BONFOR 1st SciMed Prize for Nina Held

Translational Neuroimaging doctoral student Nina R. Held has received the 1st SciMed Prize for her research project „Quantitative susceptibility mapping reveals post- and interictal iron accumulation in focal epilepsy". The study provides in vivo evidence that individuals with focal epilepsy exhibit significantly increased interictal susceptibility in brain regions that spatially overlap with the presumed seizure onset zone. Postictal susceptibility was further elevated and dependent on the number of preceding seizures, suggesting dynamic iron extravasation in the aftermath of seizure activity. Importantly, higher interictal susceptibility was associated with impaired memory performance and increased depressive symptoms. These findings indicate that QSM can capture both acute and chronic aspects of iron accumulation, with potential relevance for comorbid cognitive and affective disturbances. At the annual BONFOR meeting, Nina gave the most convincing poster presentation. The Translational Neuroimaging Group is delighted for her.

With its central funding program BONFOR (“Bonner Forschung”), the Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn supports young researchers at various career stages with start-up funding. There are currently nine funding instruments available, including the SciMed doctoral scholarship, which enables students of human medicine and dentistry to gain early entry into biomedical research with a challenging experimental doctoral thesis. Once a year, the scholarship recipients present their projects at the BONFOR symposium. Eleven current and post doctoral students of the Translational Neuroimaging Team have received SciMed-Scholarships.

© Simon Goergen - UKB

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