2026 04 03
For the implementation of a timely technology project in the field of life sciences, a one-time €1000 Linea Libera scholarship has been awarded to UNL PhD student Eimina Dirvelytė-Valauskė. In her research, Eimina aims to apply gene-editing tools and delivery strategies to the development of a therapy for Sanfilippo syndrome, a childhood neurodegenerative disease. The project brings together two complementary technologies: the optimization of a precise system for correcting the disease-causing mutation as a long-term approach to addressing the root cause of the disorder, and the development of efficient vectors for delivering this system to the central nervous system. We are happy to celebrate this achievement and warmly congratulate her!
2026 04 02
We are happy and proud to share that our PhD student Ieva Šiugždaitė has been awarded a LSC scholarship for her active contributions to science communication and public engagement. This recognition reflects not only her consistent work in research, but also her commitment to making science more accessible, engaging, and understandable, while helping connect the academic community with the broader public.
Over the past year, she has contributed to science outreach in a variety of ways. She initiated the VU Discussion Club, an initiative aimed at fostering the university as a home of lively thought. Through monthly discussions, representatives of different fields are invited to explore abstract philosophical and socially relevant topics together.
She also won the science communication competition “Mokslo tiltai-tinklai” with her presentation “How Psychedelics Affect Synaptic Plasticity”, received third place in the competition “Bioateitis: gamtos ir gyvybės mokslų perspektyvos” with the presentation “Psychedelics Modulate Microglial Cell Function and Phagocytosis of the Extracellular Matrix”, and gave the presentation “Brain Immune Cells Contribute to Network Plasticity” at the international ERA-NET NEURON project JTC2023 Resilience: EnviroMood Symposium in Bilbao. Congratulations!
Photo by: Vygaudas Juozaitis
2026 03 31
UNL PhD student Igoris Nagula, together with his student Gabija Valentaitė, won the science communication competition “Mokslo sprintas”, where they presented the talk “What Does the Electrical Language of Neurons Reveal About the Development of Brain Networks?” in just three minutes. The winning team was awarded a €1000 prize, established by the competition partner Thermo Fisher Scientific. Congratulations!
2026 03 18
At the COINS 2026 Conference, UNL research assistant Rusnė Uzielaitė received the best pitch presentation prize for her presentation “In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity Assessment of Titanium Carbide MXenes”, which was based on her Master’s thesis being prepared at the Innovative Medicine Center. We are truly happy about her success and proud to have her on our team!
2026 03 03
Prof. Urtė Neniškytė, a researcher at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC), has been appointed European Research Council (ERC) Ambassador in Lithuania. By joining the international “Ambassadors for the ERC” network, she will contribute to strengthening connections between ERC grantees, national research communities, and policy stakeholders — while advocating for the importance of fundamental, curiosity-driven research in shaping Europe’s future. As an ERC Consolidator Grant holder, Prof. Neniškytė will actively encourage researchers in Lithuania to apply for ERC funding, share her experience in preparing competitive proposals, and engage in discussions on the long-term impact of investing in excellence-driven science.
2025 12 15
Professor Urtė Neniškytė has been elected to the Board of the FENS–Kavli Network of Excellence (FKNE) – a prestigious European neuroscience network bringing together leading researchers across the continent.
“My election to the Board allows me to represent the interests of neuroscientists from Lithuania and the Baltic region. As many FKNE activities focus on mentorship, science policy, and ensuring diversity, our voice must be heard, since we often face different challenges than researchers from Western or Northern European countries, who make up the majority of FKNE members,” says Professor Urtė Neniškytė.
2025 12 09
The European Journal of Neuroscience (EJN) introduced Dr. Urtė Neniškytė, who was featured in the EJN series Profiles of Women in Science.
2025 07 03
Dr. Ugne Kuliesiute received the Early Career Researcher Award from the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. Ugne has recently returned from an internship at GLYCOS in Zagreb, Croatia. There, she established the methodologies for the investigation of the human glycome. For the next two years, she will apply these techniques to investigate how the sugary coat of neurons defines their activity and network formation in the human brain.
