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GUTS

2023 Activity
Report

Instructions for use

Welcome to our interactive report!

This tool is designed for an engaging experience where you can explore the content by sliding both horizontally and vertically.

Navigating the Report

Vertical Navigation: To access more details within a section, slide down. You can drag down with your mouse/touchpad or use the down arrow key.

Horizontal Navigation: To move through different sections, slide to the right. You can do this by either dragging with your mouse/touchpad or using the right arrow key on your keyboard.

Dear GUTS Researchers and partners

Eveline Crone, Project Leader GUTS

I am delighted to present you the first activity report of the GUTS Consortium. Since we officially started GUTS, short for Growing Up Together in Society, I keep being amazed by the many novel directions and ideas that the program is already taking.

We are currently bringing together more than 70 junior, mid-career and senior scientists from different disciplines, ranging from psychology, sociology, family studies, psychiatry and neuroscience, who share a common mission: to understand the building blocks that provide young people with the tools to participate in and contribute to society.

A personal highlight for me was the GUTS kick off conference in October 2023. We brought together experts who explore the interplay between individual neurobiological development and the diverse social and societal opportunities that shape young people’s trajectories from all over the world!In the inspiring atmosphere of the KNAW-Trippenhuis, our academic home, GUTS scientists could informally interact with experts in the field and get to know each other.

**GUTS Kick-off International Conference**

It was especially great to see how much everyone enjoyed Amine Bakkali’s MindUs-presentation from a youth perspective; completely in line with the way we like to work at GUTS. We are grateful for the Scientific Advisory Board being present and giving us advice at different moments, online and in person.

In this activity report we tell you in more detail what we did in 2023 and what our plans are for 2024. On behalf of GUTS I would like to thank everybody who contributed in so many ways to the program, from data managers, project management and outreach, to senior scientists who worked in much detail on the nitty gritty details of developing an overarching program, based on trust, sharing and responsibility.

Many of the young scientists who joined GUTS are PhD students and postdocs just beginning their GUTS journey, so a special welcome to all of you! We hope you will enjoy the GUTS project, be excited about the opportunities and be critical when needed to keep us sharp. And most of all, I hope you have lots of opportunities to be inspired in your scientific journey. I hope you will enjoy reading this activity report, with greater understanding of GUTS, new social connections to explore, and enhanced creativity in your work.

The GUTS
Consortium

Objective

Mission & Vision

Our values

Objective

The objective of the GUTS project is to understand how young people grow up in increasingly complex societies and make contributions to that society: we study individual neurobiological development in relation to educational processes, social networks, and societal norms (including antisocial behavior).

We integrate neuroscience with individual and environmental factors to develop an integrative framework on self-regulation development. This framework aims to explain and predict contributions to society, demonstrating its power across multiple domains of functioning in adolescence and early adulthood. The GUTS consortium unites scientists from the fields of psychology, sociology, family studies, psychiatry, (cognitive) neuroscience, and data science. New fields emerge from existing fields and novel disciplines bring new knowledge to the already highly interdisciplinary consortium. GUTS is a unique collaboration between researchers from seven universities (spread across nine institutes) in the Netherlands.

Watch the video below for a detailed explanation of our study.

Mission and Vision

Mission

The GUTS program is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all young people, regardless of their socio-economic background. By focusing on education, peer networks, and overcoming antisocial challenges, GUTS aims to understand how adolescents successfully transition into adulthood in areas such as education, employment, and social relationships, particularly for those facing greater difficulties.

Vision

GUTS seeks to create a more equitable society by integrating diverse scientific perspectives. By studying how life circumstances influence youth in societal contexts, GUTS equips us with the knowledge to foster equal opportunities for all young people.

Our values

Values

Click on the values below to reveal more information. Each section expands with additional details when selected.

Team Science

We believe in team science, combining diverse research perspectives to understand youth development and enhance our research’s societal impact. We integrate insights from neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, family studies, sociology, and data science through respectful collaboration.

Blue Sky Research

Our program addresses fundamental scientific questions driven by curiosity to tackle urgent societal issues. GUTS scientists innovate from the ground up, aiming to create interventions and environments that support adolescents in finding meaningful roles in society.

