Welcome to the BioLogicTube

suPAR and Longevity (Spanish)

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:44:49 GMT

Chronic inflammation plays a central role in how we age. suPAR is a biomarker that reflects long-term, low-grade inflammation in the body and provides insight into aging and longevity. Unlike markers that fluctuate with short-term illness, suPAR captures sustained immune activation, offering a clearer picture of biological aging beyond chronological age. Understanding suPAR helps contextualize health trajectories and supports a more preventive approach to long-term health.

SEMAL_Biological clocks_Jesper Eugen - Olsen_PhD

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:10:21 GMT

The treaTBest study

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:29:04 GMT

Growth Island Jaque Intervention

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:29:26 GMT

Growth Island Jaque future

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:28:56 GMT

Vi vil leve for evigt episode 3

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:41:08 GMT

Vi vil leve for evigt episode 2

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:40:39 GMT

(empty)

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:09:13 GMT

Vi vil leve for evigt første afsnit

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:22:12 GMT

Growth Island Jaque Introduction

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:24:34 GMT

Growth Island Mads Intervention

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:21:40 GMT

Growth Island Mads Introduction

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:21:30 GMT

Growth Island Mads Future

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:19:55 GMT

Growth Island Christopher Introduction

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:12:20 GMT

Growth Island Christopher Intervention

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:12:15 GMT

Growth Island Christopher Future

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:12:09 GMT

Aubrey de Grey at Andorra longevity conference 2024.mov

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 14:29:06 GMT

Aubrey de Grey show data from the 1000 mice experiement on longevity drugs such as rapamycin

Dr. Jesper Eugen-Olsen talks on suPAR and Chronic inflammation

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 10:41:27 GMT

Dr Eugen-Olsen talks on chronic inflammation and how it is linked to the development of disease. The lecture is from the Longevity and Biohacking Conference in Andorra, July 2024 and is named "Cracking the longevity code: Measuring and mastering chronic inflammation"

suPAR_ Causal or associated_.mp4

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 10:46:51 GMT

suPAR - A biomarker for Triage based on chronic inflammationand patient...

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 09:41:06 GMT

The Save More study

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 10:22:15 GMT

Study: suPAR Cut-Offs for Risk Stratification in Patients with Symptoms of...

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 15:12:59 GMT

This observational cohort study of 386 patients presenting symptoms of COVID-19 at the Department of Emergency Medicine, Amager and Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark from March 19th, 2020 to April 3rd, 2020, found suPAR (cut-off levels ⩽4, 4-6, and ⩾6 ng/mL) can predict the need for mechanical ventilation and mortality in patients with COVID-19 symptoms.

suPAR can predict the need for mechanical ventilation and mortality in...

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 12:16:48 GMT

Jesper Eugen-Olsen presenting how suPAR can be used to predict patient outcomes in COVID-19 using suPAR. Read the full peer-reviewed publications: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/11772719211034685 ; https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-542503/v1 ; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01499-z

Predicting patient outcomes in COVID-19

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 11:56:15 GMT

Jesper Eugen-Olsen presenting how suPAR can be used to predict patient outcomes in COVID-19 using suPAR. Read the full publication in Nature medicine here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01499-z

suPARnostic by ViroGates

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 10:44:16 GMT

suPAR is a prognostic inflammatory biomarker that reflects the immune system's level of activation across diseases.

suPAR can be measured using ViroGates' suPARnostic® product range.

suPARnostic® empowers healthcare professionals to lead patient triage with confidence by making better informed decisions, backed by reliable biological data.

Implementing suPAR in clinical care saves critical resources and valuable time, and results in reduced healthcare costs, more efficient triage, and better patient outcomes.

Prof. Peter Rossing on diabetes complications

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 12:53:40 GMT

Patients with type 1 diabetes are prone to develop complications such as kidney or heart disease. Professor Peter Rossing and his group are working on biomarkers that may predict which patients are in risk of developing these complications. Peter talks about their latest work on the risk biomarker suPAR and its predictive abilities. Their study "Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Predicts Cardiovascular Events, Kidney Function Decline, and Mortality in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes" were published in Diabetes Care in 2019 (https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/42/6/1112.long)

Interview with first author Viktor Curovic on his work on suPAR in diabetes...

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 14:28:33 GMT

interview on the following publication:

Diabetes Care. 2019 Jun;42(6):1112-1119. doi: 10.2337/dc18-1427. Epub 2019 Mar 18.
Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Predicts Cardiovascular Events, Kidney Function Decline, and Mortality in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes.
Rotbain Curovic V1, Theilade S2, Winther SA2, Tofte N2, Eugen-Olsen J3, Persson F2, Hansen TW2, Jeppesen J4,5, Rossing P2,5.
Author information
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:
RESULTS:
CONCLUSIONS:

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is an important inflammatory biomarker implicated in endothelial and podocyte dysfunction. However, suPAR's predictive qualities for complications in type 1 diabetes have yet to be determined. We investigated the prognostic value of suPAR for the development of cardiovascular events, decline in renal function, and mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes.

We included 667 patients with type 1 diabetes with various degrees of albuminuria in a prospective study. End points were cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or coronary or peripheral arterial interventions), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline ≥30%, progression from lower to higher albuminuric state, development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and mortality. Follow-up was 5.2-6.2 years. Results were adjusted for known risk factors. Hazard ratios (HRs) are presented per doubling of suPAR with 95% CI. Relative integrated discrimination improvement (rIDI) was calculated.

Quantification of suPAR was available in all participants; median (interquartile range) was 3.4 ng/mL (2.7-4.5). The adjusted HR (95% CI) for cardiovascular events (n = 94), progression in albuminuria (n = 36), eGFR decline (n = 93), ESRD (n = 23), and mortality (n = 58) were 3.13 (1.96-5.45, P < 0.001), 1.27 (0.51-3.19, P = 0.61), 2.93 (1.68-5.11, P < 0.001), 2.82 (0.73-11.9, P = 0.13), and 4.13 (1.96-8.69, P < 0.001), respectively. rIDI was significant for cardiovascular events (22.6%, P < 0.001), eGFR decline (14.4%, P < 0.001), and mortality (23.9%, P < 0.001).

