When the prestigious World Laureates Association (WLA) gathered members and invited guests for a conference in Shanghai in October, Robert Harris and other leading KI researchers were on hand to lecture on current research in life science and develop KI's international network of contacts. Among the participants were Joakim Franck, David Gross and nine other Nobel laureates.
The World Laureates Association (WLA), an organization for laureates who have received the Nobel Prize, the Wolf Prize, the Lasker Award, the Turing Award, the MacArthur Fellowship and the Fields Medal.
The purpose of the WLA is to promote scientific excellence and development through its members' expertise in fields such as chemistry, physics, medicine, economics, computer science, and mathematics.
Eleven Nobel laureates present
This year's conference had eleven Nobel laureates present and the overall theme of the event was "Excellence in science".
Leading scientists and medical experts from around the world participated in discussions on cutting-edge research, clinical diagnostics and treatment methods. A recurring theme was also the importance of international scientific cooperation and the importance of supporting young researchers.
Karolinska Institutet (KI) was represented in the session which dealt with the area of life science, which was one of the conference's six focus areas.
Research on ALS and Alzheimer's
Two KI researchers lectured, Professor Maria Masucci at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology , and Professor Robert Harris at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience . Professor Ingemar Ernberg at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology , participated in a panel debate.
"It was great and special to be able to show KI's research on this huge stage," says Robert Harris , who presented his research on how to slow down incurable neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer's disease during the conference.
"We have developed new therapeutic findings, partly a nanoparticle called DNA origami, and partly a special cell therapy. In addition, we are trying to understand the role of a certain cell in the brain called microglia, because we believe that it is the culprit in all neurodegenerative diseases," he explains.
Develop international networks
"It is important that KI is present at international events of this magnitude," Robert Harris emphasises. Not least because it is important to create new contacts among the world's leading researchers.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for KI's name to be heard and seen. As a researcher, you want to talk about your research, and I'm proud of my and my research group's achievement. And it's not every day you get to spend time with several Nobel laureates," he concludes.
