28 October 2021

Fourteen researchers at LiU have received grants totalling more than SEK 64 million. This is the result when the Swedish Research Council has awarded nearly SEK 1.1 billion in research grants for the medical and health sciences.

a coarse brush is applied to the back of the handPain receptors in the skin are activated by coarse brush strokes and pinching. One of the projects that receive grants from the Swedish Research Council will study ultrarapid pain signalling in humans Photo credit Charlotte PerhammarThe research projects at LiU to receive grants in the application round for 2021-2026 cover a wide range, from health during pregnancy to coronavirus infection.

Two LiU researchers has been awarded starting grants. Linda Bojmar, postdoc in the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV) receives SEK 6 million over four years for molecular and cellular studies of liver pre-metastatic niches in pancreatic cancer, and biomarkers of metastasis. Also, Pontus Henriksson, associate professor at the Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV) has been awarded SEK 6 million for the PRIMI project, looking at reproductive health and health-promoting lifestyles after pregnancy in women born outside Sweden.

Twelve researchers have received project grants in this round:

Mikael Benson, professor at BKV, has received nearly SEK 6.4 million for research into a scalable strategy for precision medicine in immune-mediated diseases.

Claudio Cantù, associate professor at BKV, receives SEK 5.2 million for research into how tissue-specific Wnt signalling drives colorectal cancer.

Jan Ernerudh, professor emeritus at BKV, will also receive SEK 5.2 million for a project on immune tolerance during pregnancy as a model to identify biomarkers and improve treatment in multiple sclerosis.

Marie Larsson, professor at BKV, has been granted SEK 5.2 million for research into how HIV infects mucous membranes in the cervix, large intestine, and rectum. She will also look at HIV infection in cells of the immune system.

Sara Liin, associate professor at BKV, will receive SEK 5.2 million for a project on the structure-based design and development of new drugs for cardiac arrhythmia and epilepsy.

Saad Nagi, principal research engineer at BKV, has received SEK 5.2 million kronor for further research into ultrarapid pain signalling in humans.

Francisca Lottersberger, associate professor at BKV, has been granted SEK 4.8 million for research into chromatin mobility during the repair of DNA damage and tumour formation.

Maria Lerm, professor at BKV will receive SEK 4.2 million for research into epigenetic changes in the immune system following infection by the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

Martin Hägglund, professor at HMV, has been granted SEK 3.6 million for research into safe sporting activities without injury for children, young people and young adults.

Johan Dabrosin Söderholm, professor at BKV, has been awarded SEK 2.4 million for investigations into the role of intestinal bacteria in inflammatory bowel disease and new treatment possibilities.

Lena Jonasson, professor at HMV, will receive a project grant of SEK 2.4 million for research into the stressed immune system in coronary artery disease.

And finally, Marie Löf, professor at HMV, has been awarded SEK 2.4 million for HealthyMoms2.0 – a digital platform for the treatment of pregnancy-induced diabetes and to improve the health of mother and child.

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