Presentation of the Column
Now more than ever, there is a lot of fascinating science happening in neuroscience demonstrating how important the internal state of the body is for brain function and vice versa. It has become clear that the link between the brain and body plays a vital role for both physical and mental health. In a healthy organism processes such as energy consumption and expenditure, sleep and circadian regulation are kept in check by fine-tuned molecular processes. Our brain needs to constantly counteract destabilizing effects from external factors (variations in energy intake, infections, sleep disturbances, etc.) and predict environmental changes (24h variations in light intensity and food availability). This requires efficient homeostatic mechanisms at both integrative and cellular levels. Interactions between the brain and the gut, cardiorespiratory, and endocrine systems, both on a daily and long-term basis, further play vital roles in maintaining health. Disturbed brain states, maladaptive interoception, and changes in brain-body interactions at multiple timescales are seen in association with a range of disorders including neurodegenerative disorders, psychiatric diseases, sleep- and circadian disorders, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
Research within this column is integrative, embracing different approaches, and bringing in curious minds from many fields. Brain state regulation such as the molecular and cellular regulation of sleep and circadian rhythms are examples of topics covered. Interoception and the interactions of the nervous system with the endocrine system, metabolism, the gut, and the immune system are also included. These are all growing fields with many unknown mechanisms waiting to be explored.
Research within this diverse field brings together neuroscientists, psychologists, and clinicians. It includes, but is not limited to, the use of cell or animal models in combination with molecular and pharmacological tools, animal or human neuroimaging, computational and physiological modelling, and clinical neurological and psychiatric research.
Aalborg University
Professor Christina Brock
Aalborg University Hospital • Mech-Sense - Centre for Pain and Gastroenterology Research •
About the Research
My main research interest is within characterizing the brain-body activation/integration controlled through the autonomic nervous system including the enteric nervous system to maintain metabolic homeostasis.
Two lab members
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Lab rotation
See website.
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Associate Professor John Dirk Nieland
• Health Science and Technology • Molecular Pharmacology
About the Research
We do research in how a shift in metabolism is the driving force in CNS diseases like ALS, Parkisnon, MS and Alzheimer disease. Based on this we develop medicine to treat these diseases and biomarkers for following disease induction and progression
Two lab members
Jacek Lichota - Assistant Professor
Cecillie Fjord Morre Pedersen - PhD student
Lab rotation
in vivo experiments, human sample analysis, medicinal treatment, cellular experiments, molecular analysis
Secondary Column
Ageing and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Aarhus University
Professor Sándor Beniczky
Danish Epilepsy Centre • Clinical Neurophysiology •
About the Research
Overarching theme: epilepsy & clinical neurophysiology. Sub-topics: electromagnetic source imaging; automated & semiautomated analysis in clinical practice using AI; quality assurance & standardisation in clinical neurophysiology; seizure detection.
Two lab members
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Lab rotation
Human, clinical research.
Secondary Column
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Professor Micah Allen
• Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience • Embodied Computation Group
About the Research
We study interoception, decision-making, and brain-body interaction.
Two lab members
Leah Banellis - Postdoc
Niia Nikolova - Postdoc
Lab rotation
Human functional brain imaging, psychophysics, experimental psychology, computational modelling
Secondary Column
Mood and Reward
Professor Sarang S. Dalal
Aarhus University • Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience • Neuroelectromagnetic Oscillations (NEMO) Lab
About the Research
We investigate communication between neural structures such as cortex and retina using human neurophysiological techniques (primarily MEG and optically pumped magnetometers). We recently launched neurodevelopmental research using fetal MEG with OPMs.
Two lab members
Lau Møller Andersen - Assistant Professor
Barbara Berger - Postdoc
Lab rotation
Students will perform a small experiment to assess millisecond-precision responses and neural connectivity underlying perceptual processes (visual, somatosensory, or auditory) with conventional MEG or OPM-MEG in adults or fetal OPM-MEG in utero.