In patients with type 1 diabetes and a broad range of albuminuria, a higher level of suPAR is a significant and independent risk factor for cardiovascular events, decline in eGFR ≥30%, and mortality. In addition, suPAR contributes significantly to discrimination for the end points.

BluSense

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 11:13:39 GMT

The BluSense technology enables the accurate diagnosis of dengue and zika using a single drop of blood.

Combining biomarker quantification with portability, affordability and ease of use, BluSense point-of-care products are designed for helping healthcare organizations to increase their diagnostics capacity, and to monitor, control and manage virus outbreaks.

For more info, go to https://www.blusense-diagnostics.com/

Live fra tarmen

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 14:48:51 GMT

suPAR ca 1:10

Routine use of suPARnostic in the Emergency Department

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 14:48:58 GMT

At Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, suPAR is measured as part of the routine biomarkers. suPAR is used as support for the decision to admit or discharge the acute medical patient. For more info on the suPARnostic products, please go to Virogates.com

suPAR english speak

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:45:35 GMT

suPAR is a biomarker on disease severity and prognosis. suPAR has been implemented in routine use at the Emergency Department at Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre. This movie gives insight into the clincial use of the suPAR biomarker.

suPAR - From basic research to routine clinical use - Danish speak

Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:54:55 GMT

suPAR is today a routine marker used for accessing disease severity and prognosis in the Emergency Department. The movie is produced by Copenhagen University Hodpital Hvidovre. Photo and edit Peter Bak

Forskning på et Akut hospital - Hvidovre, suPAR og AHA - Dansk

Thu, 03 Mar 2016 10:08:36 GMT

På Hvidovre-Amager Hospital forskes i forbedring af patient behandling. To af spydspids projekterne fremhæves her, suPAR projektet som bidrager til at blive klogere på hvor syg patienten egentligt er, samt AHA projektet hvor tværfagligt samarbejde bidrager til bedre behandling og bedre overlevelse for mave-tarm patienter

suPAR and BluSense

Wed, 09 Dec 2015 11:21:17 GMT

A short film on the collaboration betwen DTU Nanotech, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, ViroGates and BluSense. Filmen er produceret af Christoffer Thinggaard og Lars Brückner.

Jesper Eugen-Olsen fortæller om suPAR

Tue, 04 Aug 2015 14:09:19 GMT

Klippet indgik i "Live fra tarmen" produceret af DR/ Lars Ostenfeld

Hvidovre Hospital - why we have implemented suPAR in clinical routine

Thu, 09 Jul 2015 14:24:23 GMT

In this movie, the Vice President, MD, Dm.Sc Torben Mogensen and the Hospital Research Director, MD, PhD Ove Andersen explains why suPAR has been implemented in routine use in the Emergency Department.

suPARnostic Quick Triage Test Instruction Video

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 09:02:43 GMT

Instruction video for the quantitation of suPAR in plasma using the Quick Triage test. The test is based on the lateral flow principle and quantifies the patient plasma suPAR value (The new updated quantitative Quick triage test). The time from plasma sample to final result is about 24 minutes. The suPARnostic Quick Triage Test is produced by ViroGates, Denmark. More information on suPAR measuring products can be found at www.suPARnostic.com

Genetic me - trailer -

Mon, 08 Sep 2014 14:49:32 GMT

Here is the trailer on our 52 minute long documentary Genetic me. The documentary will be shown at CPH:DOX taking place in Copenhagen 6-16th of November 2014

ESOF 2014 - How much do you want to know about yourself

Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:10:18 GMT

In June 2014, The European Science Open Festival was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the session "How much do you want to know about yourself" organised by Professor Anja Boisen from Denmarks Technical University, data on new and comming microsensors and markers that measure health was presented and discussed.

Overview of the 5'th International suPAR symposium

Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:38:49 GMT

The 5th suPAR symposium was hosted by Prof. Markus Schultz and held at the Amsterdam Medical Center in May 2014. New and recently published data were presented and gave insights into the clinical use of suPAR. This years focus was on the use of suPAR as a risk triage marker in the Acute Medical Department. Data from the routine use as well research data complemented into a conclusion that suPAR helps changing the clinical decision. Should the patient be admitted? Sent home? Rushed to the ICU? This and more was discussed by almost 100 clinicians and researchers over the 2-day seminar.

suPAR Acute Care Triage marker at ESOF, Copenhagen 2014

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 14:57:15 GMT

In June 2014, The European Science Open Festival was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Jesper Eugen-Olsen and Jakob Knudsen presented the suPARnostic® Quick Triage system for quick determination of the plasma suPAR level. The product is developed by the Danish company ViroGates A/S. For more info, please visit www.ViroGates.com

Dr. August Wrotek talks on suPAR as marker of severity of pneumonia in children

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 11:43:12 GMT

The 5th international suPAR symposium was held in Amsterdam 8 and 9th of May 2014. The symposium was entitled suPAR and its clinical use and focused on suPAR as a triage marker in the emergency room. The symposium was hosted by professor Marcus Schultz from the Amsterdam Medical Center. Dr. Wrotek's presentation was one of 25 lectures given over the 2-day 5'th International suPAR symposium. The programme and info on the conference can be found here: www.ViroGates.com

Dr. Rafal Wlazel talks on suPAR and prediction of AMI in pPCI patients

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 11:41:26 GMT

Dr. Simone Theilade talks on suPAR as marker of diabetes complications

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 11:05:16 GMT

The 5th international suPAR symposium was held in Amsterdam 8 and 9th of May 2014. The symposium was entitled suPAR and its clinical use and focused on suPAR as a triage marker in the emergency room. The symposium was hosted by professor Marcus Schultz from the Amsterdam Medical Center. Dr. Theilade's presentation was one of 25 lectures given over the 2-day 5'th International suPAR symposium. The programme and info on the conference can be found here: www.ViroGates.com

Dr. Martin Höenigl talks on suPAR and risk stratification in the Acute care...

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 10:47:56 GMT

The 5th international suPAR symposium was held in Amsterdam 8 and 9th of May 2014. The symposium was entitled suPAR and its clinical use and focused on suPAR as a triage marker in the emergency room. The symposium was hosted by professor Marcus Schultz from the Amsterdam Medical Center. Dr. Höenigll's presentation was one of 25 lectures given over the 2-day Internationl suPAR symposium and The groups work was published in Journal of Internal Medicine in 2014 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24645798) and was accompaigned by an editorial (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24734882).