Open Science

We strive for transparency in our scientific processes and outputs, embracing Open Science practices. This involves supporting good research practices, improving reproducibility, making outputs accessible, and aiming for FAIR data principles.

Engage with Society

We enhance science by integrating knowledge from universities and society. GUTS researchers create youth platforms and manifestos to translate science into societal impact and learn from public insights. We foster teamwork through co-creation with target groups in living labs and academic settings. Our community aims to ensure equal opportunities for all youth.

Responsible Research and Innovation

We recognize the societal and ethical implications of research. We emphasize understanding and communicating the consequences of new knowledge through ongoing dialogue with stakeholders. Using Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and Youth-Oriented Participatory Action Research (PAR), we manage public expectations and monitor ethical concerns.

Diversity and Inclusion

We celebrate diversity and seek to harness everyone’s talents, focusing on opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups in academia.

GUTS Program Design

To understand how differences in social and societal contexts influence how societally engaged young people become, the GUTS program consists of three work packages for collecting multimethod longitudinal cohort data, plus a fourth work package leveraging existing data.

Cohorts

Data

Work Packages

Cohort Characteristics

Cohort A/B: These cohorts serve as test and replication groups. In work package academic/social development: We aim to enroll 1,200 participants aged 10–20 divided across 2 cohorts, covering a full range of socio-economic statuses. A sequential design allows efficient tracking of developmental trajectories over 10 years.
Cohort C: In work package social networks: We aim to include 400 participants aged 18–20, including their entire social network.
Cohort D: In work package antisocial development: We aim to include 400 participants aged 10–12 with criminal records, targeting antisocial development.

What do we see in the figure?

Data for four cohorts (A-D) will be acquired at different sites. Across all cohorts, we will measure the same functional neural (delay of gratification for self and others), social connections (ego-centered social networks), behavioral (self-regulation and contributions to society) and biological (brain structure, polygenetic risk scores) variables.

Each cohort additionally targets a specific focus area (social learning, learning in school context, vicarious gains and social connection, and empathy) in the specific population (the Rotterdam Test & Replication Cohort, the Amsterdam Test & Replication Cohort, the Social Connections Cohort, and the Antisocial Cohort).

The first measurement is scheduled for 2024–2025, with follow-up waves in 2027–2028 (participants aged 13–23) and 2030–2031 (participants aged 16–26). New participants will be recruited as needed to maintain cohort size.

Each wave includes lab visits for cognitive and behavioral tasks, questionnaires, DNA sampling, and MRI scans, such as:

Functional brain development using fMRI and the Social Delay Discounting Task (Van Rijn et al., 2024).
Resting-state fMRI to map functional connectivity.
Structural brain scans for brain architecture changes.

Additional fMRI tasks will assess trust, reward sensitivity, empathy, and prosocial behavior. EEG will be used for some participants to study reward processing and self-regulation in social contexts. Experience Sampling Methods (ESM) will examine self-regulation in real-life settings (Myin-Germeys and Kuppens, 2022).

Integrative across work packages projects

The Netherlands, and specifically the GUTS consortium, has a strong tradition in longitudinal measures of brain science, experimental research, self-report research, and social network research. Researchers contribute expertise from various cohort studies, set up for different purposes. International cohorts relevant to GUTS also exist. Insights from ongoing cohorts and international data infrastructures will enhance the GUTS design. We aim to connect new longitudinal cohorts with results from ongoing ones at other sites.

What do we see in the figure?

Each of the four domains (Education, Social Connections, Antisocial Behavior and Individual Development) is the focus of a specific work-package. PhD and post doc projects will capture the interaction across work-packages using methods developed in WP5 and tools from WP6. You can access a PDF with the detailed list of all the project plans by clicking here.

Read more about the study design, cohorts and work packages on the GUTS project website.

Data Management

All procedures will be communicated transparently, with data stored according to FAIR principles and the BIDS standard (Gorgolewski et al., 2016). More details can be found in the GUTS RDM handbook. Data will be made available for future studies globally.