Secondary Column
Neurodevelopment
Assistant Professor Gilles Claude Vanwalleghem
• Molecular Biology and Genetics - DANDRITE •
About the Research
Neurobiology of the gut-brain axis in zebrafish. We use light-sheet microscopy and calcium imaging to record the neuronal activity of live animals at the systems level. We plan to study the impact of autism on the microbiome.
Two lab members
Rajlakshmi Sawale - PhD student
Audrey Andersen-Civil - Postdoc
Lab rotation
Students would learn about the zebrafish model, the enteric nervous system, in vivo imaging, and the computational analysis of neuronal time series.
Secondary Column
Neurodevelopment
University of Copenhagen
Associate Professor Cordelia Imig
• Neuroscience •
About the Research
We use a combination of intestinal cell and organoid cultures, molecular biology, genetics, functional imaging, and electrophysiology methods to study the cellular mechanisms underlying neurosecretion from cells in the gut that signal to the brain
Two lab members
Ahmed Shaaban - Postdoc
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Lab rotation
primary cell culture, molecular biology, functional imaging, data analysis
Secondary Column
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Assistant Professor Peter C Petersen
• Department of Neuroscience • Petersen Lab
About the Research
Our lab’s goal is to understand the neuronal mechanisms involved in memory and cognition and how imbalances in the circuits can lead to pathological conditions. In particular, we study spatial memory, and theta oscillations in behaving rats, and how
Two lab members
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Lab rotation
hands-on in vivo ephys and optogenetics in awake rodents, data analysis
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Assistant Professor Verena Untiet
• Center for Translational Neuromedicine •
About the Research
I am investigating the role of astrocytes and anions in inhibitory transmission. I explore how different brain states and behaviour are influenced by manipulation or malfunction of astrocytes and ionostasis.
Two lab members
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Lab rotation
Mice experiments, 2-photon and macroscopic imaging, virus injection and optogentic manipulation, data analysis.
Secondary Column
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Professor Klaus Martiny
• Mental Health Center Copenhagen • New Interventions in Depression (NID-Group)
About the Research
Developing chronotherapeutic and neurostimulation methods for depression and sleep, including light and electromagnetic exposure systems, sleep manipulations, psychoeducation, and research into zeitgebers impact on the circadian neurohormonal system
Two lab members
Carlo Volf - Senior researcher
Helle Østergaard Madsen - Senior researcher
Lab rotation
Clinical trials participation
Secondary Column
Associate Professor Hanne Borger Rasmussen
• Department of Biomedical Sciences • Membrane Trafficking
About the Research
We study the molecular basis for action potential generation. Using primary neurons and various biochemical and imaging techniques, we dissect the molecular architecture and plasticity underlying this major decision-making process in a nerve cell.
Two lab members
- PhD student
- PhD student
Lab rotation
The laboratory offers training in a wide range of techniques, for example Drosophila genetics, neurophysiology, time lapse confocal imaging, protein chemistry, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, and behavioral experiments.
Secondary Column
Neurodevelopment
Associate Professor Tune H Pers
• Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research • Pers Group
About the Research
We focus on brain mechanisms underlying obesity and type 2 diabetes. Our team includes neuroscientists, data scientists and geneticists, and leverages transgenic animals models, single-cell sequencing, machine learning and data science techniques.
Two lab members
Jenny Brown - Postdoc
Nadia Aalling - Postdoc
Lab rotation
Hands-on in single-cell RNA-sequencing experiments, single-cell ATAC-sequencing experiments, in vitro CRISPR-screens, multimodal single-cell data analysis, spatial transcriptomics data analysis, machine learning, data integration.