Brain Prize ceremony 2014

Mon, 19 May 2014 09:32:00 GMT

The Brain Prize for 2014 is awarded to Stanislas Dehaene, Giacomo Rizzolatti and Trevor Robbins for
'their pioneering research on higher brain mechanisms underpinning such complex human functions as literacy, numeracy, motivated behaviour and social cognition, and for their efforts to understand cognitive and behavioural disorders.
The prize was presented by her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary at a ceremony at the Black Diamond building in May 2014.
For more info www.thebrainprize.com

Lifandis - Unlocking the secrets of disease

Wed, 09 Apr 2014 14:29:18 GMT

Lifandis links the industry to a wealth of biological samples from the HUNT studies. It is the entry point to a unique set of biological samples and extensive clinical and longitudinal data based on the Norwegian population. By connecting industry to high quality biosamples, a comprehensive network of national health registries, and depth information about health and disease we offer unparalleled access to this population.

Lifandis advances disease understanding and leads to better healthcare products.

Lifandis is owned by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Central Norway Health Authority and the Nord-Trøndelag County.

The company changed its name from Hunt Biosciences AS to Lifandis AS as of April 1, 2014.

For more info, please check www.lifandis.com

5'th International suPAR symposium, Amsterdam May 8-9th, 2014

Sat, 29 Mar 2014 11:18:41 GMT

The 5th International suPAR symposium is hosted by Professor Marcus Schultz from The Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam.
This years theme is "suPAR and its value in clinical use". Information on Programme, registration and accommodation can be found here: http://suparnostic.com/index.php/events/supar-symposias/5th-international-supar-symposium

Dr Mary G Baker, MBE European Brain Council, talks at the BrianPrize 2014...

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 19:18:55 GMT

Announcement of the Brain Prize winners 2014

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 03:54:12 GMT

Grete Lundbeck European Prize Announcement Trailer 2014

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:20:34 GMT

Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Prize – ‘The Brain Prize’- is awarded to one or more scientists who have distinguished themselves by an outstanding contribution to European neuroscience.

Announcement of the 2014 Brain prize winner(s) will take place March 10th at 3PM and will be broadcasted live via the link www.thebrainprize.org

Marianne Thellersen on Copenhagen Spin-outs

Thu, 23 Jan 2014 11:08:04 GMT

COLLABORATION BETWEEN RESEARCH, INDUSTRY AND INVESTORS

Prorector at University of Copenhagen is interviewed about Copenhagen Spin-outs. Copenhagen Spin-outs is a collaboration between the academic research environment and industry with a focus on innovation and commercialisation of biotech research in the capital region area. In the project we will focus on strenthening the collaboration between universities, research parks and investors to speed up the effort to promote the good ideas from the research institutions and turn them into sustainable biotech companies. The spin-outs will work within the areas of MedTech, Diagnostics, Pharmaceuticals as well as Industrial biotech and Food.

Copenhagen Spin-outs run from 2012-2014, and is funded with 20 million DKK from EU Regional Fund, 8 million DKK from the Captal Regions Growth Forum and 12 million DKK from the partners.

To read more, please visit http://copenhagenspin-outs.dk/

LiNA Xcise morcellator demonstration video (long)

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 11:21:55 GMT

LiNA Xcise™ is a fully disposable CORDLESS morcellator designed to perform tissue morcellation during laparoscopic gynaecological procedures. This video demonstartes how to use the morcellator. For more info, please go to http://www.lina-medical.com/

Director Kim Høgh on Copenhagen Spin-outs

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:54:03 GMT

COLLABORATION BETWEEN RESEARCH, INDUSTRY AND INVESTORS

Interview with Director Kim Høgh from Capital region of Denmark on Copenhagen Spin-outs. Copenhagen Spin-outs is a collaboration between the academic research environment and industry with a focus on innovation and commercialisation of biotech research in the capital region area. In the project we will focus on strenthening the collaboration between universities, research parks and investors to speed up the effort to promote the good ideas from the research institutions and turn them into sustainable biotech companies. The spin-outs will work within the areas of MedTech, Diagnostics, Pharmaceuticals as well as Industrial biotech and Food.

Copenhagen Spin-outs run from 2012-2014, and is funded with 20 million DKK from EU Regional Fund, 8 million DKK from the Captal Regions Growth Forum and 12 million DKK from the partners.

Prorector Thomas Bjørnholm and Copenhagen Spin-outs

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:48:53 GMT

COLLABORATION BETWEEN RESEARCH, INDUSTRY AND INVESTORS

Copenhagen Spin-outs run from 2012-2014, and is funded with 20 million DKK from EU Regional Fund, 8 million DKK from the Captal Regions Growth Forum and 12 million DKK from the partners.

To read more, please visit http://copenhagenspin-outs.dk/

4th International suPAR symposium Overview

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 16:13:27 GMT

Almost 100 researchers met to present new data and discuss the potential of the suPAR biomarker in triage in the emergency room and ICU setting.

The 4th International suPAR symposium was held in late February in 2013 in Aachen, Germany.

This years suPAR symposium was entitled ” New Horizons for suPAR: Risk Stratification, Organ Dysfunction and Relevance for Specific Diseases”.

Almost 100 researchers from all over the world met to discuss the potential use of the prognostic biomarker suPAR.

The symposium was hosted by Professor Frank Tacke and Dr Alexander Koch from Aachen University Hospital

The talks started with insights into suPAR biology and pathology with ”state of the art lecture” given by professor Jochen Reiser from Chicago on the causative effect of suPAR in kidney diseases. This was followed by an overview on suPAR in Kidney diseases, liver diseases and finally in pulmonary diseases.

The overviews were followed by presentations on exciting new data on suPAR in liver cirrhosis – where does suPAR come from, how is it regulated, what is its prognostic relevance?

Hereafter chief Physician Jyrki Tenhunen gave an overview on the large amount of data published within the last year with emphesis on sepsis

Finally, on day 1, new data on suPAR and its prognostic value in Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases and Sepsis were presented and the Usefulness of suPAR in Risk Stratification of Patients with sepsis Admitted to the Emergency Department were discussed

As the day turned into night, the researchers met to socialize and exchange ideas at the suPARTY.

