Hi!I am Weronika Jasmina Forys - a passionate researcher, future medic, and an advocate for making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
I thrive at the intersection of science, service, and sport, driven by curiosity, resilience, and a profound love for helping others. Whether through my research, clinical aspirations, or personal initiatives, my goal is to contribute meaningfully to the world by advancing our collective understanding and improving lives.
Helping others has always been at the heart of everything I do. This desire has fueled many of my endeavors, including founding a charity aimed at addressing mental health disparities among underserved youth in Poland. Looking ahead, I hope to extend this passion by becoming a research clinician, combining cutting - edge discoveries with compassionate care to make a tangible difference in patients' lives.
On a personal notes, I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my family, who form the backbone of who I am. To them - and ot every remarkable individual who has taken a chance on me and shaped my joruney - I offer my heartfelt thanks. It truly takes a village.
A Passion for Science and Discovery
Currently a first-year PhD candidate student in Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, I focus on unraveling blood-based biomarkers that bridge the gap between early dementia diagnosis and effective treatments. My journey in science began as a Harvard undergraduate in psychology and premed (2023), where I discovered my passion for research and its transformative power to help others.
I am particularly fascinated by understanding the interplay between neuroinflammation, synaptic density, and neurodegeneration, especially in dementia causing pathologies like FTLD (Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration).
My ultimate goal is to create tangible clinical applications, such as early diagnostic tools, by combining advanced neuroimaging techniques with blood biomarker profiling.
Science, to me, is not just about discovery but also about collective growth. It is a reflection of how people, working together, can push boundaries and build a brighter future. You can explore more of my research @Research Gate (click here) or ORCID profile (click here).
My growth as a researcher and a person has been profoundly shaped by the incredible people who believed in me and supported me along the way. I am deeply grateful to my mentors in science. Each of you has challenged me to think critically, embrace curiosity, and explore uncharted territories of knowledge.
Tennis: A Lifelong Hobby
Tennis has been a significant part of my life, offering incredible highs and humbling challenges. I proudly represented Poland as a member of the Polish National Team, the 2nd best Polish Junior in the world classification, the best junior tennis player in her year among Polish tennis players in the ITF ranking, and the Polish Championship medalist. Check out my profiles @ International Tennis Federation (ITF) Profile(click here) or Womens Tennis Association (WTA) Profile(click here).
Over time, injuries made it impossible to make it through one full season, forcing me to confront the unpredictability of life. While these setbacks were challenging, from perspective they become opportunities to grow, learn, and pivot. Tennis taught me the values of discipline, resilience, drive, and introspection, lessons I carry into every fact of my life.
Today, tennis is a cherished hobby and a sanctuary - a place where I can find stability and rediscover myself. Its poetic rhythm and timeless rules remind me of the beauty in structure, creativity and self- expression.
I am deeply grateful to my life-long tennis mentors, my dad - Marcin Forys and Mario Trnovsky. To my teammates, coaches, and the friends I've made along the way - you have all contributed to my journey. Thank you for inspiring me to keep pushing my limits.
Me having fun on court, pushing my limits
A little about me
I love stargazing, reading books - particularly on the human brain, philosophy and the physics of time - and mountaineering in my free time. One of the concepts that deeply intrigues me is the nature of time and its relationship to human existence. The human brain, with its remarkable ability to perceive, process, and distort time and memories, serves as a fascinating bridge between the microcosm and macrocosm. Together, they complement each other, shaping my understanding of the world and our place within it.
To me, it feels only natural to emrge these perspectives when seeking to grasp the complexities of existence. One of my favorite quotes beautifully encapsulates this idea, offering a lens through which I can appreciate the fragility of time, the wonder of human brain, and the fleeting nature of human life.
William Blake, in Auguries of Innocence, wrote:
"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour"
This quote beautifully encapsulates humanity's existential questions, gratitude, and the profound joy. of both knowing and not knowing. In just four lines, it captures the vastness of time, the cosmos, and the intricacies of existence. It is, for me, the best description of life' fundamental mysteries - posed without directly asking them - while simulatenously celebrating the world's inherent beauty
Sometimes, simplicity speaks volumes, and this verse is a testament to the sophistication of conveying profound meaning with minimal words.
Me doing one of my hobbies: mountaineering in Tatra Mountains
Moving forward, I plan to capture my collection of thoughts here - a reflection on life's fleeting moments that, unless preserved, may slip away forever. The sadness or betrayal we feel today will not feel the same tomorrow; our perception of emotions inevitably fades with time. Each passing day is as precious as the next, appearing anew with the morning light.
As Tolstor poignantly illustrated in the "Death of Ivan Ilyich," at the end of our lonely suffering, what we crave most is not the absence of pain but the simple comfort of being held. In the face of all our existential questions, everything ultimately boils down to love - both giving it and receiving it. Though love is as abstract as the fear of existence itself, it becomes undeniably real for those who experience it.
I hope this website will serve as a journal - a snapshot of my thoughts that I can revisit someday, a message to my future self. It is a semi-private medium where I can reflect on the questions life raises, offering me a chance to document and process the intricacies of existence. In doing so, I will strive to follow the wise advice of one of my favorite writers, Atul Gawande:
"My fourth suggestion was: Write something. I do not mean this to be an intimidating suggestion. It makes no difference you write five paragraphs for a blog, a paper for a professional journal, or a poem for a reading group. Just write. What you write need not achieve perfection. It need only add some small observation about your world" (p.255, Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance)
I will strive here to do just that. Add a small piece of observation to my world. It won't be perfect. It will be raw, but it will be mine to tell.
Welcome to the world through my eyes :)