A JOURNEY INSPIRED BY WOMEN IN SCIENCE

I visited twenty-six scientific institutions across nine countries, primarily biomedical research centers, for my personal purpose. Meeting the researchers in places that are meaningful to them, whether inside or outside research facilities, seemed to me to be the most authentic way of grasping some of their personal interests alongside their professional dedication. By listening to their stories, I discovered that their passions go beyond science to encompass nature, art, history, cultural heritage, and adventurous sports. Throughout my journey, I acknowledged that these scientists’ findings should be made known to the public. These contribute to recent breakthroughs in many disciplines, including biomedicine – gene therapy for hereditary genetic diseases, stem cell therapies for regenerative medicine, new cancer therapies – bioengineering, biophysics, neuroscience, and mathematics, among others.

I was honored to portray four prominent women scientists and professors from the Munich scientific community who are leading cutting-edge research programs at Helmholtz Munich, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) and the Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital LMU Munich. These remarkable women, each with unique backgrounds and personalities are experts in a wide range of STEM fields, encompassing environmental and molecular epidemiology, developmental neuroscience, stem cell research, diabetes immunology and human genetics, and are discovering breakthrough solutions for better health in a rapidly changing world. Among them are Annette Peters, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich, and Magdalena Götz, Director of the Institute of Stem Cell Research. Annette Peters and her team investigate the impact of air pollution, along with genetic and environmental factors, on health – particularly cardiovascular disease. Magdalena Götz, and her group focus on elucidating the mechanisms of brain development and neurogenesis in both the developing and adult brain. Additionally, Carolin Daniel, a professor of Immunomodulation at LMU, studies the immune system’s role in the development and progression of type 1 diabetes. Sarah Kim-Hellmuth, a physician scientist and Emmy Noether Research Group Leader in human genetics, investigates how genetic factors shape the human immune system to better understand immune response variation among individuals and translate these findings into clinical applications. Together, these scientists aim to advance personalized therapies, develop innovative therapeutic approaches and improve treatments for conditions such as brain injuries, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders.

This journey has also highlighted some of the MANY PROFESSIONAL PATHS THAT ONE CAN PURSUE AFTER OBTAINING SCIENCE DEGREES, as well as the critical contribution that everyone, at any level, can make to knowledge advancement.

It was both a pleasure and an honor to meet each of these extraordinary scientists. Our encounters were not only special but also filled with moments of humor. I was touched by the openness and trust which they welcomed me with. A hearthfelt thank you goes to all the researchers who participated and to everyone who, in various ways, enthusiastically supported this project and made its realization possible.

 Elisabetta Citterio

Author of STEM Passion.   

“AS A RESEARCHER, I KNOW THERE ARE MANY WOMEN LEADERS IN SCIENCE, HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL. WE NEED TO MAKE THEM VISIBLE.”