In the lab with Dr Bruna Klein de Costa

For International Women’s Day on 8 March, we reached out to MS researcher and MSIF-FRANCESEP McDonald Fellowship recipient, Dr Bruna Klein de Costa.  

Dr Bruna Klein de Costa from Brazil, was awarded the 2023 MSIF-FRANCESEP

Dr Bruna Klein da Costa

McDonald Fellowship. She is currently completing her fellowship with Dr Brenda Banwell from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Her project is investigating the diagnosis of MOGAD in children in low-resource settings, which could help to improve differential diagnosis of pediatric MS.  

Step into the lab with Dr Klein de Costa to learn about her fellowship, her experience as a female MS researcher and her hopes for the future of women in science. 

‘I hope that we can progressively eliminate gender bias in the academic community. Hopefully, in the near future, the work and career of female researchers will be evaluated solely by their competencies...’

What is your name and where are you from? 

My name is Bruna Klein da Costa, from Brazil. I live in the South of Brazil in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul.  

Tell us about your McDonald Fellowship

I am excited to have this opportunity to work on my McDonald Fellowship project that aims to identify and validate predictors of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) in a group of pediatric multicentric Brazilian patients with acquired demyelinating syndromes, recruited after experiencing an attack of central nervous system inflammation.  

Diagnosing MS is complex in all cases, but especially so in children and adolescents. Several demyelinating conditions, including MS, MOGAD and others, can present similar symptoms. Treatment for MS and MOGAD is different, so it is important to know which condition someone has. 

To find out whether someone has MOGAD, you need a specific laboratory test, but these are not widely accessible in many parts of the world. The tests can also be expensive for the health system, or families if they need to pay privately for them.   

I expect that the results of this project will help to guide neurologists in Brazil and hopefully in other low- and middle-income countries to rationally select patients with a higher pre-test probability of MOGAD in lower resource settings.  

Bruna in front of a poster about diagnosis criteria

I am also working on an international collaboration to evaluate the performance of the panel proposed MOGAD diagnostic criteria and on the characterization of electroencephalographic findings in MOGAD patients with encephalopathy and seizures.  

Improving the access to and accuracy of MOGAD diagnosis in children will help to prevent misdiagnosis and help neurologists differentiate between the probability of MOGAD or MS.  

My project is being performed partially virtually and partially at the host center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia under the supervision of Dr Brenda Banwell.  

What do you believe are the challenges that female researchers face?  

Even though great advances have been achieved in female representation in research over time, women still face several challenges when pursuing a research career. The struggles can be different according to the region, but several issues are common in many places.  

Career opportunities are frequently not equal between male and female researchers. For example, hiring opportunities are frequently influenced by unconscious bias, stereotypes, and different regulations on maternity leave for men and women in many countries. Also, leadership opportunities are often offered to women later in their research careers even though they are equally qualified as their male peers at earlier stages. Besides, childcare is still largely assigned to women, and academic institutions frequently do not have daycare centres.  

This leads to a disproportion in the representation of men and women in research and exerts an impact on the career perspectives of young researchers who frequently lack examples of female researchers who succeed in work and personal life balance. These inequities also impact personal life decisions such as family planning. Many women, when pursuing a research career, postpone or even give up on maternity to focus on their research.

Bruna and colleagues attending a conference in Brazil

Bruna and colleagues attending BCTRIMS in Brazil

What has helped you throughout your career?  

Throughout my career, I was lucky to have mentors who listened to my interests, guided me, and offered opportunities to grow. My mentors, professors, and especially women in more advanced stages of their careers also offered inspiration and were role models to me.  

Choosing a career in research in a country where there is not enough incentive was challenging. However, the support of colleagues and mentors who experience the same difficulties or are empathetic and acknowledge the inequities, helping to find solutions, has provided me with the tools and enthusiasm to navigate through difficult times. 

What do you hope for the future of women in science?  

I hope that we can progressively eliminate gender bias in the academic community. Hopefully, in the near future, the work and career of female researchers will be evaluated solely by their competencies, considering the inequity of opportunities. As we progress as a society, I hope these inequities are also reduced to a minimum. I hope that younger researchers feel more stimulated and inspired to pursue careers in science as we increase the number and proportion of female researchers. Finally, I hope that women in science achieve a more balanced life and work relationship with the support of their peers and partners. 

Changing the future for women in science

Recognizing that inequities still exist is the first step to change this reality. I believe that men and women in research are responsible for changing the underrepresentation of female researchers, offering opportunities, inspiration, and adjustments to the existing inequities.  

I am very much grateful for all the opportunities I have received and for having such good examples in my career. I hope to share my experiences and the lessons I’ve learned in international experiences such as the McDonald Fellowship with younger women, in the sense of giving back to the scientific community all the support and encouragement I have received. 

About the McDonald Fellowship 

The McDonald Fellowship is a two-year fellowship that enables young researchers from low- and middle-income countries to work in a research institution outside their own country. Fellows gain new skills and techniques, with a view to returning to their own country to establish an MS research program and apply what they have learned.   

MSIF’s McDonald Fellowships will be open for applications in summer 2025. Read more about the fellowships here.   

We are extremely grateful to our partner organisations ECTRIMS and FRANCESEP. Without their support, these awards would not be possible.