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SCIENCE | 6 MIN READ

Elisa Fleischmann ’24 has already made her mark in immunology. Just months after graduating from ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� College Utrecht, she is the first author of a peer-reviewed article in the European Journal of Immunology drawn from her undergraduate thesis, .

“I’m motivated by the vision that the research I contribute to can have a real-world impact,” Fleischmann said. Now pursuing a master’s in Translational Physiology and Pharmacology at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet, she reflects on how UCU’s rigorous science programme and her fascination with disease mechanisms set her on a path toward advanced study. 

An Early Step into Immunology

I have always been fascinated by the human body, disease, and the science behind promoting human health, which is why I studied medical sciences, biology, and chemistry at UCU. In my fifth semester, the time came to look for a thesis supervisor, and after some initial trouble finding one, with the help of immunology professor Kristin Denzer I came into contact with my future supervisor, Dr. Theo van den Broek. He introduced me to the concept of a germinal centre, a crucial structure in the immune system that produces specific antibodies and adaptive immune responses. However, there is a current lack of human models to replicate this structure and study these essential responses. I found this topic very relevant, and we decided to focus my thesis on reviewing and evaluating existing models, outlining their challenges, and giving suggestions to improve them.

It was a daunting task at first because I didn't know much about the topic, how to evaluate different scientific models, or how to suggest improvements. But over time and through my meetings with Dr. van den Broek, I built up the confidence and focus to develop the review paper.

From Thesis to Publication

Early in my thesis internship, Dr. van den Broek raised the idea of developing this paper into a publishable article, which I found very surprising. After submitting my bachelor’s thesis, he brought up the topic again and agreed that it was strong enough to try to publish. With the help of Dr. van den Broek and his PhD student, Vera Middelkamp, we shortened and adapted the thesis to fit journal standards. We submitted it in October, and about two months later we received detailed feedback from the reviewers, a sign the journal was interested. We were invited to revise and resubmit, which we managed to do at the end of December, and about a month later it was accepted for publication. The process was both challenging and exciting, especially since I had already started my master’s in Stockholm, which made coordinating and finding time to work on it more difficult but ultimately more rewarding.

Support That Shaped the Journey

There are so many mentors, teachers, friends, and unitmates who guided me through UCU. First to mind is my tutor Patricia Post-Nievelstein, who played a huge role in my life at UCU, both through her physiology courses and her guidance as a tutor, supporting me in pursuing my interests inside and outside the classroom and even finding a thesis supervisor, as she first connected me to Kristin Denzer. Working with my thesis supervisor, Dr. van den Broek, was also a hugely formative experience. I am very grateful for his mentorship and for the time he dedicated to our weekly meetings and to creating a supportive environment.

On top of that, my courses at UCU, such as Mechanisms of Diseases and Pharmacology, and my time on the board of MedCo allowed me to explore medical science in and out of the academic space. This also gave me the clarity to choose my next steps, which led me to apply to the master’s in Translational Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

Growing as a Researcher at Karolinska Institutet

My first year at Karolinska Institutet has given me insight beyond the theory I learned in my bachelor’s, focusing on the latest research methods and providing a deeper understanding of the life-science industry. Lecturers often discuss what their research groups are currently working on, and the content has also focused on topics such as patenting lab findings and how a drug reaches the market. It has been eye-opening to see how long and expensive these processes are.

During my research internship, it has also been exciting to work hands-on in the lab and apply concepts I had previously only studied in theory.

I am motivated by the vision that the research I contribute to can have a real-world impact, helping us understand more about a disease and develop more effective therapies, which could ultimately improve patient care.

Staying Curious and Making an Impact

I am motivated by the vision that the research I contribute to can have a real-world impact, helping us understand more about disease and develop more effective therapies, which could ultimately improve patient care. I am also inspired by the passion and curiosity of my mentors and friends, as well as my own persistent fascination with disease mechanisms. I would love to be involved in translating lab discoveries into practical therapeutic applications and exploring clinical research.