On day 2, after some black coffee, the researchers presented data and discussed how biomarkers may aid in clinical decision making – in particular in sepsis, Cardiology, Kidney failure, liver failure and finally in cancer.The last session gave insight into the use of suPAR as a marker of triaging in the emergency department. And Katia Donadello closed the symposium with a presentation on the potential use of suPAR in the intensive care unit.

Parkinsonforeningen DHL 2013

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 10:42:04 GMT

Wilson Kipketer og hans Dream team løber DHL for og med Parkinsonforeningen.

Lina Xcise morcellator

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 13:22:16 GMT

LiNA Xcise™ is a fully disposable CORDLESS morcellator designed to perform tissue morcellation during laparoscopic gynaecological procedures.

The LiNA Bipolar Loop movie

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 13:10:07 GMT

LiNA Bipolar Loop™ is a safe and effective single use bipolar loop for sectioning of the uterus during Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH) and resection of myomas.

The LiNA Bipolar Loop™ reduces surgery time used for sectioning of the uterus to a few seconds! It ensures a clean cut of the cervix, leaving a smooth surface with minimal bleeding. Furthermore, the LiNA Bipolar Loop™ is ideal for removal of myomas located outside the wall of the uterus (subserous pedunculated).

The Brain Prize Ceremony 2013 at the Black Diamond, Copenhagen

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:10:58 GMT

The Grete Lundbeck European Brain Prize Ceremony 2013

In May 2013, Denmark's 1 million euro brain research prize was awarded to six leading scientists for the development of ‘optogenetics’, a revolutionary technique that advances our understanding of the brain and its disorders.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik presented the prize to the prize winners, Austrian Gero Miesenböck, Germans Ernst Bamberg, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel, and Americans Ed Boyden and Karl Deisseroth.

Together these scientists laid the foundation for a revolutionary technique optogenetics which will provide us with entirely new, fundamental knowledge of the complicated functions of the brain.
Optogenetics makes it easier to investigate diseases of the brain such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, pain disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD and addiction. It will play a significant role in the understanding of these disorders and, over time, in the development of a treatment for them.

The 4'th International suPAR symposium overview

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:55:50 GMT

Almost 100 researchers met to present new data and discuss the potential of the suPAR biomarker in triage in the emergency room and ICU setting.

The 4th International suPAR symposium was held in late February in 2013 in Aachen, Germany.

This years suPAR symposium was entitled ” New Horizons for suPAR: Risk Stratification, Organ Dysfunction and Relevance for Specific Diseases”.

Almost 100 researchers from all over the world met to discuss the potential use of the prognostic biomarker suPAR.

The symposium was hosted by Professor Frank Tacke and Dr Alexander Koch from Aachen University Hospital

The talks started with insights into suPAR biology and pathology with ”state of the art lecture” given by professor Jochen Reiser from Chicago on the causative effect of suPAR in kidney diseases. This was followed by an overview on suPAR in Kidney diseases, liver diseases and finally in pulmonary diseases.

The overviews were followed by presentations on exciting new data on suPAR in liver cirrhosis – where does suPAR come from, how is it regulated, what is its prognostic relevance?

Following this, new data on the role of suPAR in low-grade inflammation, Atherosclerosis and Life Style Diseases were presented and discussed and approximately half of the attendees had their blood drawn for suPAR measurement

Hereafter chief Physician Jyrki Tenhunen gave an overview on the large amount of data published within the last year with emphesis on sepsis

As the day turned into night, the researchers met to socialize and exchange ideas at the suPARTY.

suPAR and its prognostic properties in emergency department and intensive...

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:52:55 GMT

Katia Donadello reviews the data on suPAR in the emergency unit and in the critical care setting. This video was recorded on Tuesday the 26th of February 2013

suPAR og autoimmun sygdom - Folketinget 2009

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:51:32 GMT

Jesper Eugen-Olsen talks on autoimmunity and immune activation at the Danish Parliament 2009

From 1st to 4th suPAR symposium - What have we learned?

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:46:02 GMT

suPAR researcher Jesper Eugen-Olsen gives an overview of the suPAR data generated during the symposiums.

HÅRklinikken UK 2013_0515

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:57:22 GMT

HÅRklinikken UK 2013_0515

HÅRklinikken DK 2013_0515

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:57:13 GMT

HÅRklinikken DK 2013_0515

Nepal 2010 UK Version

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:08:19 GMT

Nepal 2010 UK Version

The Brain Prize - announcing the winners 2013 - short version

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:11:17 GMT

Six eminent scientists share the world’s largest brain research prize

The Brain Prize
Denmark's 1 million euro brain research prize is awarded to six leading scientists for the development of ‘optogenetics’, a revolutionary technique that advances our understanding of the brain and its disorders.

The names of the prize winners, Austrian Gero Miesenböck, Germans Ernst Bamberg, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel, and Americans Ed Boyden and Karl Deisseroth,were announced on Monday 11 March 2013 in Copenhagen

Together these scientists laid the foundations for a revolutionary technique optogenetics which will provide us with entirely new, fundamental knowledge of the complicated functions of the brain.
Optogenetics makes it easier to investigate diseases of the brain such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, pain disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD and addiction. It will play a significant role in the understanding of these disorders and, over time, in the development of a treatment for them.

The Brain Prize is awarded by the Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Prize
Foundation. British professor Colin Blakemore, chairman of the Foundation's selection committee, says:
“Optogenetic control of nerve cells is arguably the most important technical advance in neuroscience in the past 40 years. It offers a revolution in our understanding of the way in which circuits of neurons carry out complex functions, such as learning and controlling movement. And it could provide an entirely new approach to the restoration of function in blindness or brain degeneration, and to the treatment of a variety of other neurological and psychiatric disorders”

Breakthrough of the decade Optogenetics, which has been called the breakthrough of the decade, involves the use of light to control neurons. Neurons can be genetically modified and made light sensitive. Then, when these neurons are stimulated by specific wavelengths of light, they can be turned either on or off.

The four European scientists, Bamberg, Hegemann, Miesenböck and Nagel, made the fundamental observations and discoveries and developed light sensitive molecules that can be introduced into specific types of neuron.
The two Americans collaborated with the Europeans to develop the technique further and put it to work in living mammals.
Neuroscience provides an important understanding of both the function of the normal brain and the causes of brain disorders.
It is estimated that more is spent on disorders of the brain
and the nervous system than on cardiovascular disease and cancer combined.

