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GUTS 2025 Recap Newsletter
News, Resources & Inspiring Insights!
Dear GUTS researchers and supporters,
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The end of the year has arrived, offering a natural moment to pause and reflect. And what a year it has been for GUTS. Together, we look back on a truly wonderful year, marked by meaningful progress across the consortium. Our work packages have achieved great things in recruitment, research, and impact, with impressive results that reflect the dedication and collaboration of everyone involved.
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We also fondly reflect on the inspiring events we shared throughout the year, and we are delighted to have welcomed several new colleagues to GUTS. A warm welcome to all those who joined us this year and have already become an integral part of the team.
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At the same time, we are looking ahead. Even though 2026 may seem some way off, there is already much to anticipate. We are moving toward the completion of the first wave, and several exciting events and meetings are already on the horizon.
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At the end of this newsletter, you will find a selection of podcast and book recommendations to enjoy during the holiday period.
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For now, we wish everyone a restful end of the year. We look forward to seeing you again in January and to shaping many exciting plans together in the year ahead,
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As always, we love hearing from you. Do you have a story, insight, or suggestion for future newsletters? Let us know via guts@eur.nl.
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In this newsletter...
- Research Updates
- News
- New GUTS team members
- Impact
- Media recommendations
- Agenda
We hope you enjoy this edition!
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WORK PACKAGE 1 AMSTERDAM: SES & EDUCATION
The WP1 Amsterdam team is currently in the final stage of data collection. Over the past months, we have worked hard to recruit a diverse sample of youth and we are proud to say that more than 400 adolescents are included in our dataset! Especially in the last months, we streamlined our recruitment strategy which resulted in record numbers of registrations. This achievement would not have been possible without the help of our student assistants and interns who continue to put great effort in making the data collection phase a success. We recruited participants through various ways, such as organizing guest lectures, handing out flyers, writing about GUTS in school newsletters, and many more.
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WORK PACKAGE 1 ROTTERDAM: SES & EDUCATION
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WP1 Rotterdam is in the final stages of the data collection, WP1 Rotterdam reached the huge milestone of 400 participants who completed their lab visits! In the last few months, we have put a lot of effort in targeting vocational students to improve the representativeness of our sample. Not only did we have fun and interesting interactions regarding some neuromyths (i.e. can we read your thoughts with an EEG?), but we are also seeing the fruits of our efforts via the incoming registrations for the study! December and January will be dedicated to rounding off the final lab visits and ESM batch. The coming year will be full of new discoveries with a lot of analyses and new findings.
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WORK PACKAGE 2: SOCIAL NETWORKS
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From August onward, WP2 worked towards completing data collection and preparing for the next phase of the project. In the summer, T1 MRI data collection continued and reached its final stages. We successfully completed this with 168 participants in October, which we celebrated with a team lunch. November was a busy and social month! We hosted a three-day event for the T3 behavioral data collection, welcoming 170 participants to complete questionnaires and treating them to pizza. In total, 310 respondents participated, and this was partly made possible by a dedicated communication strategy developed in collaboration with the Science Communication department. This was key to reaching and engaging participants. WP2 also met in Leiden for an inspiring in-person meeting. We said goodbye to our research assistant Roos in early December. We have now shifted our focus to publication planning, data pre-processing and initial exploratory analyses, laying the groundwork for 2026!
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WORK PACKAGE 3: GUTS GO
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WP3 is ending 2025 with 30 included participants in their youth at risk cohort. Adrian Bontje joined as Research Assistant making a shift from WP1 Amsterdam, and became MRI operator. In February the team gets some extra help for recruitment through new RA Romina Alizadeh. Carmen-Silva Sergiou has been appointed for another 2,5 years within the GUTS GO team and made it through the last round of the VENI. GUTS GO is even more invested in societal stakeholders with new partners Stichting Friska Nederland, Vivell jongerenwerk, ‘Jongeren die het Kunnen’, and more smaller municipalities. We also started with guest lectures for parents, police and schools. Many seeds have been planted in our collaborations, so no doubt in 2026 our efforts will bear fruit!