The GUTS Data Management Group is developing a system using iRODS and Yoda to enhance data findability and accessibility while preserving privacy. Structured datasets will be stored in iRODS/Yoda, separating personal data from descriptive metadata. Publicly accessible metadata will allow researchers to filter and request datasets. Access requests will be managed by data managers and approved by a data access committee, after which data subsets will be available to authorized users.

Research

This represents the overall number of individuals who are working on the GUTS project.

You can access a PDF with the detailed list of community members and their respective project plans by clicking here.

Total GUTS community count

PhD Students

and postdocs

Professors and PIs

Research Assistants

Support Staff

Collaborators

Work package 1 – Education: equal opportunities for academic achievement

WP1 Amsterdam leader
Lydia Krabbendam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Other PIs
Nienke van Atteveldt, Thijs Bol, Barbara Braams, Hilde Huizenga
Postdoc
Denise van der Mee
PhD-Students
Myrthe Vel Tromp, Nathalie Aerts, Jule Schretzmeir, Maartje Overhaus, Tatvan Todor
Connected team
Eddie Brummelman, Brenda Jansen, Ilja Veer, Mariët van Buuren, Tieme Janssen, TuongVan Vu

WP1 Rotterdam leader
Eveline Crone (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Other PIs
Anna van Duijvenvoorde, Ingmar Franken, Loes Keijsers, Thijs Bol
Postdoc
Suzanne van de Groep
PhD-Students
Ann Hogenhuis, Ethell-Marjorie Dubois, Lotte van Rijn, Yvette Grootjans, Lonneke Elzinga
Connected team
Michelle Achterberg, Lysanne te Brinke, Kayla Green, Anita Harrewijn, Jeroen van der Waal, Yara Toenders, Sophie Sweijen, Eddie Brummelman

Aim/Objectives
WP1 aims to explore how social and societal opportunities influence individual, academic, and social outcomes during adolescence and emerging adulthood, with a focus on socio-economic diversity. The project will examine the role of self-regulation at behavioral and neural levels in moderating these effects, utilizing structural and functional neuroimaging combined with behavioral experiments in a longitudinal study design.

Method/Cohorts
WP1 involves two longitudinal cohort-sequential MRI studies conducted at Erasmus University Rotterdam and VU University. The study emphasizes socio-economic diversity through collaboration with local governments and community involvement. The research will focus on genetics, brain structure and function, and self-regulation, with relevant outcomes identified in collaboration with adolescents. The WP1 team includes 11 PhD students and 2 postdocs.

Progress Updates
WP1 conducts monthly meetings to coordinate between the Amsterdam and Rotterdam cohorts. The Amsterdam cohort held a brainstorming session to develop a recruitment strategy and began pilot fMRI studies on self-concept and motivation/reward. The Rotterdam cohort-initiated collaboration with Albeda MBO-school and YoungXperts for recruitment and integrated specific assessments into GUTS-wide measurements. Both cohorts are preparing for data collection in early 2024, with ethics approvals secured and pilot studies underway.

Plans and Challenges
For 2024, both cohorts will refine recruitment strategies and start the first data collection wave. Amsterdam added fMRI tasks on motivation/reward and self-concept, while Rotterdam expanded to include EEG data and additional behavioral tasks. A key challenge is ensuring consistent communication across the WP1 team due to differing preferences for communication channels.

Work package 2 – Social networks: self-regulation in an increasingly complex social world

WP2 leaders
René Veenstra (University of Groningen)

Anna van Duijvenvoorde (Leiden University)
Other PIs
Berna Güroğlu, Christian Keysers, Gert Stulp, Barbara Braams
Postdoc
Simone Dobbelaar
PhD-Students
Alexandra Pior, Pau Vila Solar, Francisca Ayres Ribeiro, Hanna Griffiths
Connected team
Lisa Schreuders, Wouter Kiekens, Lydia Laninga-Wijnen, Miriam Dietz

Aim/Objectives
WP2 aims to understand how neural and self-regulation development influences emerging adults as they navigate complex social environments, fulfill social needs, and transition to adulthood. WP2 will explore how self-regulation and peer networks impact the adjustment to college life and academic success, using longitudinal network, survey, and neuroimaging data collected by GUTS researchers in Amsterdam, Groningen, and Leiden.

