Congratulations to Dr. Miglė Kazlauskienė, Head of the DNA and RNA Regulation Laboratory, part of the Translational Health Research Institute of the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University, on the receipt of significant encouragement for their research following the award of a grant from the Marius Jakulis Jason (MJJ) Foundation.
Dr. Kazlauskienė is the co-author of eight highly referenced scientific articles, including those published in the prestigious journals Molecular Cell and Science. From 2018 to 2024, she completed a postdoctoral internship (scientific supervisor Prof. Martin Jinek), at Zurich University’s Faculty of Biochemistry in Switzerland. She is currently working at the Faculty of Medicine and leading a research group that investigates health-critical factors at the molecular level, specifically, human RNA and genome-regulating factors, among which is the molecular mechanisms for the N6-adenosine methylation system of human RNA. „This modification is extremely important for the change-related processes in cells, and these deviations from the norm correlate with a number of crucial diseases. In the near future, we plan to take a closer look at the diagnostic potential of this modification in cases of neurological disease,“ – explains Dr. Kazlauskienė. The research group has a vision to combine fundamental molecular research with clinical practice, and to apply the basis of molecular biology to medicine.
The Marius Jakulis Jason Foundation (MJJ), established in 2019, is dedicated to attracting researchers working abroad who are willing to continue their innovative research in Lithuania, including teaching students here. It provides financial support for talented businessmen, academics and students who have a desire to contribute to the growth of the Lithuanian economy. The support is focused on the establishment of competitive salaries for academics who completed their doctoral studies abroad.
Dr. Miglė Kazlauskienė, Head of the DNA and RNA Regulation Laboratory, Translational Health Research Institute / MF archive