Presentation of the Column

Neuroinflammation is a rapidly expanding field that has revolutionized our understanding of acute and chronic neurological diseases and is currently considered a prime target for the development of new therapies. Neuroinflammation is the response of reactive CNS components to altered homeostasis, regardless of the cause to be endogenous or exogenous. Neurological diseases, whether traumatic, neoplastic, ischemic, metabolic, toxic, infectious, autoimmune, developmental, or degenerative, involve direct and indirect immune-related neuroinflammation. Mediators of inflammation include signals from local neuron-glia interactions as well as from recruited cells. Processes derived from extrinsic and intrinsic CNS diseases also elicit the CNS inflammatory response. A deeper understanding of neuron-glia interactions and immune-related inflammation in health and disease is necessary to find potential therapeutic targets for preventing or reducing CNS damage.

This thematic research column focuses on interactions of the immune system (and especially the innate immune system) with the nervous system. This includes the roles of CNS immune mediators (such as neurons, microglia, and astrocytes, and their expressed signaling molecules) as well as the roles of peripheral neuro-immune interactions, T cells, monocytes, complement proteins, acute phase proteins, oxidative injury, and related molecular processes.
Work within this research column provides opportunities to do preclinical and clinical research within this field with researchers from basic and clinical neuroscience, focusing on neuron-glia interactions in normal brain homeostasis and neuroinflammatory diseases.

Research opportunities include in vitro and in vivo models of neuron-glia interactions and/or neuroinflammation, studies on individuals with neurological diseases, as well as studies on postmortem tissue. A variety of different genetic, molecular, cellular biological, electrophysiological, biochemical, and pharmacological research techniques is used to answer hypothesis-driven scientific questions. By doing your lab rotations within our column, you should be able to formulate a translational PhD project in collaboration with two or more PIs in the column.

Speakers of Column

Kate Lykke Lambertsen

Professor Kate Lykke Lambertsen

University of Southern DenmarkDepartment of Molecular Medicine

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Tiit Illimar Mathiesen

Clinical Professor Tiit Illimar Mathiesen

Rigshospitalet - Copenhagen University HospitalDepartment of Neurosurgery

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Members of the column


Click here for a full overview of Research Column members.

Aalborg University

Associate Professor Ove Wiborg

• Health Science and Technology •

About the Research

Main techniques used in the lab: transgenic Alzheimer rat models, behavioral phenotyping, drug target validation (pharmacological intervention), histology, spatial transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) and molecular techniques.

Two lab members

Louise Madsen - Lab technician
N N - PhD student

Lab rotation

Behavioral testing of rats addressing attention, learning/memory, motivation, reward sens, fear-related behavior, social behavior and multivariate temporal pattern analyses. Immunohistochemistry and -omics techniques (scRNA-seq, cytokine profiling)

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Associate Professor Allan Stensballe

• Department of Health Science and Technology • Translational Biomarkers in Pain and Precision Medicine

About the Research

Proteomics & systems biology driven research in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Focus on understaning disease immunopathophysiology and prediciton of treatment efficacy in precision medicine. Proteomics based research laboratory

Two lab members

Christopher Aboo - PhD student
Jacob Skallerup Andersen - PhD student

Lab rotation

Hands-on experimental wet laboratory training in mass spec and array based proteomics and computational bioinformatics of clinical and translational model animal based research in State-of-the-art proteomics-protein science laboratory

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Associate Professor Jacob Bodilsen

Aalborg University Hospital • Infectious Diseases • Aalborg Infection Research

About the Research

Porcine-based animal models of pathophysiology and pharmacokinetic aspects of CNS infections. Epidemiological studies of CNS infections using clinical databases and healthcare registries as well as RCT of treatment of CNS infection.

Two lab members

Lærke Storgaard - Master student
Theis Mariager - Master student

Lab rotation

Training in porcine animal models, epidemology and clinical research in human patients with CNS infections.

