Camilla Trang Vo obtained her MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Copenhagen in 2021. Since then, she has been working as a research assistant at Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, investigating how glial cells influence neuroplasticity in the brains of mice.
Camilla is also very interested in how neuromodulators, for example dopamine, are involved in affective disorders like depression. She believes that the effect of neuromodulators on glial cells could shed new light on the development of treatment:
“The prefrontal cortex, or at least the huge size of it is – so to speak – what separates us humans from animals and makes us more complex thinking. Its function is regulated by neuromodulators, and it has been associated with affective disorders like depression and schizophrenia, and it is definitely a field I would like to investigate further. (…) When it comes to depression and other affective disorders, I think we should not necessarily focus our investigation entirely on single neurons. Astrocytes, which regulate larger neural circuits, could also be an interesting target for treatment.”
With a background in biochemistry, Camilla has struggled to gain specialisation in neuroscience, and she expects that the NAD programme will provide her with an opportunity to strengthen her neuroscience profile through courses, lab rotations and new scientific connections.
In her research, Camilla is driven by her curiosity and the hope of making a difference in treatment: “More and more people are diagnosed with depression and other affective disorders (…) I hope that I can contribute to a treatment or gain knowledge for prevention in some way.”