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WORK PACKAGE 4: INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT
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WP4 contributed to the WP5 paper on stacked learning and, together with WP1 Amsterdam, worked on the sMRI reliability manuscript, with a preprint expected soon. The age-dependent polygenic scores paper (Jalmar) is being prepared for submission to a special issue on context-specific genetics, with a preprint planned in the near future. Progress continues on SOPs for acquisition and analysis of genetics, hormones, and fMRI, while the sMRI SOP will be finalized soon. Additional SOPs are being developed to support analysis of genetic and hormonal data within GUTS. Work is ongoing on Data and Material Transfer Agreements for biological samples. Hormone analyses are being further specified, with a proposal for additional hormones forthcoming. Efforts also continue on CBCL implementation and on the development of a new literature-screening tool using large language models (Jalmar), currently applied to a review on the neurobiology of self-regulation. In 2026, focus of the collaboration between WP4/5 will increasingly shift toward harmonization of GUTS dataset collected in the first wave, as well as defining overarching analysis strategies, including identifying common factors and assessing collinearity and redundancy in the GUTS dataset.
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WORK PACKAGE 5: RESPONSIBLE PREDICTIVE MODELING
WP5 recently completed the manuscript for the introductory paper on Stacked Domain Learning (SDL) and uploaded it as a preprint on Psyarxiv. The paper provides an overview of how SDL works and includes an empirical example using data from the ABCD project. A brief tutorial on using SDL in R is available on GitHub. In the next project, we will investigate the inclusion of interactions within and between domains.
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Suzanne van de Groep is the new MRI coordinator within ESSB EUR
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Recently, the joint Erasmus Imaging Scanner was officially opened. What began as a shared vision in November 2022 has grown into a close collaboration between ESSB, RSM, and Erasmus MC. The advanced MRI facility, already fully operational, enables cutting-edge research into the relationship between the brain, behavior, and development.
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Suzanne is the new MRI Coordinator within ESSB EUR. She supports researchers with MRI scans, including accessible infrastructure, a centralized METC application for adult studies, and assistance with organizing MRI projects. She also represents ESSB in the MRI Users Committee and contributes to building a strong, connected MRI community within the faculty.
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René Veenstra member of the Social Sciences Council
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René Veenstra became a member of the Social Sciences Council (Sociaal-Wetenschappelijke Raad). The council promotes the social sciences through advice, proposals, and by fostering collaboration among researchers and institutions. It represents the field nationally and internationally. It proposes advisory topics, contributes to KNAW peer review, and organizes plenary conferences.
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GUTS has developed a new internal image library with photographs that can be used for presentations and the website. The image bank currently includes photos of the MRI, ESM, and EEG components of the GUTS research. Additional photo sessions are planned later for the behavioural sessions and the Youth Advisory Board. Do you have ideas for further enriching the image library? Please get in touch with Kitty De Vries at k.n.devries@essb.eur.nl.
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Thijs Bol receives ERC Consolidator Grant
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We are pleased to share that Thijs Bol has been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for his project FIRMS. The project examines how workplaces and firms shape inequality between workers over the course of their careers, with specific attention to differences by gender and ethnic background. Using highly detailed population register data, FIRMS will trace the careers of millions of workers as they move within and between firms, building on recent advances in stratification research in sociology and economics. The project will start in September 2026 and will include three PhD positions and one postdoctoral position.
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Anita Harrewijn receives NWO XS Grant
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Anita Harrewijn has been awarded an NWO XS grant for her innovative project Promoting resilience to anxiety at school: mechanisms and youth-informed support strategies. This funding from the Dutch Research Council supports curiosity-driven and high-risk research, enabling Harrewijn’s work on early recognition and support for anxiety among young people in school settings, with the aim of developing practical tools for parents, teachers and schools to better understand and manage anxiety in everyday educational contexts.
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Yara Toenders receives Early Career Award
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Yara Toenders has been honoured with a KNAW Early Career Award from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, recognising her promising and innovative research on youth mental health. Her work at the intersection of neurobiological factors - such as sleep, social media, music, and role models - and young people’s mood, resilience, and well-being stands out for its interdisciplinary approach and for actively involving young people as partners in the research process.
