About

It is the mission of the department to perform top class basic and translational research to advance the understanding of brain functions as well as brain diseases and their treatment. We also take responsibility for educating the next generation of researchers and physicians within neuroscience to ensure optimal understanding and treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. This bench-to-bedside strategy will reinforce collaborative efforts with clinicians and other scientific disciplines both nationally and internationally.

Neuroscience is a major strategic focus area for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen and as a consequence the Department of Neuroscience, which has its roots from the previous Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, was officially established 1st of September 2017. The purpose was to gather research groups committed to neuroscience with educational activities within neuroscience in one organizational unit.

 

Head of Department 
Professor Martin F. Rath
Room: 24-6-06
Telephone: +45 9356 5394
E-mail: mrath@sund.ku.dk
Claus Juul Løland

Vice Head of Department
for Teaching and Education
Professor Claus Juul Løland
Room: 07-5-32
Telephone: +45 2875 6407
E-mail: cllo@sund.ku.dk
Nanna MacAulay

Vice Head of Department for Research and Innovation
Professor Nanna MacAulay
Room: 24-6-34
Telephone: +45 3532 7566
E-mail: macaulay@sund.ku.dk

Head of Administration
Lars Erik Kühl
Room:  07-05-38
Telephone: +45 9356 5802
E-mail: lars.kuhl@sund.ku.dk


 

 

Associate Professor Claire Meehan
Head ​of the Faculty Board

​Room: 24-4-42
Phone: +45 2860 4207
E-mail: claire@sund.ku.dk

Elected​​ member of 24-4/6

Profe​​s​sor Claus Løland
Deputy Head of the Faculty Board

Room: 07-5-32
Phone: +45 2875 6407
E-mail: cllo@sund.ku.dk

Vice Head of Department for Teaching and Education

Professor Martin F. Rath

​Room: 24-6-06
Phone: +45 9356 5394
E-mail: mrath@sund.ku.dk

Head of Department

Profe​​s​sor Nanna MacAulay

Room: 24-6-34
Phone: +45 3532 7566
E-mail: macaulay@sund.ku.dk

Vice Head of Department for Research and Innovation

Lars Erik Kühl
​

​Room: 07-5-38
Phone: +45 9356 5802
E-mail: lars.kuhl@sund.ku.dk

Head of Administration

Associate Profe​​s​sor Barbara Lind

Room: 07-4-24
Phone: +45 6177 7970
E-mail: barbarall@sund.ku.dk

Elected​​​ member of 07-4

Associate Profe​​s​sor Peter Petersen

Room: 33-3-52
Phone: +45 4241 4004
E-mail: petersen.peter@sund.ku.dk

Elected​​​ member of 33-3

Associate Professor Rune Berg

Room: 07-5-62
Phone: +45 2697 7394
E-mail: runeb@sund.ku.dk 

Elected​​​ member of 07-5

 

 

 

 

 


Lars Erik Kühl

Head of Administration
Lars Erik Kühl
Room:  07-05-38 + 33-3-10 
Telephone: +45 9356 5802
E-mail: lars.kuhl@sund.ku.dk
Anette Winsløw

Department secretary
Anette Studsgård
Room: 33-3-10
Telephone: +45 3533 7870
E-mail: studsgaard@sund.ku.dk

Academic Officer
Helene H. Hornnæss
Room: 33-3-06
E-mail: helene.hornnaess@sund.ku.dk

Finance Partner
Sebastian M. Lindqvist
Room: 33-3-06 (Wednesdays)
E-mail: sebastian.lindqvist@adm.ku.dk
Telephone: +45 3533 1955
Jesper Pedersen

HR partner
Jesper Jægerfeldt Pedersen
Room: 33-3-10 (Tuesdays)
E-mail: jesper.pedersen@adm.ku.dk 
Telephone: +45 3533 5748

Project controller
Arneta Sasivari
Room: 33-5
Telephone: +45 3533 4471
E-mail: arneta.sasivari@adm.ku.dk
Supports the following labs: Gether, Herborg, Kjærby, Kjærulff, Lorentzen, Løland, Madsen, Mayer, Nielsen, Rasmussen, Sørensen

Project controller
Dorthe Hansen
Room: 33-5
Telephone: +45 3532 7462
E-mail: doha@adm.ku.dk 
Supports the following labs: Bellardita, Cai, Kermen, Kiehn, Lind, Meehan, Mikkelsen, Perrier, Petersen, Vestergaard, Walter
Sa Thi Mai

Project controller
Sa Thi Mai
Room: 33-5-71
Telephone: +45 5269 3722
E-mail: sa.thi.mai@adm.ku.dk
Supports the following labs: Berg, Kornum, Lauritzen, MacAulay, NAD, Rath, Rekling

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vision

  • To become an internationally recognized epicenter for brain research and education to the future benefit of patients and society.

Mission

  • To perform top class basic and translational research to advance our understanding of brain functions as well as brain diseases and their treatment.
  • To educate the next generation of researchers and physicians within neuroscience to ensure optimal understanding and treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases

Goals and actions

The department has set 8 strategic goals within 6 areas for 2025 – 2028.

1. Education  Teaching

Goal 1: New CNS course for medical students
  • Final planning and implementation of the new course (2025)
Goal 2: Neuro-rehabilitation courses offered to stakeholders outside of UCPH
  • Completion of English learning material (2025)
  • First course completed in English (2026)
Goal 3:  Secure continuation of PhD Academy – Neuroscience Academy Denmark – with support from Lundbeckfonden.
  • Develop proposal for continuation and enter a new agreement with Lundbeckfonden (primo 2025)
  • Continue program (2025-2031)

2. Research

Goal 4: Career support and funding opportunities
  • Implementing a new onboarding program for early career scientists and new group leaders (2024-2025)
  • Regularly organize networking activities with focus on career paths for early-career-scientists (2024-2028)
  • Consolidate grant application support with focus on international opportunities (specifically ERC) and larger collaborative grants (2025-2028)

3. Innovation & Impact

Goal 5: Promotion of innovation agenda to researchers at IN
  • Workshops (at least once annually) where researchers with innovation experience (from inside or outside) share their experiences with other researchers at IN (2024-2028)
  • Host new spin-out companies in the department (2024-2028)

4. Collaboration, partnerships, public sector consultancy

Goal 6: Promote translational research in neuroscience
  • Establishment of one or more Clinical Academic Groups within the area of neuroscience and related diseases (2025-2028).
  • Continue to include clinicians in our Neuroseminar series and encourage the academic staff to meet with these speakers during their visits (2025-2028)
  • Support association of relevant clinical scientists to the department (2025-2028)
  • Continued promotion of the interaction amongst the clinical/preclinical PhD students in the neuroscience PhD program (by workshops, social events, PhD courses, teaching assignments at the department, and an annual winter school) (2025-2028)

5. HR & Organisation

Goal 7: Recruitment of permanent associate professors to support teaching activities
  • Employment of new permanent Associate Professor with a teaching portfolio in neuropharmacology (2024)
  • Employment of new permanent Associate Professor with a teaching portfolio in neurophysiology (2024)

6. Research & Infrastructure

Goal 8: Renovation and expansion of laboratory and animal facilities
  • Completion of lab renovation in 33.3. section B (2024-25)
  • Preparation of lab facilities for new group leader (2024-2025)

 

 

 

 

The Department of Neuroscience consists of approximately 150 full and part-time employees and 100 associated researchers and students divided into 22 research groups and an administration. The organization is visualized in the chart below. The red boxes represent the current line management, while blue boxes represent councils and committees. The scientific groups are placed directly under the management structure with no additional subdivision or section structure; in the figure below, they are shown according to their physical location. The overall approach to governance at IN is based on a flat organizational structure with a high level of involvement from group leaders and staff. Collaboration committees and scientific/educational councils support an engaging and collaborative culture.

 

 

Research

  • Molecular and cellular neuroscience
  • Motor control and neuronal circuits
  • Neurotransmitter receptors and transporters
  • Cerebral fluid and blood flow
  • Autonomic systems and circadian rhythm
  • Neurological, psychiatric diseases and trauma

Educational Focus

  • Excitable cells
  • CNS structure and function
  • Cellular neuroscience
  • Neuropharmacology
  • Human neurobiology
  • Neuronal signaling
  • Tissue & movement biomechanics
  • Advanced cell biology
  • Pharmacology and toxicology
Quote: By using new technology and discoveries we can revolutionise brain research