Method/Cohorts
WP2 employs a prospective longitudinal approach to collect self- and peer-report data, avoiding biases from retrospective recall. The study assesses various aspects of social functioning, including friendships, peer preferences, and social network positions, and links these data to parental background and academic achievement. The project uniquely recruits complete social networks of college students, allowing for multi-informant peer reports, sociometric assessments, and ego-centered network data. Repeated fMRI assessments over one or two years will explore the relationship between social networks, brain structure, and academic success.

Progress Updates
WP2 has initiated bi-weekly team meetings and organized team-building events to enhance cohesion. The initial focus has been on selecting suitable participant groups, with efforts to collaborate with organizations like ITEPS Meppel and LUC. After these partnerships did not materialize, the team engaged with the “Sophia” student organization for a pilot study and is exploring long-term collaboration. The team is finalizing questionnaires, experimental tasks, and sociometric nominations for data collection planned for Spring 2024, with input from focus groups and computational modeling of experimental tasks underway.

Plans and Challenges
WP2 plans to refine instruments, finalize collaboration agreements, and begin pilot fMRI data collection in early 2024, followed by analysis and adjustments. Due to concerns about scanner availability and the tight social networks in early university years, the original plan to follow 400 participants every two years has been adjusted to 300 participants with a one-year follow-up. This approach aims to ensure consistent data collection with the current LIBC scanner. The main data collection phase is set to begin in the latter half of 2024, with behavioral data collection continuing into 2025.

Work Package 3 – Antisocial behavior: when young people deviate from social norms: antisocial, rule-breaking behaviors

WP3 leader
Lucres Nauta-Jansen (AmsterdamUMC-VUMC)

Other PIs
René Veenstra, Hilleke Hulshoff Pol, Arne Popma, Barbara Franke, Ingmar Franke, Valeria Gazzola, Loes Keijsers
Postdoc
Carmen-Silva Sergiou
PhD-Students
Carmen Mendes de Leon, Nick Adrian, Lisa Verbeij
Connected team
–

Aim/Objectives
WP3 aims to predict and understand antisocial behavior, hypothesizing that difficulties in self-regulation, particularly in social affective goal regulation, are key to the development of persistent antisocial behavior. WP3 will examine self-regulation in terms of goal setting, maintenance, and capacity, alongside neural development, as predictors of antisocial behavior. The project focuses on a cohort of high-risk children, comparing findings with other GUTS cohorts and external groups to identify individual, neurobiological, social, and societal factors influencing antisocial behavior.

Method/Cohorts
WP3 studies a cohort of 400 high-risk children who showed signs of antisocial behavior before age 12 (Cohort D), using longitudinal data collection that includes neurobiological measures of self-regulation. The study will explore factors that contribute to either the persistence or desistance of antisocial behavior, with comparisons made to a normal population cohort (WP1 Amsterdam Cohort). WP3 also collaborates with an intervention cohort (PIT project) to develop tailored programs aimed at preventing persistent antisocial behavior in high-risk children.

Progress Updates
WP3 has initiated bi-weekly meetings to establish the new cohort and draft the data acquisition protocol. This involves planning GUTS measures, specific questionnaires, and selecting relevant fMRI tasks. The team has engaged with experts from organizations like iHUB and Buurtteam Utrecht in brainstorming sessions to gather best practices for recruitment strategies. Further sessions are planned as they refine their approach to recruiting high-risk children.

Plans and Challenges
In 2024, WP3 plans to finalize the assessment battery, develop the data collection protocol, and submit it for ethical approval. The team will also focus on creating specific PhD plans for the students involved. WP3 will continue collaborating with partners to refine the recruitment strategy, aiming to begin data collection in spring 2024. So far, no scientific changes have been made to the original proposal.

Work Package 4 – Individual development: from genes to societal contributions

WP4 leader
Hilleke Hulshoff Pol (Utrecht University)

Other PIs
Barbara Franke, Eveline Crone, Ingmar Franken, Lucres Nauta-Jansen
Postdoc
Jalmar Teeuw
PhD-Students
Vera Goossens, Barbara Sakic
Connected team
Janita Bralten, Marieke Klein

Aim/Objectives
WP4 aims to identify biomarkers that influence the development of self-regulatory abilities during adolescence and emerging adulthood. By examining neurobiological mechanisms and sensitivities, WP4 seeks to understand how these factors contribute to adolescents becoming motivated, socially responsible adults.

