Career Path Opportunities
‘Challenges for young researchers’
Career Path Opportunities ‘Challenges for young researchers’
Career Opportunity as a Post-doctoral Fellow(PD) Case 1: Mayu Fukuda, PhD, RN
What brought you to the GNRC?
My father’s death of a malignant lymphoma motivated me to become a nurse and develop an interest in cancer. Once I strongly felt the need for a view of nursing research and methods that would solve the daily problems of patients, the news of the establishment of the GNRC came to me and it changed my career since that was just what I wanted to do.What was your targets as a PD, FY2017?
My first goal was to obtain scientific research funding and now I am applying for that funding. My second one was to submit two papers in English. My third one was to gain all the necessary units from the PD seminars, which include special courses by professors from overseas and classes on nursing research methodology such as qualitative, quantitative researches.
About your research.
Theme : Exploring a mechanism for promoting wound healing by vibration therapy
Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is known as one of diabetic complications associated with a bad prognosis. Although the Sanada Lab clarified the effects of pressure ulcer (PU) healing by vibration, a recent study indicated that vibration also provides good results for DFU wound healing. The healing mechanism of DFU seems different from that of PU. Therefore, I focused on a mechanical stimulation receptor, integrin, in the wound healing process. Now I am researching the hypothesis that vibration makes adhesive response via integrin between cells and signal activation in the downstream of integrin inside cells. The final goal of my project is to support the ability of DM patients’ to do their own self care of foot wounds, anytime anywhere, by developing new dressings with vibration function. In addition, the incidence in Japan of DFU when long-term intervention care is provided has yet to be reported, so I am now conducting medical records research at the UT hospital utilizing 10 years of incidence data.
What you learned at the GNRC?
I learnt three things: the depth of nursing research, the pleasure of research and international collaboration, and the proper attitude for nursing research. As I am engaging in fundamental research, qualitative or quantitative research seminars were very fun, fresh, and a good opportunity for thinking through new approaches. My mentor and boss demonstrated to me the patient-centered approach, based on a clinical site, and also encouraged me to do my best without giving up. I was able to experience transdisciplinary research at the GNRC and work collaboratively with UK and Singaporean researchers.Message to the future PDs from Mayu.
I’m so happy to be in an environment that allows me to learn nursing research methodology, while devoting myself to nursing research that is closely linked to the clinical field. The GNRC has many experts in every field. You can gain experience in cutting-edged transdisciplinary research. You can also learn not only nursing in Japan but also in the world as the GNRC gives lots of opportunities for international exchanges. If you are interested in nursing research, why not join us?
Major Accomplishment ( one )
Fukuda M, Takatori A, Nakamura Y, Suganami A, Hoshino T, Tamura Y, Nakagawara A. Effects of novel small compounds targeting TrkB on neuronal cell survival and depression-like behavior. Neurochemistry International, 97: 42-48, 2016.