For instance, due to the growing size of the elderly population we will see a dramatic increase in the number of people with Alzheimer's. And costs are expected to rise. There are 7 million people living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in Europe alone.

This figure is expected to double every 20 years and the cost of dealing with dementia, which currently amounts to 130 billion euros in Europe, will increase correspondingly.

Consolidating the research environment The Brain Prize, which is the world's largest brain research prize, will be awarded for the third time this year. By augmenting the interaction between scientists in both Europe and
the USA, the Prize contributes to the consolidation of the international brain research environment. Chairman of the Foundation's board,

Nils Axelsen, MD, says:
"The Prize can be awarded to scientists who have conducted research in Europe, or to scientists who have conducted research in collaboration with European scientists.
Thus, the Prize stimulates international cooperation between the traditionally strong research environments in Europe and in the USA. However, it also inspires cooperation with other countries which are well on the way to developing solid research environments in the field of brain research."

The six scientists will all come to Denmark to receive the shared prize of 1 million euros at a ceremony on 2 May.
For further details, please contact:
European Brain Research Foundation
Ole Maaløes Vej 3
2200 Copenhagen N
Denmark
www.thebrainprize.org

Brain Prize winners 2013 - Six scientists honored with the world’s largest...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:04:47 GMT

Six eminent scientists share the world’s largest brain research prize

The Brain Prize - Denmark's 1 million euro brain research prize - is awarded to six leading scientists for the development of ‘optogenetics’, a revolutionary technique that advances our understanding of the brain and its disorders.

The names of the prize winners, Austrian Gero Miesenböck, Germans Ernst Bamberg, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel, and Americans Ed Boyden and Karl Deisseroth, were announced on Monday 11 March 2013 in Copenhagen.

Together these scientists laid the foundations for a revolutionary technique - optogenetics - which will provide us with entirely new, fundamental knowledge of the complicated functions of the brain.

Optogenetics makes it easier to investigate diseases of the brain such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, pain disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD and addiction. It will play a significant role in the understanding of these disorders and, over time, in the development of a treatment for them.

The Brain Prize is awarded by the Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Prize Foundation. British professor Colin Blakemore, chairman of the Foundation's selection committee, says:

“Optogenetic control of nerve cells is arguably the most important technical advance in neuroscience in the past 40 years. It offers a revolution in our understanding of the way in which circuits of neurons carry out complex functions, such as learning and controlling movement. And it could provide an entirely new approach to the restoration of function in blindness or brain degeneration, and to the treatment of a variety of other neurological and psychiatric disorders”

Breakthrough of the decade

Optogenetics, which has been called the breakthrough of the decade, involves the use of light to control neurons. Neurons can be genetically modified and made light-sensitive. Then, when these neurons are stimulated by specific wavelengths of light, they can be turned either on or off.

The four European scientists, Bamberg, Hegemann, Miesenböck and Nagel, made the fundamental observations and discoveries and developed light-sensitive molecules that can be introduced into specific types of neuron. The two Americans collaborated with the Europeans to develop the technique further and put it to work in living mammals.

Professor Jørgen Jeppesen talks on low-grade inflammation and metabolic...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:48:32 GMT

At the 4th International suPAR symposium, Professor, MD, Dmsc, Jørgen Jeppesen talks on how suPAR and CRP are differentially related to inflammation and metabolic syndrome

Dr. Tenhunen at the 4th International suPAR symposium

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:50:40 GMT

Thomas Haupt presents data on suPAR in the emergency room

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:47:43 GMT

At the 4th International suPAR symposium in Aachen Germany, Dr Haupt presents his data which was also recently published in critical care.

Marcus Schultz at the 4th International suPAR symposium

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:28:55 GMT

The Brain Prize - Six eminent scientists share the world’s largest brain...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:54:34 GMT

Six eminent scientists share the world’s
largest brain research prize

The Brain Prize
Denmark's 1 million euro brain research prize is awarded to six leading scientists for the development of ‘optogenetics’, a revolutionary technique that advances our understanding of the brain and its disorders.

The names of the prize winners, Austrian Gero Miesenböck, Germans Ernst Bamberg, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel, and Americans Ed Boyden and Karl Deisseroth,were announced on Monday 11 March 2013 in Copenhagen

Together these scientists laid the foundations for a revolutionary technique optogenetics which will provide us with entirely new, fundamental knowledge of the complicated functions of the brain.
Optogenetics makes it easier to investigate diseases of the brain such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, pain disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD and addiction. It will play a significant role in the understanding of these disorders and, over time, in the development of a treatment for them.

The Brain Prize is awarded by the Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Prize
Foundation. British professor Colin Blakemore, chairman of the Foundation's selection committee, says:
“Optogenetic control of nerve cells is arguably the most important technical advance in neuroscience in the past 40 years. It offers a revolution in our understanding of the way in which circuits of neurons carry out complex functions, such as learning and controlling movement. And it could provide an entirely new approach to the restoration of function in blindness or brain degeneration, and to the treatment of a variety of other neurological and psychiatric disorders”

Breakthrough of the decade Optogenetics, which has been called the breakthrough of the decade, involves the use of light to control neurons. Neurons can be genetically modified and made light sensitive. Then, when these neurons are stimulated by specific wavelengths of light, they can be turned either on or off.

The four European scientists, Bamberg, Hegemann, Miesenböck and Nagel, made the fundamental observations and discoveries and developed light sensitive molecules that can be introduced into specific types of neuron.
The two Americans collaborated with the Europeans to develop the technique further and put it to work in living mammals.
Neuroscience provides an important understanding of both the function of the normal brain and the causes of brain disorders.
It is estimated that more is spent on disorders of the brain
and the nervous system than on cardiovascular disease and cancer combined.

For instance, due to the growing size of the elderly population we will see a dramatic increase in the number of people with Alzheimer's. And costs are expected to rise. There are 7 million people living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in Europe alone.

This figure is expected to double every 20 years and the cost of dealing with dementia, which currently amounts to 130 billion euros in Europe, will increase correspondingly.

