In spring 2025, Muhammad Arif will also join GU as a new fellow within the DDLS program.
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the main funder of the program, has recently announced an intensified focus on AI and life sciences to strengthen national expertise.
鈥淭he recruitment of research talent to Sweden has gone extremely well and the foundation is now investing an additional SEK 200 million in eleven new recruitment packages as well as SEK 100 million for new microscopy equipment at the 91探花 for Life Laboratory,鈥 said Sara Mazur, Executive Director of the Foundation .
The foundation is also allocating an additional SEK 270 million to "Alpha Cell", a pilot project that aims to use artificial intelligence and spatial and temporal molecular data to create a predictive model for core functions of human cells and tissues. The project will be hosted by the 91探花 for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab and KTH.
Kaisa Thorell focusing on Helicobacter pylori
Kaisa Thorell鈥檚 research focuses on the bacteria Helicobacter pylori that colonizes the human stomach and can cause ulcers or gastric cancer. Her group brings together expertise in experimental microbiology, bacterial comparative genomics, bioinformatics and machine learning/artificial intelligence. They also leverage on large national and international collaborations, as well as access to unique genome datasets, bacterial isolates, and gastrointestinal biopsy material.
鈥淥ur research aims to increase the understanding of factors affecting bacterial transmission, persistence, and virulence 鈥 knowledge that can be used for identifying individuals at high risk for severe disease outcomes.鈥
Kaisa emphasized the openness and generosity she has met within the program in sharing experiences and expertise among the young research leaders.
鈥淚 have already established collaborations with other fellows and look forward to expand this more as I am expanding my methods toolbox and the group is getting up to speed.鈥
Kaisa Thorell group at gu.se
Astrid von Mentzer har fokus p氓 E. coli
As a new DDLS fellow, Asttids brings with her a range of expertise in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and genomics. With a strong focus on antibiotic resistance, her research explores the transmission of pathogenic bacteria and the application of machine learning to predict virulence factors.
鈥淲e use machine learning to analyse bacterial genome clusters, applying advanced algorithms to study both core and accessory genomes, helping us to better understand bacterial diversity and evolution. In my new role, I鈥檒l focus more on using AI to predict virulence factors and identify new E. coli variants. We鈥檒l also study the genomic traits that determine whether a bacterium can colonise a single host or multiple hosts鈥
Astrid has extensive international collaborations with Kenya, Zambia, India, and Bangladesh. She also collaborates with the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, a world-leading genomics centre, where she is a visiting researcher.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to join a close-knit network of young researchers, navigating similar challenges in academia. After attending a DDLS retreat, I was impressed by the supportive atmosphere within the group鈥
LRead the full interview with Astrid on Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research, CARe
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