Vi har som mål at anvende moderne og innovativ forskning til at støtte vores patienter. "Biologisk Psykiatri", med fokus på brugen af en kombination af avancerede molekylære metoder, udgør en af hjørnestenene i vores forskning.
På den ene side benytter vi humane inducerede pluripotente stamceller (hIPSC) fra patienter med psykiske lidelser samt fra raske kontrolpersoner. Vi stræber efter "præcisionsmedicin for vores patienter" ved at udvikle neuroner, gliaceller og cerebrale organoider (mini-hjerner) fra disse hIPSC. Vi anvender en bred vifte af multi-omics teknikker til at undersøge den neurobiologiske baggrund for psykiske lidelser og udviklingsmæssige forløb.
På den anden side benytter vi højopløselig magnetisk resonansbilleddannelse (MRI) samt positronemissionstomografi (PET) til at undersøge neurobiologiske faktorer relateret til psykiske lidelser – f.eks. metabolismens og dopamins rolle.Derudover anvender vi de enestående danske registre til at udføre epidemiologisk forskning. Vi gennemfører også kliniske interventionsstudier, randomiserede kontrollerede forsøg (RCT) m.m.
På det seneste har vores interesse rettet sig mod brugen af digital teknologi – såsom virtual reality (VR) og gamification – for at finde nye måder at understøtte både den diagnostiske proces, patienternes trivsel og de kliniske arbejdsgange.
Vores kliniske forskningsområder dækker en bred vifte af psykiske lidelser, deres behandling og tidlige opsporing – med særligt fokus på afhængighed, udviklingsforstyrrelser hos voksne, psykose, aldring samt somatiske og psykiatriske komorbiditeter.
Igangværende projekter:
Description:
This study aims to investigate the role of key enzymes of oxidative stress (OS) due to free radicals in the prodromal phase of schizophrenia. To assess the role of these enzymes as contributing factor for the development of a psychosis. This results will pave the way clinical implementation of preventive strategies for schizophrenia such as Omega fatty acids (repairing OS damage) before the outbreak of symptoms.
Description:
We administer alcohol to brain organoids of healthy individuals (IPSC), that we have derived at our laboratory and measure the biochemical signature at different time points. We investigate the influence of alcohol on normal brain development and compare morphometric alterations with biochemical alterations.
Description:
We administrer Omega 3 fatty acids DHA (polyunsaturated fatty acids -“fish-oil”) to organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC) from patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and normal controls. We compare the RNA expression on a single cell level to give insight into the existence and behavior of different cell types between patients and controls under the administration of DHA, vector at different developmental time trajectories. In addition to that, we investigate the expression of inflammatory proteins. Herby, we want to find out whether DHA has a protective effect on the cells and whether it can prevent changes or alterations, we have seen in.
Description:
We administrer psychedelics and a vector to brain organoids and investigate the biochemical effect on oxidative stress and morphological alterations.
Description:
The projects investigates KLOTHO-mimetic peptites and their role in mental health conditions and longevity. This is a front-runner project for “drug-testing in the dish”. We elucidate the effect on Klotho-mimetics on inflammation related enzymes.
Description:
The role of the WNT signaling pathway in ADHD will be investigated using modern molecular methods such as IPSC and cerebral organoids. Single cell sequencing with a focus on this specific pathway will be carried out, as well as proteomics at several time points during cultivate of the organoids in order to investigate the role of the pathway at different time-trajectories. The results will be the basis to develop drug targets (e.g. Rapamycin) for the treatment of e.g. Methylphenidate non-responding patients with ADHD.
Description:
This project investigates the molecular signature of bipolar disorder and the role of neurodevelopment as contributor to the condition. Proteomics and single cell transcriptomics will be carried out. The focus is on myelin as well as on neurodegenerative aspects in bipolar affective disorder.