Method/Cohorts
WP4 integrates biological measures, including genetic data and brain imaging, with social environmental factors to study the development of self-regulation and its impact on societal outcomes in adolescents and emerging adults. The work involves analyzing existing data from sources like the UK Biobank and the ABCD study, alongside newly acquired GUTS cohorts.

Progress Updates
WP4 has initiated bi-weekly meetings and collaborated with WP5 to merge biological and statistical analysis perspectives. Scientific progress includes using existing data to study self-regulation outcomes linked to genetic factors, particularly ADHD and major depressive disorder, as well as exploring the relationship between genetic liability, brain structure, and externalizing behaviors in children. A combined research space at SURF is being prepared for new GUTS cohorts, ensuring optimal data harmonization and integration for future analyses.

Plans and Challenges
n 2024, WP4 will install hardware and set up data processing pipelines at multiple locations, including Utrecht University and Radboudumc. The team will facilitate data projects within the consortium, co-organize a meeting on biological measures in imaging-genetics, and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for data quality.Challenges include navigating local legal rules for data access, which will be managed by assigning specific researchers to handle these processes. WP4 will also oversee the consumables budget to maintain efficient operations. No scientific changes have been made to the original proposal so far.

Work Package 5 – Responsible predictive modeling: integrating cohorts to predict young people’s contributions to society

WP5 leader
Mark de Rooij (Leiden University)

Other PIs
Hilde Huizenga, Nienke van Atteveldt, Gert Stulp

Postdoc
–
PhD-Students
Zino Brystowski

Connected team
Marjolein Fokkema

Aim/Objectives
WP5 aims to develop a new machine learning methodology to create an interdisciplinary theory predicting young people’s contributions to society. The framework will involve three steps: a “battle of theories” based on predictive accuracy, developing an umbrella theory, and enhancing it by allowing domain interactions.

Method/Cohorts
The research will use mathematical proofs and large-scale simulation studies, developing and testing new statistical methods. Existing datasets will be used initially, with plans to incorporate GUTS data later.

Progress Updates
WP5 began bi-weekly meetings with WP4, discussing dataset overviews and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for data collection. The team has also started developing a framework for Stacked Domain Learning in R.

Plans for 2024:
WP5 plans to write a tutorial paper on Stacked Domain Learning for a special issue in

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience using ABCD data. This work will contribute to the PhD student’s dissertation.

Challenges/Risks:
A risk of the project is that so-called ”open data’’ is often not open for everyone. For the use of ABCD data, for example, an affiliation with a medical center is required for insurance reasons. To solve the problem, a GUTS researcher and employee at a university medical center requested a guest-employee ship for the WP5 GUTS PhD student to be able to work with the ABCD data in a combined study. Restrictions might also be encountered for other open data sets.

Work Package 6 – Management, Training, and Knowledge Dissemination

The goal of Work Package 6 is to aid the GUTS program with respect to general management of the program and the organization of training, co-creation and dissemination activities. This WP will also act in case of conflict or assign confidants if conflict arises.

GUTS Support
As ‘penvoerder’ Erasmus University Rotterdam hosts the research support team

Project Coordinator
The Partners have jointly agreed to appoint EUR as Coordinator of the Research Programme. We hired a project coordinator, Yolijn Aarts. Her tasks are:

Responsible for day-to-day management of the Research Programme, with support from the project office.

Distribute Grant funding to relevant Parties following Ministry of OCW decisions, the Programme Budget.

Monitor scientific progress within each Work Package, as defined in the grant, in consultation with the scientific advisory board and Work Package Leaders.

Knowledge Broker
We hired a Knowledge Broker, Kitty de Vries. Her tasks are:

Bridge the gap between research and society, by facilitating the exchange of knowledge and orchestrating meetings to foster collaboration.

Manage the GUTS project’s visibility. This involves overseeing the social media strategy, maintaining the website, and managing the project’s newsletter.

