I recently had the opportunity to travel Heraklion, Crete, Greece, for the 5th Consortium meeting of SINFONIA, which took place from June 27-28, 2024.
This gathering was significant for our ongoing research work, as it brought together all the SINFONIA partners to discuss the progress of our collaborative project on radiation risk appraisal. Our research focuses on understanding the detrimental effects of medical exposure during the management of patients with lymphoma, brain or breast tumors.
Within the SINFONIA consortium, I am part of Work Package 4 (WP-4) team where our primary research centers on individual sensitivity to radiation. It was a thrilling experience to see the advancements we have made and to engage in productive discussions with my WP-4 colleagues from Poland and Belgium. Meeting in person added a new energy to our collaboration, enhancing our ability to work together effectively. We are now in the process of compiling our results, and I am excited to share our findings with the broader scientific community and the public in the near future.
A photograph with my WP-4 team members: from left to right, Prabodha, Hans-Olof, Magda, Janus, Anne, Andrzej, Halina, Renu, and Lama.
Beyond the rigorous scientific discussions, the trip also offered some delightful experiences. The Mediterranean climate was perfect, the Greek cuisine was absolutely delicious, and the serene Amoudara beach provided a much-needed relaxation. These moments made my visit to Heraklion truly unforgettable. I plan to share some video clips of my trip on my YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@pkmvideojournal?si=Mxk8n_x8lfezn5oS) and photos on my other social media platforms (X, Instagram, Linkedin etc) . I hope you will check them out and enjoy them as much as I did.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Stay well and keep smiling! 😊♥️✨️
I recently had the privilege of attending the RENEB (Running the European Network of Biological and retrospective Physical dosimetry) general assembly meeting during the European Radiation Protection Week 2023, held at University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland.
Prabodha Kumar Meher (standing first in the first row from the left) with RENEB members during General Assembly meeting at University College Dublin, Ireland 09-13 October, 2023.
This event gathered scientists and researchers from different countries to discuss radiation biodosimetry, focusing on interlaboratory dose estimation on blinded samples and utilization of different biodosimetry assays. This is essential for ensuring consistent and reliable results, especially during radiation emergencies. Future exercises were also discussed to test and enhance our biodosimetry capabilities.
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RENEB provides a fantastic platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing among experts, which is crucial for preparedness in radiation emergencies. Being part of this network has been an enriching experience, offering many learning opportunities and the chance to contribute to the field. I am grateful to be part of this dedicated network on radiation research.
Thank you very much for reading! ❤️✨️
Keep smiling!😊
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At the International Conference on Radiation Research 2023 held in Montréal, Canada, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a talk by NASA astronaut Christopher L. Williams. His journey from a medical physics researcher to an astronaut was truly inspiring. Christopher shared insights into his career progression and his ongoing rigorous preparation with the NASA team for upcoming space missions.
Prabodha Kumar Meher with NASA astronaut Christopher L Williams Montréal, Canada August 2023.
Listening to his experiences was really exciting, and his humility during the talk. At the end of his talk. I had the privilege of meeting him personally and congratulating him on his achievements. I also took the chance to ask him about his views on alien life and his potential reaction to encountering extraterrestrial beings. His responses were fascinating and thought-provoking.
Overall, meeting Christopher L. Williams was an enriching experience during my participation in the conference.
I received a WhatsApp image message from one of my friends, Trisha of Stockholm University she wrote “Prabodha aap toh chha gaye🤩🤭” I was wondering what has happened! I clicked on download the image…
Till the image is downloading… let me wishper in your ear. “Small small things in your life can bring a smile to your face during a tough time. Even though for temporary time, you should not let it go.”
So, let me describe this event a little elaborately here. It was the morning of Wednesday 09:22 of 21st February 2024. The image was downloaded. I saw my image in the header of the Stockholm University News letter. It brought an unconditional smile on my face. It is a photograph of me while working in the lab at Prof. Andrzej Wojcik group in the department of molecular biosciences. In the photograph there are also my colleagues Pamela, Milagrosa, Sergey, and Mostafa are seen at different camera focal lengths and angles. The link to the newsletter is here and a screenshot is below.
