Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction (NISPA)

What Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction (NISPA) does

NISPA (Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction) is a Dutch non-profit research foundation established in 2004 and headquartered in Nijmegen, Netherlands. It operates as a collaboration between six major Dutch addiction care institutions (IrisZorg, Leger des Heils, Novadic-Kentron, Tactus verslavingszorg, Verslavingszorg Noord Nederland, and Vincent van Gogh) and Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) together with Radboud University's Faculty of Social Sciences, including the Behavioural Science Institute and the Donders Institute. The institute conducts practice-oriented research on addiction and its co-morbidities (ADHD, mild intellectual disability, PTSD, HIV, hepatitis C, eating disorders), and develops and evaluates clinical interventions including shared decision-making tools (Samen Beslissen), web-based treatment platforms (Etendebaas.nl), immersive virtual reality-supported cognitive-behavioral therapy for LVB patients, and decentralised hepatitis C care delivery models. Its work spans multi-omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) cohort studies, implementation science, and education, with outputs disseminated through scientific publications, clinical guidelines, and integration into Dutch applied-university curricula.

The organization has approximately six employees and is led by Scientific Director Arnt Schellekens (also professor of addiction and psychiatry at Radboudumc), with Boukje Dijkstra as coordinator and Sanne Heijnen providing secretarial support. NISPA generates no commercial revenue: all activities are funded through research grants and subsidies from Dutch public funders (ZonMw, NWO, VWS, Resultaten Scoren), foundations (Fonds NutsOhra, Antonia Wilhelmina Fonds), and healthcare industry partners (ViiV Healthcare, AbbVie, Gilead, VGZ alliantie, AIDSfonds). Distribution occurs through the six partner institutions, scientific publications, the annual NISPA-dag conference (next scheduled for November 12, 2026), monthly newsletters, and international collaborations including the ICASA Foundation and HIV research in Indonesia.

Name

Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction (NISPA)

Legal name

Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction

Website

https://nispa.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NISPA is a Dutch non-profit research foundation, founded in 2004 in Nijmegen, that links six addiction care institutions with Radboudumc and Radboud University to conduct practice-oriented addiction and co-morbidity research, developing clinical interventions funded entirely through grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Research Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAFACAK

Eating Disorder Treatment Programs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYHLAGAOAA

Clinical Operations & Monitoring FSP (CRA/CTM/Start-up)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Scientific Staffing & Functional Service Providers (FSP)

Keywords

• Addiction research
• Clinical interventions
• Behavioral science
• Evidence-based treatment
• Comorbidity research

Headquarters

HQ city

Nijmegen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Subsidies: NISPA conducts research funded by government and foundation grants including ZonMw, NWO, Resultaten Scoren, Fonds NutsOhra, Antonia Wilhelmina Fonds, and ViiV Healthcare subsidies. Activities are executed by and for NISPA employees and partner institutions.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NISPA is a non-profit research foundation that conducts practice-oriented scientific research, education, and care development focused on addiction prevention and treatment. It develops and evaluates clinical interventions such as the Samen Beslissen shared decision-making intervention, the Etendebaas.nl web-based treatment platform for eating disorders, and IVR-supported cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with mild intellectual disabilities. The institute serves as a bridge between Dutch addiction care institutions and academic research at Radboudumc and Radboud University.

