA)

The Committee for Talent and Appointments provides independent advice to deans of Medicine regarding candidates who have been proposed by their department heads for senior lecturer and full professor positions.

Scientific talent

With the backing of Research Grant Support, a particularly large number of prestigious Dutch and European grants were required by researchers at Amsterdam UMC in 2025:

Publications

The number of articles published in internationally recognised, peer-reviewed scientific journals (peer-reviewed articles) is an important measure of the quality of scientific research. Articles have also been published in scientific and other specialist journals and chapters of books.

Amsterdam UMC Faculty of Medicine, UvA and VU Faculty of Medicine professors in 2025

In 2025, Amsterdam UMC had a total of 427 full professors, 46 of whom were endowed professors

UvA Faculty of Medicine, 238 full professors, 78 women and 160 men. 33% is female

VU Faculty of Medicine, 189 full professors, 73 women and 116 men. 39% is female

Appointments in 2025

UvA Faculty of Medicine, 13 full professors appointed

VU Faculty of Medicine, 16 full professors appointed

Full professors

Full professors have a central role within universities, providing academic leadership that gives substantive direction to the core academic tasks of education and training, research, patient care, valorisation and innovation. In line with the ‘Diversity in Business' and ‘Talent to the Top’ Charters, the Board of Directors is pursuing the goal of diverse representation among the professor population for the chairs to be established at the UvA and VU and the resulting appointments. It is initially aiming for a ratio of 3:2 (female to male candidates).

Doctoral degrees

Amsterdam UNC saw 472 doctoral degrees awarded in 2025. The breakdown is as follows:

Encouraging talent

Amsterdam UMC attaches great importance to fostering talent. In the field of research, this is illustrated in a number of ways, including by appointing researchers with their own lines of research and research group to PI (principal investigator). PI status provides visibility and recognition for their role within the organisation and externally. It encourages the creation of partnerships and applications for research grants. At present, there are 850 PIs at Amsterdam UMC. They are important points of contact for their department heads, the project administration, Research Support, research institutes and their own research groups. Between 50 and 80 candidates are nominated for a PI role by their department heads each year. The ARB evaluates the nominations based on a (redesigned) online PI Portfolio and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors.

* Several PIs are affiliated both with UvA and VU

Fund-raising capacity

Research funding acquired externally is managed by Amsterdam UMC Research B.V., an executive body of Amsterdam UMC. The line organisation is and will remain responsible for all core tasks, including research, and is supported by Research B.V. in a transparent manner and with a focus on collaboration based on trust.

The B.V. was formed on 2 August 2024 following the merger of VUmc Research B.V. and AMR B.V. The year 2025 was a transitional year for Amsterdam UMC Research B.V., where the focus was on further aligning working methods and data. In view of the differences in working methods between the merged entities, it is not possible at present to report exact figures on fund-raising capacity. That said, there is no reason to assume that Amsterdam UMC’s fundraising capacity, normally in excess of €200 million, would not be in line with previous years.

Research B.V. provides the flexibility required to support the project-based nature of scientific research funding. Moreover, a specifically designed research organisation has a positive impact on fund-raising capacity and can provide prospects for Amsterdam UMC research staff. With these financial and organisational advantages, Research B.V. helps Amsterdam UMC to conduct research efficiently and successfully.