Photograph of Prabodha as seen in the employee newsletter of Stockholm University 21 Feb 2024.
I was so happy that Stockholm University is finding some of my pictures interesting and using them in their newsletter. In fact, this is the second time of this happiness. Stockholm University has already used some other photographs earlier, too, in their public news letter. Click here to read the other newsletter. In this photograph, Mila, me, and Pamela are seen together. A screenshot below from my instagram ( @pkm046 ) story.
I always feel science is fun, and everyone irrespective of their field should have access and understanding of the science. Though, nothing much I contributed directly to yet. But I am glad my photographs are trying hard to get the attention of people to read and update them about the latest happening around Stockholm University.
I am thankful to the Stockholm University media and publication department for selecting my photographs and making use of it for educational and promotional purposes. Thanks to all my colleagues and friends in this journey, too! More importantly, a lot of thanks to you for reading this and keeping in touch with me. Leave a comment below…
Attending the 17th International Congress for Radiation Research (ICRR) in Montreal, Canada, was an extraordinary milestone for me. This meeting, held every four years, brings together brilliant minds in radiation research from across the globe. What made it even more special for me was that this was my first-ever ICRR meeting, something I had been looking forward to for years.
Back in 2015, I had hoped to join the ICRR in Kyoto, and again in 2019 for the Manchester edition. While circumstances kept me from those events, this year, thanks to the PIANOFORTE travel grant for early career researchers, I finally made it to the Société du Palais des Congrès de Montréal during August 27–30, 2023.
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My Experience
Representing the Center for Radiation Protection Research at Stockholm University, I presented a poster on our work titled “Degree of intra-, and inter-individual variability for the risk of developing second malignant neoplasms after radiotherapy for cancer.” This was not just an opportunity to showcase our research but also to interact with peers, answer questions, and receive valuable feedback. The discussions were insightful and broadened my knowledge, giving me fresh perspectives to carry forward in my work.
The conference was packed with sessions and activities that were truly enriching, Some key moments from the meeting are here.
The pre-conference workshop for early career researchers on August 26 was an excellent start. Talks by experts like Robin Elgart from NASA and Kathryn Held on NCRP, along with sessions on grant writing by Marco Durante and others, were particularly helpful.
Susan Lees-Miller’s plenary talk on DNA damage and repair mechanisms stood out, emphasizing the backbone of radiation research.
Sessions on radiation protection, low-dose molecular responses, biodosimetry, and biomarkers of radiation exposure were incredibly relevant to my interests.
The debate on adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) was engaging, with compelling arguments from both sides.
In addition to this, one of the most fascinating moments was hearing NASA astronaut Christopher L. Williams share his perspective on the challenges of radiation research in space exploration. I have another post in my website read here Click.
A Personal Milestone
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Beyond the science and learning, this meeting was a personal accomplishment. Attending an ICRR meeting after years of anticipation felt like crossing a major milestone. Indeed it was exciting with meeting Prof. Manoor Prakash Hande, a mentor and friend from afar, who is from the Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. I also had the pleasure of connecting with another friend Dr. Satoshi Yamaga, a postdoctoral researcher from the Feinstein Institute, New York, along with several research scholars and scientists from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
These interactions, coupled with the vibrant discussions and shared moments, were truly memorable. Some pictures below from these occasions that capture the warmth these connections.
I am deeply grateful to PIANOFORTE for their generous support, Prof. Andrzej Wojcik (our group leader, unfortunately he could not go for this meeting), my Colleagues Lovisa, Zuzana and Mila from our group at the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Stockholm University, Sweden which made this possible. Memorable!
The experience of networking, learning, and exchanging ideas at ICRR 2023 has left an indelible mark on me. It was a week of inspiration and growth that I will always cherish.
Thank you very much for reading✨♥️.
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Dr. Prabodha Kumar Meher 