Two Health researchers receive million-kroner grants for new research
The Lundbeck Foundation has just awarded grants from its Experiment Grant programme, which supports innovative research within neuroscience and related fields. Two Health researchers have received funding from the programme, and their grants will strengthen basic research into brain chemistry and Parkinson’s disease.
Two researchers from the faculty appeared on the list of grant recipients when the Lundbeck Foundation recently awarded a total of DKK 57 million, aimed at bold and experimental research ideas with transformative potential.
Associate Professor Steffen Sinning from the Department of Forensic Medicine has received DKK 2,300,000 for the project “Real-time quantification of serotonin dynamics in vivo and in vitro”.
In this project, the researchers will develop a new biological sensor capable of measuring levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain with high precision and in real time. Unlike previous methods, the new technology can provide more stable and reliable measurements in living animals. This may help researchers gain a better understanding of mental illnesses such as depression and, in the longer term, contribute to new treatments.
Assistant Professor Alena Salasova from the Department of Biomedicine and DANDRITE has received DKK 2,299,471 for the project “Born to Degenerate? Tracing the Developmental Origins of Parkinson’s Disease”.
In this project, the researchers will investigate whether Parkinson’s disease may originate as early as foetal life. They will study how a specific protein affects the development of important nerve cells in the brain, and whether early disturbances can increase the risk of disease later in life. Using mouse models and advanced techniques, they hope to gain new insights that may ultimately lead to improved prevention of Parkinson’s disease.
The article is based on press material from the Lundbeck Foundation.