Wallenberg research fellow Nicholas Leigh has been awarded the prestigious and highly competitive Vetenskapsrådet starting grant. Nicholas recently started up his lab at Lund University, with the focus of studying how the immune system contributes to limb regeneration.
Find out more about the Leigh lab:
The Regenerative Immunology Lab
Karolina Pircs has also been awarded the Vetenskapsrådet starting grant. The aim of Karolina’s research is to establish how nerve cell renewal can be achieved through the restoration of autophagy, a mechanism employed by the cell to remove unnecessary or disfunctional components. Karolina is currently in the process of establishing research groups both at Lund EMV and at Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Find out more about Karolina and her research:
Autophagy and the treatment of Huntington disease: timing is key
https://www.kpircs.com/
Research group leader Isabella Artner has been awarded funding for a project investigating the effects of neurotransmitter signaling on human pancreatic beta cell development. The objective of the research from the Artner group is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control beta cell maturation and function in the embryonic and adult pancreas. This is crucial for the future development of cell replacement therapies for diabetes.
Find out more about the Artner research group:
The Endocrine Cell Differentiation group
Finally, Zaal Kokaia has been awarded funding for a project to develop cell therapy to facilitate improved functional recovery of the brain after stroke. One of only eight applicants receiving the top grant of 9 million SEK over a five year period, Prof. Kokaia’s reseach combines stem cells transplantation, cellular reprogramming and modulation of neuroinflammatory responses to develop clinically effective cell replacement therapies for human neurodegenerative diseases.
Find out more about Prof. Kokaia and his research:
The Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology
Scientists repair stroke damaged rat brain
Vetenskapsrådet 2020 grant announcement:
https://www.vr.se/english/applying-for-funding/decisions/2020-09-08-medicine-and-health.html