Dr. Johansson, a researcher at the Department of Medical Chemistry and Cell Biology, is a co-recipient of the 2014 Erna and Victor Hasselblad Foundation research grant for female scientists. Her research focuses on the protection provided by the bacteria that live in an impenetrable mucosal layer of the colon. Her ultimate goal is to set the stage for improved treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
“Thanks to the grant, I will be able to take the next step in my project and put together an internationally competitive team of researchers,” Dr. Johansson says.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the foundation has awarded the grant for female scientists. A total of SEK 2 million was divided equally between Dr. Johansson at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and Sabine Reinfeldt at the Chalmers Institute of Technology. Dr. Reinfeldt’s research focuses on a new type of implant to restore lost hearing.
Chasing down an explanation at the molecular level
The adult colon contains at least 2½ pounds of bacteria. The mucosal layer helps the body handle such a plethora of bacteria without getting sick. Dr. Johansson’s research has been able to show that mice that are missing one such layer are exposed to intestinal bacteria that cause inflammatory conditions similar to ulcerative colitis, which is a risk factor for colon cancer.
“I have also observed defective mucosal layers in patients with ulcerative colitis, “Dr. Johansson says. “We are still unable to explain either the healthy or pathological mechanisms of the mucosal layer at the molecular level. That is exactly what I have set out to do.”
Better diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Johansson’s goal is to lay the groundwork for better methods of diagnosing and treating inflammatory bowel disease.
A safe guess is that ulcerative colitis has several different causes. If the defect is identified at the molecular level in various patient populations, treatment can be individualized and the present approach of simply addressing symptoms will fall by the wayside.
“This is a brand new field of research, and I’m anxious to find out how it all works,” Dr. Johansson says. “Of course, improving quality of life for patients with ulcerative colitis is never far from my mind.” Approximately 1,200 Swedes are diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease every year.
The Erna and Victor Hasselblad Foundation promotes research and education in photography and the sciences.
