On March 2011 IDIBELL and Vicente Ferrer Foundation signed a cooperation agreement that includes a program that offers students from the biomedical area from India the opportunity to realize their PhD at IDIBELL facilities. Anusha Konetti is the first student to benefit from this program. In her country, she graduated in biology and she has a master's degree in molecular biology. Now, thanks to this agreement, she is doing her doctorate at the IDIBELL neuropathology laboratory. Anusha wants to be a model for the students, especially for girls living in rural areas of Ananatapur, India.
Which are your research interests?
I have always been interested in neuroscience. First, I wanted to be a doctor but eventually I studied biology, which has opened another way to study what happens in the human body. In the laboratory of Isidre Ferrer I am studying the biochemical aspects of Parkinson's disease, we search biomarkers to help us understand the disease and in the future, to find new therapeutic applications.
Why are you interesting in studying Parkinson's disease?
When I graduated I didn't know where I was going to direct my studies. In fact, it was Vicente Ferrer who pushed me towards this research. I was studying 300 Km from Anantapur and when I came back home I always spoke with him and asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I still did not know what to say. He told me “study to cure my disease, Parkinson's”, and I replied “but father, we called him so, I'm not a doctor”, and he said “study the disease and then doctors could heal it.” He showed me the way and the fact that I'm here now is because he looks down from heaven and bless me from there.
How was the process that drove you to IDIBELL?
It has been a whole string of accidental coincidences, so I think he has something to do with it. Just one year after the death of Vicente Ferrer, the manager of the Bellvitge University Hospital, Xavier Corbella, went to Anantapur. I was studying in Mysore, more than 300 miles away, but by chance we had a phone interview. We talked about twenty minutes, and I asked him if he had contacts in the USA because I wanted to go there to continue my studies, and he, after looking my biodata asked me to come and see if I could work and do my PhD at IDIBELL, in Barcelona.
More coincidences. In September 2010 I came to L'Hospitalet to learn about research groups and see which one fitted more with my interests. Isidre Ferrer was out of station when I came here but finally, we could meet. We talked about one hour, he has shown me the labs and I thought it was my perfect place to work together with Isidre.
More time passed until March 2011 and Xavier Corbella and the general director of the IDIBELL, Emilià Pola, travelled to India to formally sign the agreement with the Foundation Vicente Ferrer.
How the adaptation was?
At first everything was very complicated by bureaucratic issues: obtaining visa, the approval of my studies. Lots of time lost to find these papers and I thought I wouldn't arrive in time to start my PhD. Luckily people like Xavier Corbella, Marga Nadal and Emilià Pola were very helpful. The truth is I do not know how to thank them for everything they have done to me. I had tough days but in the end everything has been solved and now I am very happy here. I live with a very nice family at Cornellà and I have good mates at the lab.
And what about a new city, a new culture?
The truth is I do not go out too much, I have learned to move by subway through the city to come here and go to my master classes. And I don't think I need to change too many things. My parents do not like so much to adapt to Western culture and they have put their trust in me, I do nothing that might disturb them. I explain them all that I do. I am with my host family and with my colleagues of the laboratory.
Which are your future plans?
First I want to do my PhD and read the thesis and after that I will look for a postdoctoral stage but I still don't know whether here or elsewhere. In any case, I think my future will be linked to education. I think it is essential for the development of individuals and society. Somehow I would like to help convey this message, especially girls in rural areas in Anantapur, who believe that their only future is to marry and they think that her husband is who have to work and maintain her. If I return to India, I would like to create programs within the Foundation Vicente Ferrer to do so. Or at least return once a year to help them convey this idea.
Do you think you can become a model for young people hosted by the Vicente Ferrer Foundation in Anantapur?
I hope so. I work and study very hard to be a model, and thus help the Foundation. In fact, my case is somewhat different because I was not part of the incoming students by the Foundation but my parents have been working in the organization founded by Vicente Ferrer for more than 30 years. In any case, I am highly obliged to the Foundation Vicente Ferrer for making my dreams possible to do my PhD. I hope this also would help other students to realize themselves how best and important is to study and get educated. | 