Secondary Column

Brain Vasculature and Barriers

Aarhus University

Professor Trine Mogensen

Aarhus University Hospital • Biomedicine • Human Immunology of Infectious Diseases

About the Research

Our research group is interested in exploring immunopathogenesis of viral infections in the CNS, and to understand individual differences in susceptibility to neuroinfections in humans. We use genetic analysis of patients with severe outcome of HSV o

Two lab members

Morten Skouboe - PhD student
Sofie Jørgensen - Assistant Professor

Lab rotation

Whole genome sequencing analysis, functional studies in patient cells, crispr gene editing of human cells

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Professor Søren Riis Paludan

Aarhus University • Biomedicine •

About the Research

We are interested in neuro-infections and -inflammation, and how immune responses impact on host defense and disease development. To study this, we use a broad range of tools spanning from molecular studies to mouse models.

Two lab members

Nina Pil Hostrup Nielsen - PhD student
Theresa Wimberley - Senior researcher

Lab rotation

Hands-on in vivo experiments, stem cell-derived brain cell cultures, immunological assays, insight into neuroimmunology

Secondary Column

Associate Professor Christian Bjerggaard Vægter

• Department of Biomedicine •

About the Research

Mouse and cellular models for Glia-neuron interactions in the PNS in relation to neuropathy, and glia-to-neuron communication by exosomes

Two lab members

Lone Pallesen - Assistant Professor
Ole Ahlgreen - PhD student

Lab rotation

To learn about rodent PNS neuropathy models, and apply relevant sensory tests and tissue analyses to study glial biology

Secondary Column

Motor and Pain Neuroscience

Associate Professor Anders Rosendal Korshøj

Aarhus University Hospital • Dept of Neurosurgery •

About the Research

Clinical trials in neurooncology (phase 1 and 2). Preclinical studies on living tissue samples of human cerebral cortex and brain tumor (cellular electrophysiology). Computer models of tumor treating fields dose. Technology development

Two lab members

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Lab rotation

clinical trials, protocols, data analysis, computer models, human brain samples, brain cancer samples

Secondary Column

Brain Vasculature and Barriers

University of Copenhagen

Associate Professor Blanca Irene Aldana

• Drug Design and Pharmacology • Neurometabolism

About the Research

Research focused on energy metabolic interactions among glia and neurons in the healthy and diseased brain using primary and hIPSC-derived cultures, brain-derived preparations, dynamic metabolic mapping, mass spectrometry and bioenergetics

Two lab members

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Lab rotation

Preparation of primary and hIPSC-derived cultures of brain cells, acutely isolated brain slices, use of transgenic animal models, dynamic metabolic mapping using stable isotopes, live-cell bioenergetics (Seahorse), cytokine profiling and HPLC

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Associate Professor Claire Francesca Meehan

• Department ofNeuroscience • Meehan Lab

About the Research

We are Investigating the interaction between environmental triggers, neuroinflammation, excitability and the neurodegenerative disease ALS-FTD (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontal Temporal Dementia).

Associate Professor Blanca Irene Aldana

• Drug Design and Pharmacology • Neurometabolism

About the Research

Research focused on energy metabolic interactions among glia and neurons in the healthy and diseased brain using primary and hIPSC-derived cultures, brain-derived preparations, dynamic metabolic mapping, mass spectrometry and bioenergetics

Two lab members

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Lab rotation

Preparation of primary and hIPSC-derived cultures of brain cells, acutely isolated brain slices, use of transgenic animal models, dynamic metabolic mapping using stable isotopes, live-cell bioenergetics (Seahorse), cytokine profiling and HPLC

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Associate Professor Kristine Freude

• Veterinary and Animal Sciences • Disease Stem Cells Models and Embryology

About the Research

My group studies molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders (Epilepsy & Schizophrenia) and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia & Glaucoma) in 2D and 3D induced pluripotent stem cell models.

Two lab members

Abinaya Chandrasekaran - Assistant Professor
Henriette Haukedal - Postdoc

Lab rotation

hands-on experience in: in vitro differentiation of hiPSC into neuronal subtypes, astrocytes and microglia; 2D microfluidic co-cultures; 3D cerebral organoids; retinal organoids; TEM; MEA; live cell imaging; scRNA; CRISPR; functional analyses

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Professor Hajime Hirase

• Center for Translational Neuromedicine • Neuron-Glia Circuitry

About the Research

The lab investigates neuronal and glial microcircuitries of cortical structures in behaving mice using optical imaging and molecular genetics. We are aimed at discovering a new biological principle that may be central to neural plasticity.

