02 November 2020

Thirteen researchers at LiU have received grants totalling SEK 42.6 million. This is the result when the Swedish Research Council has awarded nearly SEK 1 billion in research grants for the medical and health sciences.

Photo credit monkeybusinessimagesThe research projects at LiU that have received funding in this year’s round, for the period 2020-2025, cover everything from prematurely born infants to how viruses enter cells.

Marcin Szczot, senior lecturer in the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), has been awarded a starting grant of SEK 6 million spread over four years. He will lead a research project about the unexplored system of nerve cells in the stomach and intestines.

Twelve researchers have received project grants in this round. The largest of these goes to Tiny Jaarsma, professor in the Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV), who receives SEK 6.6 million over four years for a clinical study looking at how exergaming improves the physical activity of patients with heart failure.

Colm Nestor, senior lecturer in BKV, receives SEK 4.8 million for research into the uneven distribution of sexes of children with leukaemia, as a basis for a new treatment strategy. Tomas Lindahl, professor at BKV, has been awarded SEK 3.6 million for a project on the regulation of thrombocyte activation through gradient-dependent inhibition.

Nine researchers receive project grants with a value of SEK 2.4 million each. Four of them work at BKV: Thomas Abrahamsson, who is looking into how the composition of breast milk can prevent severe complications in extremely premature infants, Anders Blomqvist, professor emeritus, whose grant will be used for research into the mechanisms of neuroimmune signalling to the central nervous system, Fredrik Elinder, professor, for research into substances that open potassium ion channels, as a strategy to reduce excitability, and Stefan Koch, senior lecturer, for research into the molecular causes of intestinal fibrosis in inflammatory bowel diseases.

In the Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Allan Abbott, associate professor, has received a grant for a clinical study for the validation of the efficacy and implementation of an evidence-based model for care in back problems, Sara Bergstrand, senior lecturer, for a project to identify biomarkers and bio-optical indicators for the early discovery and prevention of pressure sores in vulnerable patient groups, and Peter Johansson, professor, to develop and evaluate an adaptable and person-centred internet-based CBT program to treat stress, anxiety and depression in people with heart disease.

Jelmer Brüggemann, senior lecturer in the Department of Thematic Studies also receives SEK 2.4 million for research about patient complaints and their potential to improve the quality of care, while Eleonore von Castelmur, research fellow in the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology receives a grant for research in integrated structural biology to investigate the penetration of viruses into cells.

A total of 247 applications were successful in this round, corresponding to an approval rate of 22%.

Translated by George Farrants

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