We interviewed postdoctoral researcher Kie Horioka, who visited Sweden through the JSPS Overseas Challenge Program for Young Researchers. She conducted her research at Karolinska Institutet from February 2020 to September 2020.

What are you currently researching in Sweden?

Platelets, which are involved in the bleeding arrest, are activated when they are exposed to low temperatures in vitro. Based on this phenomenon, I hypothesized that platelets might also be activated in the human body exposed to hypothermia. My research goal is to determine the mechanism of platelet activation during hypothermia in Sweden, using samples taken from autopsy cases of frozen death.

How did you get interested in forensic medicine?

In forensic medicine, various examinations are performed as same as they are performed on patients in a hospital. The results obtained from the examinations are very important to know the cause of death. As a clinical laboratory technologist, I was interested in solving the problem, “Why people die?”. Therefore, I decided to pursue a career in forensic medicine.

Why did you apply to this program?

Overseas Challenge Program for Young Researchers of JSPS is a new grant program that was launched in 2017. I first learned about this program when I was looking for a postdoctoral research grant for overseas research. I applied for this program because I thought it was the best way to take the first step towards studying abroad, and it was a good point that the adoption rate of this program is relatively high.

Why did you choose your current institution to conduct your research？

I talked to a Finnish forensic scientist at the International Forensic Society conference held in Toronto four years ago. I found the level and quality of forensic research in the Nordic countries to be very high. The next year, I attended the Nordic Conference of Forensic Medicine, and I asked the Finnish forensic scientist to give me a tour of the forensic facilities. At the same time, she introduced some researchers to me in forensic science at the University of Helsinki. This opportunity made my interest in Scandinavian forensic science even stronger. At the meeting, scientists from the department of forensic science at Karolinska Institutet presented their data about the diagnostic markers for frozen death. I thought that the need for research on frozen death in Sweden is substantial because it is a cold country. By chance, I saw a Japanese researcher at the conference who worked for the Swedish National Forensic Science Board and had a connection to the Karolinska Institutet.