Two lab members

Antonis Asiminas - Postdoc
Tsuneko Mishima - Postdoc

Lab rotation

in vivo optical imaging/stimulation (1p & 2p) in mice; data analysis; wet work for viral vector construction

Secondary Column

Brain Homeostasis and Brain-Body Interactions

Professor Finn Sellebjerg

Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet • Department of Neurology • Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center

About the Research

We study multiple sclerosis and other immune-mediated diseases using: biomarker studies (ELISA, ECL, SIMOA) and gene expression assays (qPCR); genetic and epigenetic studies; T/B cell activation assays; and in vitro blood-brain barrier, astrocyte and

Two lab members

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Lab rotation

The student will get hands-on experience with lumbar puncture/cerebrospinal fluid analysis, flow cytometry, cell activation and biomarker studies. In addition, there are possibilities to work with gene expression and DNA/RNA sequencing analyses.

Secondary Column

Professor Jens Mikkelsen

• Institute of Neuroscience • Mikkelsen Lab

About the Research

My laboratory is interested in identifying biomarkers relevant for detection and modulating of inflammatory processes and synaptic plasticity in patients with neurodegenerative diseases as well as in relevant animal models of disease.

Two lab members

Sanjay Aripaka - Postdoc
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Lab rotation

Human, Biomarker, Radioligands, Animal models, Imaging

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Professor Anders Woetmann

• Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The LEO Skin Immunology Research Center •

About the Research

Primary focus is immune regulation, including how the immune-neuro axis modulates immune responses. Our methods are molecular and cell based and include flow cytometry, RNAseq (bulk and scRNA), ATAC, cut&run

Two lab members

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Lab rotation

Secondary Column

Neuroinflammation and Neuron-Glia Interactions

Professor Maiken Nedergaard

• Center for Translational Neuromedicine •

About the Research

Our lab is focused on study of astrocytes. The two major lines of work focuses on 1) neuroglia interactions and 2) the glymphatic fluid transport and how both are regulated by the sleep-wake cycle and differeny states of brain activity

Two lab members

Pia weikop - Senior researcher
Andrew Samson - Assistant Professor

Lab rotation

in vivo 2-photon imaging of astrocytes or CSF transport including analysis of data

Secondary Column

Brain Vasculature and Barriers

Professor Michael Eriksen Benros

Mental Health Center Copenhagen & University of Copenhagen, Department of Immunology and Microbiology • Mental Health Center Copenhagen • Biological and Precision Psychiatry

About the Research

ImmunoPsychiatry and Precision Psychiatry – through the use of Big Data from nationwide registers and large-scale genetics, to deeply phenotyped clinical data, including cerebrospinal fluid investigations, with the aim of discovering biological meani

Two lab members

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Lab rotation

Introduction to method and theory relevant to ImmunoPsychiatry, Neuroimmunology, Immunogenetics, Data analyses, Precision Psychiatry, Neuroimmunological and clinical research and evaluation of patients.

Secondary Column

Mood and Reward

University of Southern Denmark

Assistant Professor Agnieszka Wlodarczyk

• Department of Neurobiology Research •

About the Research

Investigation of 1) neuroprotective and immunomodulatory mechanisms driven by microglia in neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease and normal aging. 2) the role of placental cells and microchimerism in pregnancy-ass

Two lab members

Gabriela Lyszczarz - PhD student
Anouk Benmamar-Badel - Postdoc

Lab rotation

hands-on in vivo experiments, in vivo models, flow cytometry, cell sorting, cell transplantation, confocal microscopy, behavioural testing.

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Associate Professor Reza M. H. Khorooshi

• Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine • Trevor Owens lab.

About the Research

Investigating the Innate regulation of neuroinflammation and the role of glial and myeloid cells in demyelinating diseases; in vivo models, drugs and treatments, Flow cytometry, histology, and molecular analysis

Assistant Professor Agnieszka Wlodarczyk

• Department of Neurobiology Research •

About the Research

Investigation of 1) neuroprotective mechanisms driven by microglia in neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease 2) the role of placenta and microchimerism in pregnancy-associated remission from MS.

Two lab members

Gabriela Lyszczarz - PhD student
Anouk Benmamar-Badel - Postdoc

Lab rotation

hands-on in vivo experiments, in vivo models, flow cytometry, cell sorting, cell transplantation, confocal microscopy, behavioural testing.

