The Scandinavian Society for Immunology (SSI) has awarded Johanne T. Jacobsen with the "Young Investigator 2024" award.
"It is a great honor to receive this award from the Scandinavian Society for Immunology. I am very grateful to be recognized by my professional community," Jacobsen says.
SSI includes the national immunological societies of the five nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway.
«The prize also provides me with substantial motivation to continue the extensive process of transferring and implementing the new technology I’ve developed over the course of more than ten years of work abroad, to the University of Oslo» she adds.
Finding and developing the best responses against infections
Jacobsen’s research focuses on the part of our immune system known as the adaptive immune system, as it adapts to infections. In her laboratory, she and her colleagues are working to understand how the so-called germinal center reaction is regulated.
The germinal center reaction is a process where the immune system finds and develops the best responses to combat infections.
"The germinal center reaction is a critical component of the immune system. It facilitates the production of antibodies capable of neutralizing viruses and bacteria, which is essential for our defense against infections," she explains.
Immunological memory
The germinal center reaction is essential for establishing immunological memory, allowing the immune system to recall pathogen-specific responses for future encounters.
"Consequently, it plays a vital role in generating effective immunity following vaccination," she adds.
Investigating the underlying mechanisms
In order to achieve long-term protection against viruses and ensure effective vaccine responses, it is essential to understand how the germinal center reaction is regulated.
"We are developing new tools to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the germinal center reaction. We believe that immunometabolites, signaling molecules with systemic effects, are involved in regulating this process and can modulate both local immune responses and broader physiological processes," she explains.
"By elucidating the mechanisms of the germinal center reaction, we aim to gain deeper insights into immune responses and their wider physiological impacts," Jacobsen adds.
Knowledge that benefits the entire Norwegian immunology community
Professor Gunnveig Grødeland was among several colleagues who nominated Jacobsen for this year’s award.
"Dr. Jacobsen is a young PI with an excellent track record. She has already secured several important grants in her career, including a postdoctoral mobility grant from the Norwegian Research Council and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grant. In 2022, she received an ERC Starting grant for which she chose the University of Oslo as host institution." Grødeland says.
Jacobsen conducted parts of her postdoctoral studies at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Rockefeller University, USA, where she also received an award for her research.
"From the Norwegian Society of Immunology, we nominated Dr. Jacobsen for the award because she conducts beautiful research. We believe she will contribute valuable perspectives and knowledge that will benefit the entire Norwegian immunology community in the future," Grødeland says.