DCAcademy grant recipients 2024: Highlights from the Introduction Course

Photo: Elena Bouzinova. From right: Emily Anne McKaige, Emilie Katrine Kongebro, Emilie Bahne Thygesen, Karen Hvid, Jasmin Emma Rekly Jensen, Justus Florian Gräf, Giaan Ninh, Camilla Schelander Hansen, Andreas Fuchs, Malene Nørregaard Nielsen, María José Romero Lado, Ara Shwan Media, Kezia Jerltorp, Casper Riedel, Marta Trius-Soler, Christian Stæhr, Sophie Sander Knudsen, Louise Marqvard Sørensen, Daniel Tchemerinska Konieczny, Maithily Satish Nanadikar, Thomas Hadberg Lynge, Nicoline Wichmand Thorsen, Simon Birk Kjær Jensen, Stine Foged Lindegaard, Mikkel Skjoldan Svenningsen, Thomas Ehlig Hjermind Justesen, Steffan Noe Niikanoff Christiansen, and Tummas Ternhamar.

2 September 2024 by Nanna Cathrine Brinch

On the 15th-16th of August 2024, 28 DCAcademy grant recipients met at the annual Introduction Course at Gl. Avernæs, Funen. Earlier this summer, they got the positive news that they had received either a PhD scholarship or a Postdoctoral fellowship.

The introduction course contained inspirational presentations within the cardiovascular field, teambuilding activities, a celebration of the grant recipients being appointed as science ambassadors, and a lot of networking.

The research projects span widely

A central part of the Introduction Course is when the new grant recipients introduce their projects to each other.

Once again, the range of projects was wide, and the projects address several issues related to the cardiovascular research area. The projects reach from issues related to maternal medication use in pregnancies, over outcome prediction in cardiac arrest to cerebral hemodynamics of obstructive sleep apnea.

The many different topics were also a clear strength of this year’s grant recipients according to Christian Aalkjær, Executive Managing Director, DCAcademy: “The diverse nature of the research projects is very exciting and will hopefully provide new perspectives for the cardiovascular research field.”

Peer Mentoring groups contributes to new perspectives

An important part of the meeting was when the new grant recipients were divided into Peer Mentoring groups. Throughout their time with DCAcademy, the grant recipients will have the opportunity to share experiences and best practices as well as support their fellow grantees.

One of the new cross-academy grant recipients, Jasmin Emma Rekly Jensen from University of Southern Denmark, had the following to say about her expectations for peer mentoring:

“I’m looking forward to learning from others who have already been through what I’m about to experience, getting new perspectives on tough decisions and build a network that extends beyond the boundaries of my own university.”

Appointment of Science Ambassadors

One of the biggest highlights of the course was when the recipients were appointed as science ambassadors. The ambassadorship is given between the Danish Heart Foundation and DCAcademy.

With this appointment follows an obligation to communicate the research emanating from the grant, particularly towards Danish patients with cardiovascular disease:

“Being appointed as a Science Ambassador is an incredible honour and I’m proud to have the opportunity to help bridge the gap between research and the patients who stand to benefit from it,” says Jasmin Rekly Jensen.

“I want to congratulate the 2024 grant recipients of being appointed as science ambassadors. I am looking forward to following your research and results in the future,” says Christian Aalkjær, Executive Managing Director, DCAcademy.