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Janita Bralten receives an NWO Vidi grant for research into the link between the psyche, the body, and insulin
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Assistant professor Janita Bralten (Radboudumc, Donders Institute) has been awarded a Vidi grant from the NWO. With this prestigious funding, she will explore why some individuals with psychiatric disorders are at increased risk of developing insulin-related physical conditions, such as obesity or type 2 diabetes. Her goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the biology underlying psychiatric disorders to support more personalized treatments and care.
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Joëlle Elbers
Research Assistant
WP2
Joelle joined GUTS WP2 as a research assistant in July, right after completing her internship with the project. She recently obtained her Research Master’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in Cognitive Neuroscience, and GUTS felt like the perfect place for her to continue exploring the intersection between brain development and behavior. Before that, she worked at a high school providing counseling to adolescents, which sparked her interest in understanding how biological and social factors shape emotional wellbeing during this formative period. Her main research interests focus on how hormones interact with the developing brain, and how these processes may contribute to individual differences in mood, mental health, and social behavior.
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Fun fact: In her free time, she enjoys bouldering and going to the gym — a great way for her to clear her mind and challenge herself outside of work!
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Taylor Guthrie
Postdoc
WP2
Taylor holds a PhD in Social Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Oregon, where his research focused on applying multivariate computational approaches to understand self-referential processing and peer perception in natural social networks. At GUTS, he serves as a bridge between fMRI investigations of reward processing and cognitive control and work package 2's rich longitudinal sociometric data. His work examines how sociometric characteristics such as network position, cohesion, or friendship stability relate to similarities in neural activation patterns across individuals. He aims to understand why some people are more influenced by social norms while others remain more idiosyncratic and self-directed.
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Fun fact: Taylor and his family recently gave away nearly all of their belongings in order to relocate to the Netherlands for een groot adventuur. He is having a lot of fun learning Dutch through play with his two young sons which hij vindt superleuk!
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IMPACT
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The GUTS Birthday Calendar – A Thank You to Our GUTS Members
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Did you know that stress levels over time can be measured through hair? This, and many more fun, science-based facts, can be found in the very first GUTS Birthday Calendar!
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The calendar is a project at the intersection of science and society. Scientists from the GUTS consortium shared short, easily digestible facts about adolescence. Topics range from sleep, generosity, dating behaviour and learning, to the impact of socioeconomic status on brain development, self-image, and more.
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As a small token of our appreciation for your commitment and contributions to GUTS, all GUTS members will receive a copy of the calendar.
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Curious to learn more about a specific fact? On the back of each month, you’ll find the source for further reading. We hope the calendar not only helps you keep track of birthdays, but also offers a daily dose of GUTS knowledge
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The GUTS consortium recently went on retreat. During these days, the focus was on strengthening collaboration within the consortium, preparing for the next phase of the project as we move from data collection to data analysis, and deepening science–society connections. We also took part in an inspiring workshop by the Nationaal Expertisecentrum Wetenschap & Samenleving, led by Sicco de Knecht.
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A key takeaway was the importance of open, safe, and sometimes vulnerable conversations in building meaningful and sustainable collaboration. The retreat highlighted the energy, curiosity, and shared commitment within the consortium to conduct research that truly contributes to improving the lives of youth and future generations.
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Inspiring Opening Keynote by Eveline Crone at ECNP
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At the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress in Amsterdam this October, Professor Eveline Crone delivered an inspiring opening keynote lecture on “Social Development in Youth.” She highlighted how today’s adolescents are growing up amid major societal challenges—from the climate crisis to rising inequalities and increasing performance pressure—yet possess unique strengths that position them as potential ‘agents of change.’