Consolidating the research environment The Brain Prize, which is the world's largest brain research prize, will be awarded for the third time this year. By augmenting the interaction between scientists in both Europe and
the USA, the Prize contributes to the consolidation of the international brain research environment. Chairman of the Foundation's board,

Nils Axelsen, MD, says:
"The Prize can be awarded to scientists who have conducted research in Europe, or to scientists who have conducted research in collaboration with European scientists.
Thus, the Prize stimulates international cooperation between the traditionally strong research environments in Europe and in the USA. However, it also inspires cooperation with other countries which are well on the way to developing solid research environments in the field of brain research."

The six scientists will all come to Denmark to receive the shared prize of 1 million euros at a ceremony on 2 May.
For further details, please contact:
European Brain Research Foundation
Ole Maaløes Vej 3
2200 Copenhagen N
Denmark
www.thebrainprize.org

Copenhagen Spin-outs by Gert Balling. Introduction. Short Version.

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:30:08 GMT

Copenhagen Spin-outs by Gert Balling. Introduction. Short Version.

Copenhagen Spin-outs - Gert Balling. Introduction. Long Version.

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:29:25 GMT

Copenhagen Spin-outs - Gert Balling. Introduction. Long Version.

Roskilde - Dansk Fløde - Høretelefonkoncert

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:34:58 GMT

Brain Prize 2013 - announcement of live broadcasting 11th of March 2013

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:16:55 GMT

The 2013 Brain Prize winner or winners will be announced at Glyptoteket 11th March at 3 PM. The ceremony will be live broadcastet and can be seen using the link found at www.thebrainprize.org

Interview with Jeff Skinner, Executive director at London Business School

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:17:48 GMT

Jeff Skinner, Executive Director, Deloitte Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, London Business School, explains what it takes to make it and how value is build in the biotech industry. Jeff Skinner was in Copenhagen to lecture at the Copenhagen Spin-outs conference in October 2012 and we interviewed him after his lecture.

Jeff Skinner is the Executive Director of the Deloitte Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at London Business School. He also directs a variety of MBA entrepreneurship electives and co-curricula student activities at the School. He is visiting lecturer on Technology Transfer at University College London and at the Graduate School of Economics in Barcelona. Prior to this, as Commercial Director at University College London, he conceived, built and ran UCL’s Technology Transfer division - including the creation of two early-stage seed funds and separate units managing consultancy, collaborative research and new venture creation. Working alongside research students and academics he has co-founded over thirty technology-based spin-outs that have, in aggregate, raised over £30 million first round finance and returned over £20 million to UCL.

He is past President of and remains closely involved with the leading UK & European Tech Transfer Associations (PraxisUnico & ASTP). He teaches and consults widely throughout Europe in the field of technology commercialisation. He Chairs the Professional Recognition panel for the worldwide ‘Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals’.

Before joining UCL he was Technical Marketing Manager at Hoechst Celanese Corporation in New Jersey and prior to that, Photonics Research Manager at General Electric. His first degree was in physics. He holds a PhD in thin-film photonics from University College London and an MBA from London Business School.

Nepal 2010

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:21:48 GMT

Støt Nepal 2010. Febuar 2013 kampagne.

Karen Laigaard - opening words at the Spin Out conference

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:14:02 GMT

Opening words at the Call for Spin-outs conference in Copenhagen October 2012
Karen Laigaard joined the University of Copenhagen in March 2003 to set up and manage Copenhagen University’s Technology Transfer Office. The University has six faculties 37,000 students and 8,500 employees (of which 5,500 researchers).
The Tech Transfer Office staff (12 people) are responsible for the identification, the protection and the commercialisation of Copenhagen University’s research results. The Office receives around 60 invention disclosures per year, it entered 21 licensing agreements in 2011 on behalf of the University and the office also assists academic staff with a considerable amount of research collaboration agreements. The Office’s newest initiative is the project, “Copenhagen Spin-outs”, a collaboration between three TTOs and central stake holders who will work together to create more biotech spin-outs from academia. The project has a total budget of 5.4 EUR.
Karen lived and worked in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2001. She was employed for six years with the University of Glasgow’s commercialisation office, Research & Enterprise. As the office’s International Marketing Manager she was responsible for the international promotion of the University’s research expertise. Prior to joining Research & Enterprise, Karen worked at The British Council, Scotland, on an export promotion project funded by the UK Department of Trade & Industry and Scottish Trade International.
From 2007 to 2011 Karen was a member of the board of ASTP (Association of European Science & Technology Transfer Professionals) and was the President of ASTP from May 2009 till May 2011.

The value of Spin-outs by Martin Bonde, Chairman Dansk Biotek and Copenhagen...

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:18:54 GMT

What is the societal value of public biotech Spin-outs? Where is the link to industry and how should central administration support it? Martin Bonde explains what it takes to make it and what value it provides.

Wim Bens talks about his experience from the Netherlands in setting up...

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:47:32 GMT

Experience from the Netherlands in setting up University Spin-outs Wim Bens, Director, Bens & Partners Management en Advies, Eindhoven Business cases in setting up spin outs / high tech start ups in a regional open innovation eco system. Strategy and implementation from lab invention to successful enterprise through different stages, with different funding structures, with different teams and in different organizational settings.

Jeff Skinner, Director, London Business School, talks on his experience from...

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:43:27 GMT

Jeff Skinner is the Executive Director of the Deloitte Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at London Business School. He also directs a variety of MBA entrepreneurship electives and co-curricula student activities at the School. He is visiting lecturer on Technology Transfer at University College London and at the Graduate School of Economics in Barcelona. Prior to this, as Commercial Director at University College London, he conceived, built and ran UCL’s Technology Transfer division - including the creation of two early-stage seed funds and separate units managing consultancy, collaborative research and new venture creation. Working alongside research students and academics he has co-founded over thirty technology-based spin-outs that have, in aggregate, raised over £30 million first round finance and returned over £20 million to UCL.

Jens Kristian Damgaard; Challenges in creating companies in the field between...

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 20:13:22 GMT

Jens Kristian Damgaard, Director at Science Ventures Denmark, talks on the considerations that go behind the decision to spin out a project from the public to private marked.

There is a need to strengthen and stimulate the cooperation between...