Data Management
Members: Mark Mulder and Simone Mulder (Data Manager), Eduard Klapwijk (Data Steward)

Method and Updates:

A ‘living’ GUTS Research Data Management (RDM) Handbook has been developed, providing detailed guidelines on file naming, data conversion, and metadata usage. A Central Data Coordination (CDC) group, comprising members from each cohort, has been established to ensure data harmonization in line with the handbook.
In collaboration with SURF, a data management solution is being designed to meet the consortium’s needs, based on the SURF Yoda RDM platform. Automated pipelines are being created to facilitate data processing, metadata generation, and filtering, ensuring a consistent and readable data structure across all cohorts.We are building a metadata explorer in collaboration with a research software engineer (Stephan Heunis). This explorer will provide an overview of all the data across the consortium and will serve as a data request platform for GUTS researchers.
A metadata explorer is being built in collaboration with Stephan Heunis, intended to provide an overview of consortium data and serve as a data request platform for GUTS researchers.

Changes compared to the original proposal
The original plan of using SURF services has been maintained, though both opportunities and challenges have arisen.

Opportunities:

A €60,000 grant has been secured to extend Yoda for inter-university collaboration, which will fund the hiring of a software engineer and SURF consultancy to develop a Metadata Explorer and the necessary infrastructure.

Obstacles:

Connecting different Yoda instances requires federation, which, while technically possible, depends on cooperation from institutional officials and IT administrators. This process could delay implementation, but it will be addressed through the Dutch Yoda consortium.

Data Management Plans
December 2023

First version RDM handbook

January 2024

First inter-institutional Yoda environment prototype and testing

February 2024

First version metadata explorer prototype and testing

March – April 2024

First test using Yoda with pilot data from GUTS2. First test using dummy data on combination of Yoda and Metadata Explorer3. Showcase Yoda data management solution.

May – July 2024

Processing feedback and building improved prototypes

August – December 2024

Testing improved prototypes with dummy data and actual dataReleasing stable versions of federated Yoda environments, metadata explorer and data delivery process

Impact

Social Media

Branding GUTS

Timeline GUTS

Social Media

LinkedIn and X pages were started in September 2023, with the goals of knowledge dissemination and community engagement. Furthermore, explorations into platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are underway, with the aim of recruiting adolescents for participation in our research initiatives.

Website

In September 2023, the GUTS website was successfully launched, featuring the new GUTS branding. Tailored primarily for researchers, the website offers easily accessible information on our values, research methodologies, and recent developments. A dedicated section showcases the vibrant GUTS community, including a comprehensive Teams-page. Regularly updated blogs and articles spotlight various ideas and researchers within the consortiums, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Visit the GUTS website here.

Newsletter

In November 2023 the first GUTS newsletter was send to 117 subscribers. The newsletter serves as a combination of insights sourced from various platforms, including the website, social media channels, blog posts, and the latest news updates. Tailored to provide an overview of the consortium’s activities, it spotlighted key individuals within the consortium, fostering a sense of community and recognition among members.

You can find the GUTS newsletters here.

GUTS Brand Image

The goal of the designers was to create a brand image with a strong signal function in visual language and color, with a focus on young people. The approach is to create a ‘movement,’ both online and offline. The national and international cooperation between the affiliated universities and society is intended to foster a community between science and young people.

Graphics

The designers have developed a new campaign style, with a translation from the new logo to an event feeling that is accessible, connecting, colorful, and attractive to both scientists and youth in the society. The dynamic visual language, use of color, typography, and supporting graphic elements can be easily incorporated into animations and films and offline communication carriers (brochures, banners, event decorations, and merchandise)

Timeline GUTS

Finances

Table

Finances

The following table specifies the NWO budget allocated to the scientific projects and management in the consortium for the first term (2023-2027).

Click here to download the PDF

Looking
Ahead

Data Collection Begins at All Locations

We are excited to announce that data collection will officially begin at all locations!

We are already halfway through 2024, and as we reflect on the journey so far, we are excited for what lies ahead. The progress made in 2023 has provided a strong foundation. This year has already brought new developments, collaborations, and discoveries within the GUTS consortium. We are committed to fostering innovation, mutual support, and scientific excellence.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to this journey. We look forward to sharing the next phase of the GUTS consortium with you in the 2024 activity report.