| Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen |
CELLULAR FUNCTION IN TENDON
Aim
To understand and investigate how mechanical signals between cells and matrix are sensed and regulated in the connective tissue. We believe that tendon tissue homeostasis plays a potentially crucial role for the correct functioning of many other tissue types. Tendon tissue is used as the main model for the research for both in vivo and in vitro studies. In vivo we use both human and animal tendon to study the molecular response of the tissue to changes in loading (e.g. training and immobilization) and the matrix turnover in healthy and diseased tendon. In vitro we use 3-dimensional tendon constructs formed in culture to study the cell-matrix interaction by manipulating tissue stiffness, growth factor content and expression of matrix proteins.
Group leader
Chloé Yeung
Group members
Max Flemming Ravn Merkel, Ask Møbjerg Jørgensen, Mikkel Graack
MATRIX STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Aim
To understand the structure and function of connective tissue in tendon and muscle and to what extent it responds to a changing loading environment. We explore the structure and force transmission of connective tissue to better understand if there is a ‘weak link’ with respect to injury. To investigate connective tissue adaptability, we also investigate the effects of various forms of loading (exercise/training) as well as unloading (inactivity/immobilization) on the connective tissue in both young and old. We also examine the effect of different treatment strategies to improve clinical outcome after injury.
Group leader
Peter Magnusson
Group members
Christian Couppé, René Brüggebusch Svensson, Monika Lucia Bayer, Birgitte Hougs Kjær, Anne-Sofie Agergaard, Rikke Høffner, Asta Skovgaard Eriksen
MUSCLE TISSUE CONTROL
Aim
Our main goal is to understand the mechanisms behind unsolved clinical problems relating to skeletal muscle maintenance and regeneration throughout the lifespan, ultimately to improve quality of life. At the cellular level, we are interested in the response of the various muscle cell populations contributing to the adaptation response, which we study in vivo and in vitro. In addition, we are interested in the junctions of the myofibre (the neuromuscular junction and the myotendinous junction) and how the various cell types of the muscle-tendon unit work together to strengthen and repair these junctions when damaged. We do almost all our work in humans and love to keep up with the latest molecular and imaging modalities.
Group leader
Abigail Mackey
Group members
Grith Stougaard Højfeldt, Christian Høgsbjerg, Maria Østergaard Madsen, Aske Wulff Helge, Helena Elbæk, Kasper Hooge Steen Berg, Tobias Holst-Christensen, Louise Marie Helmbæk, Iben Birgitte Illum Søndermand, Annabelle Vilhom Roche, Frida Dufour, Maya Christine Meilsøe Nykjær
INTERVENTIONS AND BRAIN PLASTICITY
Aim
The aim of my research is to better understand neural plasticity and improved brain function after interventions such as physical exercise or cognitive training across the lifespan in both healthy participants and patient groups. In our studies, we apply various brain imaging techniques such as multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to investigate the underlying neural mechanisms of behavioral outcomes from extensive cognitive and motor testing.
Group leader
Carl-Johan Boraxbekk
Group members
Naiara Demnitz, Eline Baad-Hansen, Magnus Sundberg Heilmann-Clausen, Jinan Dhiyaa Alhakeem
APPLIED MUSCLE, PERFORMANCE/REHAB
Aim
Our group works with changes in skeletal muscle and body composition in relation exercise training. Basically, all our research projects begin with a “applied question”. In pursuit of answering these questions we conduct various tests of muscle properties, whole body function and performance, including evaluation of muscle strength and power, work capacity, body composition, changes in blood and muscle parameters and risk of overuse injuries. Currently we are engaged in several longitudinal studies focused on energy deficiency in elite athletes in relation to performance and risk of injuries. An interest in sport and performance is not a requisite for working in our group – but it helps!
Group leader
Jesper Løvind Andersen
Group members
Jakob Agergaard, Kenneth Hudlebusch Mertz, Anne Theil Gates, Bjørk Wulff Helge, Sara Dietz Pedersen, Peter Rex Østerberg, Jonas Arpe