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 09:24:04 GMT

Thomas Christiansen explains the Government perspective on bridging public research and industry

Henric Rhedin talks on the swedish innovator system

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:06:01 GMT

Sweden’s so called innovation system; a spin out creation system.

Henric Rhedin. Director of Sales & Marketing, Commercial Research & Development. Chalmers Industriteknik, Gothenburg In Sweden there has been a focus on creating spin outs as commercialization strategy. What are the advan-tages/ disadvantages with a “spin out creation system” compared to more regular “innovation systems

Chalmers Industrial Technologies (CIT) is Sweden ́s oldest technology transfer organization and dates back to 1984. Henric works since nine years back for the largest unit at CIT, 35 people out of a total of 75 people employed by CIT. The unit, Commercial R&D, provides expertise in all kinds of areas of technology including technology management and related services.

Henric is board member for several start up companies as well as organizations. In addition to this Henric is active in innovation system networks on the national as well as on the international level including Association of Science and Technology Transfer Professional (ASTP), HEP TTN a CERN centered network for technology transfer activities for high energy physics, Swedish Network for Innovation and Tech Transfer Support (SNITTS) and Nordic Tech Transfer Network Health (NORTTH). Henric has also worked in the Swedish defense industry and has a PhD in Theoretical High Energy Physics.

The Brain Prize meeting at Hindsgavl October 2012

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:28:20 GMT

As part of their outreach program, the Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Foundation hosted the annual Brain Prize Meeting at Hindsgavl Castle in Denmark in late October 2012. The meeting allowed for interaction between the two brain prize winners, Karen Steel and Christine Petit, invited keynote speakers and brain researchers.

Alila Ubud Bali - The Experience

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:04:48 GMT

Alila Ubud is a tranquil and secluded hillside retreat that sits high up on the edge of the rich green Ayung River valley in Bali's central foothills, in the traditional Balinese hill village of Payangan. The resort is located just minutes from Ubud, the island's cultural heart. Blending contemporary design and traditional Balinese architecture, the resort's secluded courtyards, spacious terraces and private gardens create an intimate feeling like none other.

Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 11 Launch Event

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 12:01:14 GMT

Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 11 Smart TV Launch presented by CEO Tue Mantoni.

B&O launched their new BeoVision 11 at a spectacular event in Copenhagen October 11 2012. With the music of Dansk Fløde, punk and art of television came together. Sound by Freezone and filmed by BioLogicMedia

BeoVision 11 Launch with Dansk Fløde Carmen love style

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:12:33 GMT

B&O launched their new BeoVision 11 at a spectacular event in Copenhagen October 2012.
With the music of Bjørn Vidø and Christopher Colonna,
Opera, HipHop and Art come together supporting the new design of BeoVision11.
Sound Design by Freezone and filmed by BioLogicMedia

B&O_BeoVision11_2min.mov

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:57:35 GMT

A sensory experience

While BeoVision 11's stunning lines may at first seduce the eye you'll find countless innovations inside its sleek exterior that will bring you to a new world of sensory delight. Engineered with uncompromising Bang & Olufsen perfection, they drive outstanding performance through the exceptional LED-based LCD display. Heightening the imagination with razor-sharp images and powerful sound.

BeoVision 11 will challenge your senses and all previous conceptions of what a TV can be.

Peter Rasborg, BDO

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:33:22 GMT

Peter Rasborg fortæller om sin passion for revision og om at få tingene til at gå op i en højere enhed gennem hans evne til at få overblik og hjælpe med at finde de rigtige løsninger.

BiotechBuilders 2012

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:56:50 GMT

BiotechBuilders is an informal and independent network organization for entrepreneurs and business professionals in the healthcare industry, and is based on the personal interaction between its members – Biotech entrepreneurs and business professionals, representatives from pharmaceutical companies and service providers with a special interest in the Biotech, Medtech and Diagnostic industry.

The objective of BiotechBuilders is to facilitate growth in the industry through establishment of personal contacts that will transform into an exchange of ideas, know-how and development activities and ultimately stimulate the creation of new projects and companies.

True BiotechBuilders are eager to network, partner, learn from each other and help one another to become successful. This is based on trust and the commitment to add mutually beneficial value to each other, now and in the future.

Since BiotechBuilders is not promoting any specific organisational or political interests, be it global, regional or local, its members can address everything openly, sharing strengths and weaknesses, being critical, being provoking. The trust that is built through true “behind the scenes” sharing brings people close to each other and into the space where new ideas and initiatives are being conceived.

Our long-term goal is to build strong competencies, including highest modern management standards for the established players in the industry and a learning platform for start-up entrepreneurs, all with a view to securing strong international collaboration, based on professionalism and mutual credibility. Bringing key players in the industry together, and allowing them to exchange experiences and key learnings in a not-everyday environment (see our Events), is crucial in this process.

BiotechBuilders has a strong focus on the individual and his/her capabilities; no short-term business needs and discussions between the VP of A with the COO of B are the focus, but long-term goals with high impact on the growth and maturation of our industry and its leaders.

Born in Medicon Valley in 2002, the BiotechBuilders network and Annual Event has attracted international attention and further regional BiotechBuilders “clusters” are being built: Stockholm and London are number two and three. The close personal interaction is maintained in the regional settings, and regional clusters are linked into an international network through www.biotechbuilders.com.

suPAR and APACHE II score in risk assesment in critically ill patients by Dr...

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:58:51 GMT

Dr Evangelos Giamarellos-Bourboulis talks on the combined use of suPAR and APACHE II score in risk assesment in critically ill patients. The work by Giamarellos-Bourboulis and coworkes was published August 8th, 2012 in Critical Care and entitled "Risk assessment in sepsis: a new prognostication rule by APACHE II score and serum soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor" and can be read here http://ccforum.com/content/16/4/R149/abstract

Teaser for the 4th International suPAR symposium, 2013

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:20:17 GMT

The 4th International suPAR symposium will be hosted by Drs. Frank Tacke and Alexander Koch from Aachen University Hospital in Germany. The symposium will be held at the super C building in Aachen on the 25-26th of February 2013.

Brain Prize 2012: Excerpts from the Prize Ceremony 2012-06-05

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 09:12:05 GMT

In May 2012, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark handed The Grete Lundbeck European Brain Prize award to Christine Petit and Karen Steel ‘for their unique, world-leading contributions to our understanding of the genetic regulation of the development and functioning of the ear, and for elucidating the causes of many of the hundreds of inherited forms of deafness’.The ceremony took place at the Black Diamond in Copenhagen, Denmark.

