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of the Peripheral Nerve SocietyMeet the PNS 2025 Training Grant Recipients
In alignment with our mission, one of the goals of the Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS) is to help researchers’ careers and foster excellence in peripheral nerve research including clinical, translational, and basic science. In 2023, the PNS launched its Training Grant program, offering support to a junior clinical investigator and a junior scientist or clinician scientist.
Erva Bayraktar, PhD
University of Padua, Italy
About the Project
My project, under Professor Michael Coleman’s mentorship, aims to test hypotheses regarding metabolite exchange between Schwann cells and axons, potentially via connexins or other transporters, that can buffer against the degenerative effects of SARM1 activation, which is a key driver in programmed axon death and axonal vulnerability.
What I’m Most Excited About
I’m truly excited for the opportunity to collaborate on this novel project with Professor Coleman, who is a leading expert in programmed axon death, applying my background in connexin biology to synergistically address critical knowledge gaps in understanding how Schwann cells contribute to axonal survival through metabolic support mechanisms. In view of my background with Connexin 32 mutations in CMT1X, this work could also provide some insights into why axonal degeneration precedes demyelination in CMT1X despite the Schwann cell origin, ultimately leading to a better understanding of peripheral nerve diseases and moving us closer to new solutions.
Why I Applied for the PNS Training Grant
My initial interest in the PNS training grant originated from its facilitated mentor-mentee approach, which I believe offers a great opportunity for junior researchers like myself. This grant stood out by actively encouraging to connect with leading experts in the field who are explicitly open to mentorship, which is not as commonly offered in other opportunities.
Katie Lewis, BBMEd (Hons)
The Florey Institute, Australia
About the Project
After nerve injury and disease, the Schwann cells in the PNS have this incredible capacity to assist in axon re-growth and re-myelination to repair the injured neuron. However, the new myelin is often thinner and shorter than the myelin produced during development, meaning patients cannot recover to full capacity. Our project uses an in vitro assay to investigate the neuro-glial signalling between Schwann cells and the axon during myelination in development vs re-myelination after axon injury to identify differential signalling pathways that we can then correct and improve the effectiveness of re-myelination.
What I’m Most Excited About
I’m so excited to not only be working on my favourite cell type (Schwann cells) and unravelling the secrets to re-myelination, but the fantastic opportunity to learn new skills with the in vitro technique I will be utilising.
Why I Applied for the PNS Training Grant
In all honesty, I wasn’t looking to move across the world for a post-doc (I’m Australian and this position is in the U.S). However, after a wonderful meeting the lab and supervisors and their recommendation to apply for the PNS training grant, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I already knew I wanted to work with Schwann cells and peripheral myelin, so it was a no-brainer to at least put forward my application and hope for the best! Because of this award, I now have the opportunity of a big life adventure of moving countries, expanding my network, and working on a project I am truly passionate about. My advice to anyone unsure about applying for these kinds of things is to just go for it – you never know if it will be a life-changing result!
