Meet the Fellows
2024-2025
Clarissa Schmal
DARE-Fellow & Medical Student, University of Copenhagen.
Clarrisa will during her time at Stanford University, research the role of AEP in developing resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH) treatments for osteoporosis. This research is supported by a collaboration between Jafari Group in Copenhagen and Wu Group at Stanford.
Osteoporosis affects millions worldwide due to an imbalance between bone formation and breakdown, leading to a higher risk of fractures, particularly in older adults. Treatments like teriparatide and abaloparatid stimulate bone growth but lose effectiveness over time. Clarissa's research aims to understand AEP's role in this resistance, potentially unlocking new possibilities for long-term treatment.
Cordelia Lindhard Smidth
DARE-Fellow & Medical Student, University of Copenhagen.
Cordelia will during her time at Stanford University, research on the GABRB3 variant, linked to severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy in children. Epilepsy affects 1% of children, and while genetic causes have been identified in 25% of severe cases, treatment remains largely empirical.
At Stanford, Cordelia will explore genotype-phenotype correlations for GABRB3-related epilepsy and use single-cell RNA transcriptomics to uncover new therapeutic targets. She will also utilize the MIT Drug Repurposing Hub to identify precision treatments, including repurposed drugs.
Muna Lisa
DARE-Fellow & Medical Student, Aalborg University.
Munalisa will during her time at Stanford, research radiation resistance in colorectal cancer. Guided by her mentor Laurids Ø. Poulsen, she will analyze archived tissue samples from Danish patients in collaboration with Professor Maximillian Diehn, an expert in radiation therapy.
Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer globally, with a five-year survival rate of 60%. While treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are common, about 20% of patients are resistant. This project aims to uncover genetic factors behind this resistance and identify biomarkers to better predict patient outcomes, ultimately enhancing future care.
Noah Nilsson
DARE-Fellow & Medical Student, University of Copenhagen.
Noah will, during his time at UCSF, research the lymphatic system's role in lung damage among infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). Collaborating with Professor Sanjeev Datar, he aims to determine if these infants are particularly vulnerable to lung injury caused by shunts between the aorta and pulmonary artery, which lead to excessive blood flow.
This increased blood flow can overwhelm the lymphatic system, essential for fluid balance and immune function, resulting in lung tissue damage. Noah's research will identify genes in pulmonary lymphatics affected by shunts, assess their long-term impact after closure, and explore new treatment options through gene expression analysis, contributing to a pioneering project in the field.
Valdemar Wendelboe Nielsen
DARE-Fellow & Medical Student, University of Copenhagen.
Valdemar will during his time at UCSF, research the link between hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and increased cardiovascular disease risk. HS, characterized by painful lesions, is associated with systemic inflammation that can lead to atherosclerosis.
To address the variability in HS manifestations and treatment responses, Valdemar and his mentors will identify HS subtypes linked to a higher incidence of cardiovascular conditions. By employing newly developed disease classifications, his research aims to enhance understanding of HS as a systemic disease, facilitating the identification of at-risk patients and informing targeted treatment strategies.