Science Today: The Cell

Welcome to the 15th edition of Science Today, this time themed The Cell. During the evening, three speakers—PhD students and postdocs from Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology—will present their research.

In the programme, we explore the cell’s structure and function—from energy production and membrane transport to how cells build tissues and respond to their environment. Take the time to visit the newly opened exhibition Cells, nerves, genes, when visiting the museum.

Science Today is a recurring after-work that kicks off the weekend with a mix of cutting-edge research and music from some of Stockholm’s best DJs.

Speakers

Julian Wagner

The Cell Membrane: Why Setting Barriers is Essential for Life

Julian Wagner is a PhD Student at the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Stockholm University.

In this talk, Wagner will delve into the fascinating world of cell membrane biophysics. We take a closer look at the structure and function of the cell membrane and address the puzzling question of membrane asymmetry by combining computer simulations with hands-on experiments, creating synthetic membrane systems that mimic real cell membranes.

Finally, we will explore how this research not only deepens our understanding of how cells work, but how it might also help us better understand and treat diseases. 

Pradeepa Pushparaj

Recognition of foreign antigens by B cells 

Pradeepa Pushparaj is a Postdoc at the Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology at Karolinska Institutet.

This talk explores how the immune system reacts to infections and vaccinations at a single cell level.

By studying these responses, we gain insights that can help design better vaccines, discover new antibody-based therapeutics, and explain why different people respond differently to the same infection or vaccine, based on their genetics. 

Ana Patrícia Spencer

From a neuron to a full brain that fits on a chip

Ana Patrícia Spencer is a Postdoc at Anna Herland lab, Nanobiotechnology division, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH) at KTH.

What if we could model the human brain on a chip smaller than a fingertip? In this talk, Spencer will explain her work creating chip-based models of brains effected by disease using polymer chips with living nerve cells and blood vessels.

Her mission is to study conditions like epilepsy, stroke, and
the effects of radia on on the brain directly in the lab, enabling faster tesing of new treatments. Ultimately, this ny brain-on-a-chip could lead to personalized medicine, where a patient’s own cells are used to predict which therapies will work best for them.