Secondary Column
Brain Vasculature and Barriers
Associate Professor Christoffer Clemmensen
• Center for Basic Metabolic Research • Clemmensen Group
About the Research
We study body weight homeostasis and develop new therapeutic strategies for treatment of obesity and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. Our research approach is truly translational, involving c elegans, mouse models and human studies
Two lab members
- Assistant Professor
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Lab rotation
Behavioral and metabolic phenotyping of mouse models, molecular biology lab work, data analysis and critical thinking
Secondary Column
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Associate Professor Birgitte Rahbek Kornum
• Department of Neuroscience • Kornum Lab
About the Research
We study the sleep-wake balance and how it is affected by the immune system during viral infections and in the sleep disorder narcolepsy. We measure sickness behavior and sleep states, use molecular biology, single cell technology, and animal models.
Two lab members
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Lab rotation
A broad introduction to the ongoing projects in the lab. Insights into hot topics in the field. Hands on experience with in vivo work such as stereotaxic surgery, EEG/EMG surgery, and/or animal behavior monitoring.
Secondary Column
Neuroinflammation and Neuron-Glia Interactions
Assistant Professor Celia Kjærby
University of Copenhagen • Center for Translational Neuromedicine • Division of Sleep-Arousal State Transitions
About the Research
My research focuses on how sleep shapes cognitive performance. I explore how sleep microstructure shapes restorative sleep processes related to both memory consolidation and waste clearance as well as therapeutic strategies.
Two lab members
Viviane Compere - Master student
Camilla Jensen - Bachelor student
Lab rotation
Mice experiments, EEG/EMG-based sleep measurements, behavioral memory tasks, fluorescent imaging using fiber photometry, data analysis
Secondary Column
Associate Professor Ole Kjærulff
• Department of Neuroscience • Kjaerulff group
About the Research
Intracellular organelle transport is critically important for development, homeostasis and function of neurons due to their extreme polarity and size. Our current focus is the molecular mechanisms of axonal transport, studied in Drosophila.
Two lab members
Viktor K. Lund - Postdoc
Michela Caliari, Master Student
Lab rotation
The laboratory offers training in a wide range of techniques, for example Drosophila genetics, neurophysiology, time lapse confocal imaging, protein chemistry, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, and behavioral experiments.
Secondary Column
Neurodevelopment
Professor Gitte Moos Knudsen
• Neuroscience Center, Rigshospitalet • Neurobiology Research Unit
About the Research
I am chair of NRU (www.nru.dk) which covers many neurobiological research topics. My research focus is on psychedelics and neuroplasticity; I use neuroimaging with PET-MR, novel radioligands in pigs, and study the brain in volunteers and patients.
Two lab members
Sophi da Cunha-Bang - Postdoc
Martin Korsbak Madsen - Postdoc
Lab rotation
You will be integrated in a multi-disciplinary lab where we study neuropharmacolgy (eg, psychedelics) in humans and in animals by means of neuroimaging and many other approaches.
Secondary Column
Brain Vasculature and Barriers
Professor Dimitrios Stamou
• Center for Geometrically Engineered Cellular Systems • Stamou Group
About the Research
We use state-of-the-art fluorescence microscopy to image the distribution, structure and function of signalling proteins at the plasma membrane, with single molecule resolution. Emphasis is on GPCRs and neurotransmitter transporters.
Two lab members
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Lab rotation
Advanced live-cell fluorescent microscopy and image-analysis. Single molecule transport assays.
Secondary Column
Mood and Reward
Professor Martin Fredensborg Rath
• Department of Neuroscience • Rath Lab
About the Research
Circadian neurobiology: In a combined effort, involving molecular, cellular, surgical and neuroanatomical techniques, our aim is to of determine physiological and molecular regulatory mechanisms of circadian 24h brain function.
Two lab members
Aurea Blancas - Postdoc
Signe Bille - PhD student
Lab rotation
Hands-on experience with animal and cellular circadian research models and a variety of analytical techniques (from molecular biology to behavior). Collaborative and productive research environment with frequent PI contact guaranteed.
Secondary Column
Neurodevelopment