The Molecular Endocrinology Department, KMEB Lab is located at Odense University Hospital in Denmark. We work in close collaboration with the clinical department, which gives us invaluable insight into patient-related issues and makes the transition from bench the bedside easier. The overall goal of our research is to improve health of patients with endocrine diseases through understanding disease mechanisms and identifying cellular and molecular approaches for diagnosis and therapy. We are particularly interested in studying stem cell biology and the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine protocols.
We are especially interested in:
- studying the biology of bone marrow stromal stem cells (MSC) and their contribution to metabolic bone diseases e.g. age-related osteoporosis and bone fragility caused by obesity and type 2-diabetes
- studying the effect of incretin hormones on bone metabolism
- studying the interaction between bone and whole-body energy metabolism through identification of secreted factors produced by MSC
- studying bone marrow adipose tissue biology and clinical significance
We employ state-of-the-art technologies of cell culture, animal models including genetically modified mice as well as methods of global genome and proteome analysis.
Below is a description of facilities in the KMEB.
Stem cell culture
Cell culture labs at KMEB host all culture activities from human to mice with separated culture platforms and incubators between species. The facility consists of 4 large class-II biological safety cabinets (two researchers per cabinet), seven CO2 incubators (with or without CO2 control), two centrifuges and two inverted microscopes. There are rooms for cryo-storage space, autoclaving, storage of consumables and chemicals. Cell culture lab is a CLEAN lab, a shoe cover and a lab coat are a must to prevent contamination.
Main lab
Its equipped with three safety cabinet class I, two centrifuges, microplate reader, Eliza plate washer, and working stations designated to perform protocols of human/mouse genomic DNA, RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, measuring of gene expression profiles and protein expression detection via western blot, also supports bacterial and plasmid work.
Cell imaging lab
Equipped with:
- Operetta- high content live imaging analysis system (Perkin-Elmer), featuring the imaging system delivers the speed, sensitivity and resolution needed to reveal fine sub-cellular details
- Leica DM4500 microscope with brightfield and fluorescence, equipped with motorized stage for histological whole-slide imaging at high magnification
Seahorse analyzer
The Seahorse Core supports the use of an XFe96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer (Seahorse Biosciences, Agilent) to perform sensitive measurements of oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in live cells interrogating key cellular functions such as mitochondrial respiration (OCR) and glycolysis (ECAR). XFe96 Analyzer is a 96-well plate system that performs compound addition and mixing, label-free analytical detection, and automatic measurement of OCR and ECAR in real time. XFe96 Analyzer analysis in intact cells, permeabilized cells, and isolated mitochondria from humans or model organisms.
If you are interested in using the Seahorse, contact Paula Fernandez Guerra: pfernandez@health.sdu.dk
Animal experimental facility
The “Biomedical Laboratory” is the central animal facility for SDU and OUH, KMEB scientists use the facility for housing animals needed to carry out biomedical research projects, animal imaging machines such as DEXA-scan, mCT, and in vivo tracking of fluorescent and bioluminescent reporters. Different experimental surgical procedures such as: Ovariectomy, mono-cortical bone defect, xenotransplantation of human stem cells into immunodeficient mice. A large proportion of the mice used are genetically modified and KMEB makes use of many such models, including transgenics, conditional gene-knockouts, and modern CRISPR generated mutant mice. Metabolic phenotyping is done using a 16-cage TSE Phenomaster, as well as insulin and glucose tolerance tests, etc.
If you are interested in animal experimental research, contact Nicholas Ditzel: nditzel@health.sdu.dk
At KMEB we have access to core facilities in OUH/SDU such as: sequencing, flowcytometry/cell sorting, histological procedures, electron microscope and proteomics.