The ocean and coastal areas play a crucial role in our health and well-being. From bioactive compounds derived from marine organisms to the positive effects of coastal landscapes on stress and cognitive functions, marine research continues to provide valuable insights that contribute to medical advancements and overall well-being. The prestigious Delcroix Awards, presented by Hydro vzw and The Sea as a Good Cause (VLIZ), recognize researchers who conduct groundbreaking work at the intersection of ocean science and human health. Here, we highlight the award winners before they present their research at the VLIZ Marine Science Day on 5 March 2025.
The Dr. Edouard Delcroix Research Grant 2025 and Incentive Award 2024
Starting this year, Hydro vzw and The Sea as a Good Cause will annually present two prestigious awards to support innovative research on the ocean’s impact on human health. The Dr. Edouard Delcroix Research Grant (10.000 EUR) supports young researchers with outstanding ideas in this field. The Dr. Edouard Delcroix Incentive Award (2.500 EUR) honors an early-career researcher for an original study exploring the link between the ocean and human health.
Friedel Dewulf: Marine compounds as a weapon against cancer
The laureat of the 2025 Research Grant, Friedel Dewulf (UGent – Blue Growth Research Lab), investigates the potential medical applications of phycotoxins derived from microalgae, focusing on yessotoxin (YTX). This toxin can disrupt the stability and function of lysosomal membranes, offering a potential new strategy for cancer-specific cell death. Friedel’s research compares the effects of YTX on both cancerous and healthy human lung cells. The findings could contribute to more targeted cancer therapies based on natural marine-derived compounds.
Dewulf Friedel (UGent - Blue Growth Lab): Yessotoxins in marine sea spray aerosols as anticancer agents due to their lysosome targeting: a comparative study in cancerous and non-cancerous human alveolar epithelial cell lines.
Julia Kinet: The coast as medicine
The 2024 Incentive Award laureat, Julia Kinet (VLIZ & UGent – Blue Growth Research Lab, Department of Geriatrics, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences), explores how coastal landscapes influence the well-being of older adults. Using wearable technology, she objectively measures how different coastal environments—such as beaches and dunes—impact stress levels and cognitive functions in individuals over 60. Her research will provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers in designing healthy, nature-based public spaces.
Julia Kinet (VLIZ en UGent- Blue Growth Research Lab, Department of Geriatrics, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences) Exploring preventive health strategies: The role of coastal environments in the physical and cognitive wellbeing of older adults.
Silke Lambert: Sea air and health
We also want to highlight the 2023 Incentive Award laureat, Silke Lambert (UGent – Blue Growth Research Lab), who studies the impact of sea spray aerosols on human health. Sea spray contains bioactive molecules that may have positive health effects. Her research focuses on how these aerosols are inhaled by humans and their potential impact, aiming to lay the scientific foundation for "the sea on prescription" as a health intervention.
As last year’s Delcroix Awards ceremony was postponed, Silke Lambert will join the the other Incentive Award winner in presenting her research at the VLIZ Marine Science Day on 5 March in Bruges.
Silke Lambert (UGent – Blue Growth Research Lab): The sea on prescription: investigating the link between sea spray aerosols and human health benefits.
The future of marine research for human health
The Dr. Delcroix Awards emphasize the importance of scientific research for both human health and the marine environment. Supported by Hydro vzw, established through the legacy of Belgian orthopedic surgeon and hydrotherapy pioneer Dr. Edouard Delcroix (1891–1973), these awards enable young marine researchers to push the boundaries of knowledge. Thanks to scientists like Dewulf, Kinet, and Lambert, the vision of a future where ocean science and human health go hand in hand is coming ever closer.
