New Protein Center Opens

8 June 2009

On June 4, the Faculty of Health Sciences opened the doors of its new research center, The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research. The Center is the result of a historic donation from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which in 2007 gave the University 80 million euros for its establishment.

The protein center, headed by director Michael Sundström, will be housed in three recently renovated floors of the Panum Institute in Copenhagen. With its over 150 international researchers, ultramodern laboratories and advanced instrumentation, the center will be a beacon in the field of protein research.

"With the establishment of the research center (CPR), Danish protein research will acquire working facilities that make frontline research possible," explains Dean Ulla Wewer.

World-class Research

The unique construction of the center, which encourages synergistic collaboration between several disciplines, including protein characterisation, proteomics, systems biology and disease biology will provide the optimal environment for the scientists and has already attracted leading international researchers to the University of Copenhagen.

"The facilities are the best currently available, and as we have all the basic financing in place, our researchers are free to concentrate on their work and look forward to groundbreaking results, " explains Ulla Wewer.

Proteins Provide Answers

By combining the study of proteins in diseased and healthy cells with the ability of computer technology to process enormous quantities of data, the center's prospect is to uncover the causes of a range of deadly diseases and thereby contribute to the development of new and effective treatments.

"It requires profound insight into the biology of disease to develop new and targeted methods of medical treatment. Our aim is to record and understand the changes taking place in proteins that can lead to disease", explains director Michael Sundström and stresses that the Protein Center opens up new opportunities for investigating the complicated progression from protein to disease.

The research will first and foremost benefit those whom it ultimately serves: The people who are afflicted with serious disease and for whom effective treatment is not currently available. At the same time, health science research conducted at universities and hospitals will be able to have access to a valuable resource and companies in the region will benefit from the knowledge and techniques that the center produces. Students can be introduced to the practises, methods and equipment that will prepare them for work at the highest international level.