For the coming three years, Canadian researcher Jacqueline Lai will work as a Vinnova-funded postdoctoral researcher in Carina Mallard’s research team at Medicinareberget. Here, she will be continue working with a molecule that may perhaps become a medicine for brain injury in premature newborns.
Brain damage in newborns is, in many cases, due to the fact that the baby is born before it has attained full growth. The premature birth is often due to infections, which triggers an immune response, and which in turn can cause damage to the brain.
Jacqueline Lai has been appointed a VINNMER Marie Curie Incoming Fellow, in a joint project between the University of Gothenburg, University of British Columbia and Harvard Medical School. Jacqueline has previous experience with working with the new pharmaceutical candidate. This concerns a peptide that has been patented in Canada, and which the research team in Gothenburg has been able to show good efficacy against brain injury in newly born mice. The study, which was published last year, showed that the peptide can rebalance the immune response, mitigate the damaging mechanisms, and significantly reduce brain injury even if given to the baby mice three hours after the injury.
In the next step, the research team will give the baby mice a naturally occurring bacteria, the same type as those that cause infections in premature newborns at the hospital. Jacqueline Lai is an expert in the field of immunology, and has the task of modifying the research model to the new preconditions.
“We must create a robust research protocol, which provides stable results irrespective of the particular researcher carrying out the work,” remarks Jacqueline Lai.
Right now she is being drilled in the fine motor microsurgery required to carry out the experiments.
Building sustainable bridges
Jacqueline Lai is originally from Hong Kong, and received her PhD from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she has already completed a period as a postdoc. Her long-term goal is to establish more interactive cooperation between the fields of immunology and neuroscience, and to strengthen the bridges between both research fields as well as research groups in various different countries. Another personal goal is to gain additional experience and qualifications in order to obtain a more senior researcher position in Vancouver.
When she applied for Vinnova’s Mobility for Growth program, she was already on her way to Gothenburg.
“I pressed the button to submit the application the same day as I sat on the plane to come here,” she says, and notes that she already feels at home in Gothenburg.”
“So far, I feel really comfortable and am enjoying my time here in Gothenburg. I like the open atmosphere, and it is so quiet yet lively here,” remarks Jacqueline Lai.
Now she is focusing on her goal to learn Swedish.
Jacqueline Lai is one a total of 17 researchers who receive funding for international collaborations through Vinnova’s Mobility for Growth program. The program will contribute to increased international experience for researchers who have the potential to become tomorrow’s leaders: at companies, research institutes and universities. Petronella Kettunnen, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, also received funding from Vinnova’s award. Vinnova provides funding for up to half of the researcher’s salary along with expenses for mobility for a period of up to three years. The researcher’s employer finances the remaining part of the salary.
BY: ELIN LINDTSRÖM CLAESSEN
