Two prestigious Novo Nordisk research stipends to BRIC researchers
Thursday March 29th, 16 stipends from the Novo Nordisk foundation will be awarded to young research talents. One of the two largest of 11 million DKK goes to Associate Professor Janine Erler, who was recruited to BRIC as a group Leader in the fall 2011. It is the first time since the Hallas Møller stipend was established in 1985, that it is awarded to a female researcher.
”I am very pleased to receive this generous stipend. It enables me to take on a very visionary research project that I hope will contribute with crucial knowledge and improve cancer treatment in the future. Also I am glad to show the surrounding society, that female researchers can be among the top in their field” says Associate Professor Janine Erler.
Janine Erler’s project focuses on how cancer cells affect their micro-environment and instruct it to support spreading of the cancer cells. The project is especially centered around an enzyme called LOXL2, which Janine Erler has previously shown plays an important role in the process of metastasis.
Kim Theilgaard-Mönch, Assistant Professor, MD DMSc, who is affiliated with the Finsen Laboratory/BRIC and has a clinical position at the Dept. of Hematology, University of Lund received a Clinical Research Stipend of 2.5 million DKK. Kim Theilgaard-Mönch will use the stipend to a translational research project, bridging the gap between the basic and the clinical research disciplines, which is an area of focus for the Finsen Laboratory/BRIC. Specifically, he will apply genomic strategies to develop targeted therapies for the treatment of patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.