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Associate Professor Åsa Fex Svenningsen

• Department of Molecular Medicine- Neuroscience Research • Cellular and molecular neuroscience- Fex Svenningsen group

About the Research

We are studying biomarkers- proteins that predict onset, disease worsening or reactions to medications. Biomarkers can also give an understanding of disease mechanisms. We use patient material, animals, cell cultures, analyzed using molecular methods

Two lab members

Simone Hjæresen - PhD student
Tobias Christian Mogensen - Lab technician

Lab rotation

Generation of primary cell cultures of all CNS cells, pharamcological and toxicological analysis of cells, functional analysis of cell behavior, molecular methods as qPCR, immunochemistry, ELIZA.

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Associate Professor Bettina Hjelm Clausen

Department of Molecular Medicine • Neurobiology • Clausen group

About the Research

Unravel and modulate the inflammatory response orchestrated by innate immune cells in the brain post-stroke. We perform drug testing and cell therapies, emphasizing findings relevant to cell function, cell communication, and stroke pathophysiology.

Two lab members

Karin Kejling - Lab technician
Carina Jørgensen - PhD student

Lab rotation

Hands-on work with mice, experiments and data analysis

Secondary Column

Brain Vasculature and Barriers

Professor Frantz Rom Poulsen

• Department of Neurosurgery • Neurosurgical research group

About the Research

Optimizing patient outcome after neurosurgical treatments. The diseases in question range from brain cancer, cerebral metastasis to vascular disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Acute and elective.

Two lab members

Morten Winkler Møller - PhD student
Mikkel Schou Andersen - PhD student

Lab rotation

Clinical research, health data science, cell and animal models, state-of-the-art clinical neuroimaging, new surgical techniques

Secondary Column

Professor Kate Lykke Lambertsen

• Department of Neurobiology Research • Lambertsen Group

About the Research

Our research mainly focuses on neuroinflammatory diseases, and we use a wide range of experimental in vitro and in vivo models, clinical samples, as well as postmortem tissue, to study cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Two lab members

Pernille Vinther Nielsen - PhD student
Estrid Thougaard - PhD student

Lab rotation

Hands-on in vivo and in vitro experiments with human and animal samples, behavior, cellular and molecular techniques, data analysis

Secondary Column

Brain Vasculature and Barriers

Professor Nasrin Asgari

University of Southern Denmark • Institute of Molecular Medicine & Institute of Regional Health Research • Asgari Group

About the Research

The research has translational goals, integrating clinical and experimental studies on inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the CNS. Methodologies include OCT, murine disease models, analysis of human tissues and CSF samples by sensitive assays.

Two lab members

Sara Samadzadeh - PhD student
Sigge Weisdorf - Postdoc

Lab rotation

OCT, murine disease models, analysis of human tissues and CSF samples by sensitive assays, flow cytometry, RT-qPCR

Secondary Column

Brain Vasculature and Barriers

Professor Bente Finsen

• Department of Molecular Medicine • Finsen-lab

About the Research

We aim understanding neuroimmune mechanisms in Alzheimer’s, focusing on modulation of microglia to prevent an ameliorate pathology. We also investigate the immune contribution to white matter de(re)generation in Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.

Two lab members

Sussanne Petersen - Lab technician
Katrine Krohn - Postdoc

Lab rotation

Histologic and morphometric analysis of rodent and human brain tissue. Microglial or oligodendrocyte culturing. Molecular biology (incl. TaqMan RT-rtPCR) and immunochemical analyses (ELISA). Mouse or rat stereotaxic surgery.

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Professor Trevor Owens

• Neurobiology, Institute Molecular Medicine •

About the Research

Animal models for MS and NMOSD; EAE, cuprizone, intrathecal cytokines; flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, histology, RNAseq.

Two lab members

Reza Khorooshi - Assistant Professor
Bhavya Ojha - PhD student

Lab rotation

Mouse models for MS and NMOSD, primarily using histology, flow cytometry, transcriptomics. Students will learn methods and theory relevant to dissection of molecular mechanisms underlying glial-immune interactions in health and disease..

Secondary Column

Neurodegenerative Diseases