For more information please contact:
Kim Krogsgaard, MD, DMSc or Director Mobile: +45 2014 8384 Phone: +45 3917 8240 kk@thebrainprize.org
Nils Axelsen, MD, DMsc Chairman Mobile: +45 40548646
Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Foundation Ole Maaløes Vej 3 2200 N Copenhagen
Denmark
www.thebrainprize.org

suPAR as a prognostic biomarker in the acute care setting

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 21:01:45 GMT

A simple suPAR measurement has similar or better predictive value of mortality than SOFA score (sequential organ failure assessment score), a sepsis mortality risk algorithm including multiple laboratory and clinical measures. This and other aspects of the use of suPAR in an acute care setting was discussed at the 2nd International suPAR symposium in Copenhagen, Denmark 2011

The crystal ball biomarker - is your life killing you?

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:55:49 GMT

The suPAR molecule and its predictive value and role as a life style and risk biomarker is discussed at the second international suPAR symposium in Copenhagen 2011

Brain Prize Winners 2012 Karen Steel and Christine Petit

Sun, 06 May 2012 13:44:37 GMT

The Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Foundation has announced that The Brain Prize 2012 is jointly awarded to Christine Petit and Karen Steel:
‘for their unique, world-leading contributions to our understanding of the genetic regulation of the development and functioning of the ear, and for elucidating the causes of many of the hundreds of inherited forms of deafness’.
Inherited conditions render one in a thousand children deaf at birth, and cause as many again to become deaf before maturity, leading to delay or failure in the acquisition of speech, and frequently to disadvantages in communication and learning. Genetic anomalies also contribute to many age-related and progressive forms of hearing loss. About one-tenth of the population in the developed world suffers from significant hearing impairment, which has an enormous impact on individuals and on society.
Karen Steel and Christine Petit are at the forefront of efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms of the specialised hair cells in the inner ear, whose extraordinary sensitivity to mechanical stimulation underpins the senses of hearing and balance. These two researchers, at the peak of their productivity and influence, are international leaders in the field of hereditary deafness.
Each has brought special skill to this challenging area of research. Their approaches have been complementary. Karen Steel has worked upwards, employing elegant and exhaustive study of mutations in mice and their functional consequences to illuminate human disorders. Christine Petit has started with the genetic analysis of patients, subsequently investigating the role of the identified genes in animal model systems.
Professor Colin Blakemore, Oxford University, Chairman of the Selection Committee said: ‘Together, the work of these two Europeans scientists illustrates the value and power of interdisciplinary approaches in neuroscience, and the way in which cutting-edge fundamental research is needed to understand complex clinical problems and to accelerate benefit for patients’.......’We are delighted that The Brain Prize for the best of European neuroscience goes, in its second year, to two
Ole Maaløes Vej 3 DK-2200 Copenhagen N Denmark
Tel. +45 3917 8240 info@thebrainprize.org www.thebrainprize.org
12 March 2012
women scientists. We are sure that the award will be applauded by female researchers around the world, and by all those who are concerned that young women are given every encouragement to consider careers in science’
The prize lectures and award ceremony will take place 9th May in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Prize will be presented by Her Majesty the Queen.
Bios: Christine Petit, Professor at College de France, holding the Chair of Genetics and Cellular Physiology, head of the Genetics and Physiology of Hearing laboratory at the Institut Pasteur in Paris also affiliated to INSERM, is a geneticist and a neurobiologist. She conceived and pioneered the genetic strategy to assess the molecular mechanisms underlying the cochlear differentiation and physiology. She developed this genetic approach in humans, by succeeding to overcome the difficulties specific to linkage analysis for deafness. She thereby mapped to human chromosomes the first two genes responsible for hereditary congenital deafness. She identified the causative genes for about 20 inherited forms of deafness, initially by an innovative candidate gene approach. Together with her colleagues, she also unraveled the roles of most of the proteins encoded by these genes, namely in the sensory hair cells, their stimulating gel, and the supporting cells, by multidisciplinary studies of engineered mouse models. Her work shed light on the functions mediated through various fibrous links within the hair bundle, the mechanoreceptive structure to sound. Her work on Usher syndrome (deafness, blindness), demonstrated that all Usher 1 proteins as well as all Usher 2 proteins form protein networks enabling the links they form to shape the hair bundle. She also identified some Usher1 proteins as components of the mechanotransduction machinery. Christine Petit’s discoveries have already had a significant impact on medical practice, with respect to diagnosis, genetic counseling and therapeutic decisions by indicating the potential benefit of cochlear implants and hearing aids for patients.
Karen Steel, Professor and Principal Investigator for the Genetics of Deafness and founder of the Mouse Genetics Programme at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK, has pioneered the use of mouse models, starting with her painstaking description of the characteristics of mutant mice with disorders of balance and hearing. Her early work on cochlear function and hair cell degeneration in the mutant deafness mouse led to identification of the gene called Tmc1, the human homologue of which is mutated in several forms of hereditary deafness. She and her colleagues went on to identify causative genes in nearly 30 forms of hearing disorder in mice, most of which have been linked to human conditions. In particular, she described the genes for myosin-7a and cadherin-23, which are key components in the transduction mechanism in hair cells, and mutations of which underlie forms of Usher Syndrome. Karen Steel is internationally recognized for her generous and altruistic approach to science. Working with a consortium of European researchers, she has established, catalogued and made freely available to other researchers
several hundred mouse mutant lines, which have facilitated research in several areas of neuroscience around the world.
About the Brain Prize The Brain Prize - € 1 million is awarded by Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Foundation, a charitable, non-profit organization.
The Brain Prize is a personal prize awarded to one or more scientists who have distinguished themselves by an outstanding contribution to European neuroscience.
For more information please contact:
Kim Krogsgaard, MD, DMSc or Director Mobile: +45 2014 8384 Phone: +45 3917 8240 kk@thebrainprize.org
Nils Axelsen, MD, DMsc Chairman Mobile: +45 40548646
Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Foundation Ole Maaløes Vej 3 2200 N Copenhagen
Denmark
www.thebrainprize.org