We are very proud to announce that Loan Tran, PhD student of the program line Molecular Pathology, was awarded a DOC grant by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) to fund the continuation of her PhD project’s research on colorectal cancer.
Loan Tran about the award
"Being granted with the prestigious DOC fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences is an honor and is an exceptional opportunity to proceed with my research project.
In my PhD project at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Applied Diagnostics, the main objective is to discover biomarkers and develop preclinical models for metastatic colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide.
Traditionally, cancer has been viewed as a disease driven by the accumulation of genetic mutations. However, the genetic paradigm has been expanded to incorporate the disruption of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. I was captivated by how the epigenome can play a crucial role in cancer development whilst adding another layer of complexity. Here, it is pivotal to understand the mechanisms underlying the disease to improve the outcome for affected patients in the long run. Thus, I hope to make a lasting contribution in the field of cancer research and the improvement of human health"
What is the DOC Fellowship?
The DOC Fellowship Programme of the Austrian Academy of Sciences offers funding for highly qualified doctoral candidates in all areas of research. The fellowships in the amount of 38,000 Euros allow young researchers to dedicate themselves to working in focused fashion to complete their doctoral thesis within a clear timeframe.
