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Visit by Annabel Darby on November 1-3

Last week - on November 1-3 - we had a visit by Annabel Darby - our joint Nordic EMBL communications officer. Annabel was here to work with us on our content for the new partnership website, communications work in general and finally yet importantly, she also contributed to our video workshop that was held last week. Annabel also joined our Internal Meeting on November 2, where we welcomed our four newly appointed affiliated researchers. Here is what she wrote about her experience:

Auditurium. Photo: Maria Thykær Jensen

DANDRITE extended internal meeting
As a visitor to DANDRITE, I was given the great opportunity of attending the extended internal meeting on Thursday 2 November.

The meeting gave me a really good overall picture of what’s currently happening at the centre, and it was very interesting to hear from the newly appointed Affiliated Researchers. They undoubtedly are all a great asset to DANDRITE’s research expertise.

I was really impressed with all of the presentations, and (for a non-scientist like me!) I was able to follow them and to understand what each presenter was working on and trying to achieve with their research.

Presentations showcased current research at DANDRITE
Postdoc Szilard Sajgo, in the Yonehara Group, presented his current research into the functional analysis of cell types in the retina. New postdoc in the Capogna Group, Emma Louth, presented her research to date into developmental ethanol exposure and the underlying neuronal mechanisms associated with foetal alcohol syndrome, such as attention deficit disorders.

The four newly-appointed Associated Researchers also presented: 
Associate professor Jane Hvarregaard Christensen, (Department of Biomedicine), presented her research on the genetic risk factors and disease mechanisms in mental disorders. Her group primarily focuses on schizophrenia and autism associated transcriptional regulators like e.g. BRD1 and KMT5B. Another area of Professor Christensen’s research looks at nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting), and its comorbidity with disorders such as ADHD and schizophrenia.

Associate professor Karin Lykke-Hartmann, (Department of Biomedicine), presented her research into RDP and HCP, and the neuronal links between such disorders. Her group’s work involves functional studies of the Na+.K+-ATPase, focusing on ion pump deficiency. The research group focuses mainly on the two autosomal dominantly inherited neurological diseases: familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2) and familial rapid-onset of dystonia-parkinsonism (Familial RDP).

Associate professor Marina Romero-Ramos, (Department of Biomedicine), presented her research on the immune response seen during neurodegeneration, particularly in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Her group works with animal models, including neurotoxin-based models and transgenic models; both classic transgenic mice lines and adult transgenesis models by means of viral vectors.

Associate professor Morten Schallburg Nielsen, (Department of Biomedicine) presented his research, which focuses on subcellular trafficking of the Vps10p-D receptors and other receptors systems in the Blood-Brain-Barrier, neurons and polarized cells. The primary focus is receptor-mediated transport systems in brain endothelial cells, which have the potential to mediate transcytosis of nanocarriers across the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). The group’s work includes a detailed classification of the endo-lysosomal system and functional internalization mechanisms in in vitro models of the BBB.

Thank you to everyone that I had the pleasure of meeting during my visit. I look forward to visiting DANDRITE again. 

By Annabel Darby