Product overview

NISPA is a research consortium focused on addiction science, not a product company. It conducts scientific research, develops clinical interventions, and publishes studies rather than offering commercial technology products. Its activities include research projects on addiction and co-morbidity (ADHD, LVB, Hepatitis C, opioid use), development of clinical tools such as the 'Samen Beslissen' (Shared Decision-Making) intervention and 'Etendebaas.nl' web-based treatment for eating disorders, and guideline development for addiction treatment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Etendebaas.nl Web-based Treatment Platform Web-based treatment intervention for eating disorders that allows patients to have intensive contact with a personal therapist via the internet, featuring 24-hour accessibility and anonymity. The platform demonstrated sustained results at 12-month follow-up.
• Samen Beslissen (Shared Decision-Making) Intervention Evidence-based shared decision-making intervention for addiction care that has been implemented across partner institutions and incorporated into curricula at Hogeschool Zuyd (Heerlen) and Fontys Hogescholen (Eindhoven) Minor Verslavingskunde. Initially evaluated via ZonMw-funded RCT (2004-2008) with subsequent implementation study (2011-2013).
• IVR-CBT for LVB Patients Immersive Virtual Reality-supported cognitive-behavioral therapy designed for patients with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders, providing realistic and safe practice environments for addiction treatment.
• Decentralised Hepatitis C Care Model Decentralised care model bringing hepatitis C treatment directly to addiction care settings, avoiding hospital visits and improving patient access to treatment and elimination of the infection. Developed with subsidies from AbbVie and Gilead.
• NISPA Practice-Oriented Addiction Research Core scientific research service offering practice-oriented investigations on addiction prevention and treatment, including studies on comorbid conditions, personalized addiction care, shared decision-making, and decentralised healthcare delivery. Conducted by NISPA employees in collaboration with partner institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 39% of forensic addiction care patients have mild intellectual disability (LVB)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• IrisZorgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrisZorg is one of six Dutch addiction care institutions participating in the NISPA collaboration. The partnership focuses on scientific research, education, and care development for addiction prevention and treatment based on evidence-based knowledge.
• Tactus VerslavingszorgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTactus is a major Dutch addiction care provider participating in NISPA research on shared decision-making, LVB and addiction, eHealth interventions, and other practice-oriented research projects.
• Novadic-KentroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovadic-Kentron participates in NISPA research collaborations including studies on opioid addiction, ADHD, methylphenidate treatment, and conduct disorder in addiction patients.
• Verslavingszorg Noord Nederland (VNN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNN is a partner institution in the NISPA network contributing to evidence-based addiction research and care development across northern Netherlands.
• Vincent van GoghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVincent van Gogh (VVGI) is a partner in NISPA collaborating on research projects related to addiction care development and implementation.
• Leger des HeilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeger des Heils (Salvation Army) participates as a partner institution in the NISPA collaboration for addiction research and care improvement.
• Radboudumc - Department of Psychiatry and Primary CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRadboudumc departments of Primary Care (ELG) and Psychiatry collaborate with NISPA. The Department of Primary Care is formally responsible for addiction medicine training and manages various Academic Workplace programs including IMPULS, AMPHI, and the Academic Workplace General Practice. The Psychiatric University Center provides specialised care and conducts research on developmental disorders (ADHD, autism) and stress-related disorders (mood disorders and addiction).
• Radboud University Faculty of Social Sciences - Behavioural Science Institute (BSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Faculty of Social Sciences bundles research in three institutes (BSI, Radboud SCR, Donders Institute) and participates in NISPA through the Behavioural Science Institute, contributing to education and research on addiction and behavioural science.
• Donders Institute Centre for CognitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Donders Institute Centre for Cognition is one of the research institutes under Radboudumc that collaborates with NISPA on brain, cognition, and addiction research.
• Donders Centre for NeurosciencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on HIV and addiction research examining impulsivity as a driving factor behind HIV transmission risk behaviour in the Netherlands and Indonesia.
• Aveleijn GehandicaptenzorgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAveleijn collaborates with NISPA and Tactus on research regarding addiction and mild intellectual disability (LVB), including perception studies and treatment development.
• ICASA Foundation (International Collaboration on ADHD and Substance Abuse)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNISPA participates in this international collaboration focused on ADHD and substance abuse research, co-developing consensus statements on diagnosis and treatment of patients with substance use disorders and comorbid ADHD.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health): Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and research centre, combining clinical service delivery with multi-omics and translational addiction research. Comparable hybrid model bridging research and clinical care at greater scale.
• EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction): EU agency coordinating addiction epidemiology, research, and policy across member states. Peer in the addiction research and knowledge-translation space, though operating as a supranational public body rather than a research institute.
• King's College London - Addictions Department (IoPPN): Major UK academic department conducting large-scale addiction cohort studies, comorbidity research, and implementation science. Comparable mission and grant-funded research portfolio at significantly larger scale.
• NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH): US federal lead agency for addiction science funding and research priority-setting. Peer in the addiction research ecosystem though operating as a funder/policy body rather than a grant-receiving institute.
• Butler Center for Research (Hazelden Betty Ford): US-based addiction treatment research centre producing practice-oriented outcomes research on substance use treatment, closely integrated with a large clinical provider network. Comparable research-practice hybrid with grant and provider-funded model.

Regional players

• Jellinek (Arkin): Major Dutch addiction treatment provider within the Arkin mental health group that participates in addiction research and implements evidence-based interventions. Peer via shared Dutch addiction care ecosystem and applied research collaboration with academic partners.

Direct peers

• Addiction Research Institute (IRISA) / Netherlands Addiction Research Initiative: Dutch addiction-focused applied research consortium combining academic and addiction care partners. Closest structural peer in the Netherlands as a multi-institutional research collaboration in addiction.
• Trimbos Institute: Dutch non-profit research institute focused on mental health and substance use, also grant-funded and working closely with Dutch addiction care providers. Closest Dutch peer in mission, funding structure, and applied addiction research mandate.
• NDARC (National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW): Australia's flagship addiction research centre, funded largely by government grants and embedded in a university medical faculty. Comparable mission of practice-oriented addiction research, large cohort studies, and translation into clinical practice.

Emerging players

• Mainline Foundation: Dutch non-profit working on harm reduction and substance use among marginalised populations, including hepatitis C in people who use drugs. Comparable Dutch non-profit scope with overlapping hepatitis C/addiction focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nispa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction (NISPA)