Winner of the Golden Spatula 2026
Unravelling the Pathogenic Mechanisms behind SETBP1 Haploinsufficiency Disorder with Cerebal Organoids, HAN University of Applied Sciences
This year, the KNCV’s Golden Spatula selection committee has chosen Letizia Vogini’s dissertation, written as part of her higher professional education programme at Arnhem and Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences, as the winner of the 2026 Golden Spatula.
Letitzia carried out her research at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen under the supervision of Dr Maggie Wong.
The aim of the project was to gain a better understanding of the neurobiology of speech and language, with a specific focus on the pathogenic mechanisms underlying SETBP1 haploinsufficiency. To this end, Letizia utilised brain organoids to investigate disruptions in neurodevelopmental processes and signalling pathways. This is a substantively complex piece of research, in which molecular biology, cell biology and neurobiology converge to provide a better understanding of how genetic abnormalities can lead to disruptions in speech and language development.
Letizia has made a very strong and convincing impression with her final-year project. Her report demonstrates that she has mastered a complex and interdisciplinary field of research to an exceptionally high standard. The work is technically and theoretically thorough and demonstrates sharp analytical skills.
The examination board was impressed by the high quality of the thesis. It is clearly written, logically structured and meticulously prepared. The thesis demonstrates that Letizia has thoroughly grasped the complexity of the project and was able to critically analyse her findings. In particular, her reflection and vision for the future show that she looks beyond the immediate outcomes of her experiments and has a clear understanding of the direction in which the research might take in the future. The highly complimentary letters of recommendation and the fact that she graduated cum laude also underline her academic qualities.
With this dissertation, Letizia has made a valuable contribution to research into the neurobiological basis of speech and language disorders. Her work demonstrates a combination of depth of content, technical rigour and scientific maturity, and forms a strong foundation for further research into the role of SETBP1 in human brain development.
The other two prizes were awarded to:
