A donation from the John and Birthe Meyer Foundation will contribute to reinforcing advanced protein analysis - so-called proteomics - at the Research Unit for Molecular Medicine (MMF), which is part of Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital.

2013.11.21 | Anne Westh, AUH

Associate Professor Johan Palmfeldt beside the new mass spectrometer, which is used for advanced protein analysis (Photo: Tonny Foghmar, Aarhus University Hospital).

Since 2007, the Research Unit for Molecular Medicine has made use of protein mass spectrometry for analysis, and the grant now makes it possible to purchase a mass spectrometer from the newest generation.

”The new equipment improves our capacity and makes it possible to determine the amount of proteins with low concentration, which helps us a lot in the hunt for new disease markers,” explains Associate Professor Johan Palmfeldt from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital.

”We are using the protein analysis to try and discover the causes of different diseases, among others metabolic disorders. And in the long term we hope to be able to understand why these diseases occur and how we can be better to detect and treat them.”

The protein analysis is carried out using small amounts of samples taken from tissue or blood tests, as well as cultivated cells. The sensitive mass spectrometry measurements are an important element in all cases.

The grant helps to consolidate and strengthen protein research at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital. The Research Unit for Molecular Medicine is already involved in several collaborative projects with the two institutions, covering both clinical and molecular aspects of the medical research.

Further information

Associate Professor Johan Palmfeldt
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Research Unit for Molecular Medicine
Direct tel: +45 7845 5408
Johan.Palmfeldt@ki.au.dk

Professor Niels Gregersen
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Research Unit for Molecular Medicine
Direct tel: +45 7845 5400
nig@ki.au.dk