The Danish Council for Independent Research has donated a scholarship of DKK 1,867,131 to Qi Wu, postdoc at the Department of Biomedicine.

2016.04.12 | Ida Kellemann Thomsen

The Danish Council for Independent Research has donated a scholarship of DKK 1,867,131 to Qi Wu, postdoc at the Department of Biomedicine.

Qi Wu can continue his research into newly discovered urine exosomes with the title of postdoc researcher. His project ”Regulated secretion and role of  urinary nanovesicles” aims to uncover the role that nanovesicles have in human urine.

"I am very honoured to be considered talented and to receive this postdoc scholarship. I hope I can contribute towards improving the health of patients suffering from urinary infections. At the same time, I also hope that I can move up the career ladder on the path to becoming a good and independent researcher," says Qi Wu.

The project is already up and running under the leadership of cell biologist Robert Fenton. In themonth of March this year the research team received a substantial grant from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship. (See previous coverage of the project).

Cell debris to be investigated

This is the first time researchers have discovered that these microscopic exosomes can be found in urine. Vesicles are like messengers that are secreted from cells. They carry information from the cells that they originate in, including e.g. proteins and genetic material. The exact function of these exons in urine has not yet been clarified. This is part of the work that Qi Wu will try to achieve with his postdoc position.

According to the chair of the Danish Council for Independent Research, Professor and Consultant Jørgen Frøkiær, it is important that postdoc scholarships are made.

"Postdoc scholarships provide the most talented Danish and foreign health science researchers with the opportunity to pursue groundbreaking research ideas, which can be of vital importance for health science research in future," says Jørgen Frøkiær.

He believes there is particular potential in awarding postdoc scholarships to Danish researchers who collaborate on foreign projects. The same applies to international researchers who come to Denmark.

"We know that a strong focus on internationalisation gives the researcher new knowledge and an opportunity to compile expertise in research environments with a high academic level," says Jørgen Frøkiær.

Further information:

Ph.d., Postdoctoral Fellow, Qi Wu

Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine

Direct tel.: (+45) 8716 7642

Mobile: (+45) 9192 7178

Email: qi.wu@biomed.au.dk