معرفی
Björn Vahsen is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford's Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre and a Junior Research Fellow at Kellogg College. Previously, he served as a Fulford Junior Research Fellow at Somerville College and received multiple prestigious scholarships, including Lamb and Flag Scholar, North Senior Scholar, and Clarendon Scholar positions.
- Medical doctor (MD) with summa cum laude distinction
- MSc in Neuroscience
- DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences
His research focuses on non-neuronal cells in ALS pathophysiology, particularly microglia's role in motor neuron dysfunction and death. Using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models, he investigates ALS-associated mutations' effects on microglial biology and their interactions with motor neurons. His work includes developing co-culture systems to study microglia-motor neuron dynamics, revealing mechanisms like MMP9-mediated toxicity in C9orf72 ALS.
Key scientific contributions include publications in Nature Communications, Scientific Reports, and Cell Death & Differentiation. His research has been recognized with awards such as the BNA Postgraduate Prize (2023) and the ENCALS Young Investigator Award (2025).
- Funded by Motor Neurone Disease Association
- Supported by MND Scotland
- Recipient of Medical Sciences pump priming grants
- ARUK pump priming award recipient
- Rosetrees Trust seedcorn grant awardee