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In her talk, Crone introduced a new transdisciplinary framework aimed at informing evidence‑based policy. She underscored the importance of youth participation in developmental neuroscience and showcased successful collaborations between youth organizations, scientists and policymakers that work toward improving conditions for healthy development. She also highlighted GUTS during her talk and importance of living labs which facilitate active societal collaborations
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Work Package 4 was well represented at the congress, with team members presenting their work during poster sessions and scientific talks. PhD student Barbara Šakić also received an Excellence Award during the congress. A visual highlight of the event was a live drawing created during the congress capturing Eveline and the core message of her talk.
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The keynote set an energizing tone for the congress and sparked meaningful discussions. Eveline's keynote and the active engagement of our team made this year’s ECNP Congress both inspiring and memorable.
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'Thank you' card for WP2 participants
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At the start of the academic year, WP2 sent a thank-you card to their participants — around 500 students — to show their appreciation and strengthen outreach. A small gesture, but one that highlights how much we value their contribution to our research.
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Michelle Achterberg for the Dutch Jeugdjournaal
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Michelle Achterberg appeared on the Dutch Jeugdjournaal, where she spoke about ongoing discussions among European politicians about a potential social media ban for children under 13 years old, reflecting growing public and political concern around the impact of social media on young people’s well‑being. In the broadcast, the Jeugdjournaal highlighted these debates in child‑friendly terms, bringing important issues about online environments and youth development into the spotlight for a younger audience.
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MEDIA RECOMMENDATIONS
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Podcast: Op zoek naar Marlotte
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A Dutch-language podcast recommendation: the Zembla Podcast 'Op zoek naar Marlotte'. A gripping investigative series that unravels a remarkable story about a young girl named Marlotte and the journalist’s search for the truth behind her life and supposed death - only to discover the entire narrative was fabricated. The podcast blends deep reporting with reflections on misinformation and the challenges of distinguishing fact from fiction, and is available in Dutch on major platforms like NPO Luister and Spotify.
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Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
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Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah Harari offers a sweeping, thought-provoking exploration of how information networks - from early oral traditions and writing to today’s digital and AI-driven systems - have shaped human societies, power structures and the challenges we face in the information age. Harari examines the complex relationship between information, truth and power, and reflects on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on our future, making this an engaging read for anyone interested in the history and future of communication and technology.
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Podcast: Rethinking Development
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A long-form interview series featuring practitioners, academics and activists reflecting on ethical issues, power dynamics and systemic challenges in international development and humanitarian work. Across its episodes, the podcast fosters deep, critical conversations grounded in lived experience and invites listeners to engage with complex questions about redistribution of power, accountability, and meaningful change in global practice.
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AGENDA
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8 April 2026 - GUTS Sociology Symposium
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Location: Tolhuistuin Amsterdam
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In this symposium, researchers from the field of sociology host the day and highlight specific research areas, while inviting GUTS colleagues from across the consortium to join. We begin at 10:00 with an introduction, followed by a lecture that approaches the GUTS project from a sociological perspective.
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The programme continues with sessions on data linkage with Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS), ego-centred networks, and socio-economic status (SES). The final session focuses on measuring SES in adolescence more thoughtfully within GUTS.
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Save the Date: LEARN! Annual Conference 2026
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The 2026 LEARN! Annual Conference will take place on April 16, 2026. This year’s theme, “Growing up in today’s society,” will explore how research can contribute to understanding and supporting youth in an increasingly complex world.
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The first keynote speaker is Prof. Eveline Crone, Professor of Developmental Neuroscience in Society at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her talk, titled “Agents of change: Understanding the adolescent brain to shape a better society,” will highlight how adolescence is a window of opportunity for creativity, social growth, and civic engagement, and how insights from neuroscience can inform youth-centered policies.
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Save the Date: Eara Conference 2026
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Save the date for the 20th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA 2026), taking place 18–21 August 2026 at Utrecht Science Park. The conference, with the theme Dynamics of Youth, will bring together leading researchers, practitioners and early-career scholars working on adolescent development to share innovative research, build collaborations and explore key issues in the field. The scientific programme will include keynote lectures, symposia, workshops and networking opportunities, alongside social events around Utrecht
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GUTS is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW)
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Research programme: Gravitation file number: 024.005.011
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