Why are some people affected by inflammation of the brain from the herpes virus? This is one of the questions to which Trine Hyrup Mogensen would like to find an answer. And with a grant of DKK 1,204,636 from the Danish Council for Independent Research | Medical Sciences she has moved a step closer.

“In the current research project we will make use of methods from genetics and molecular biology to clarify whether the patients have an underlying immunodeficiency. An immunodeficiency that results in insufficient production of the anti-viral substance interferon in case of viral infections in the central nervous system,” explains Trine Hyrup Mogensen.

Prevention and treatment must be improved

Using new methods, Trine Hyrup Mogensen and her colleagues will analyse the entire genome in patients with inflammation of the brain.

“Genetic disorders will be examined in cellular studies to determine the functional significance. Knowledge about immunodeficiency in patients with inflammation of the brain may be of significance for prevention, early treatment with interferon, and genetic counselling for the family,” she says.

Trine Hyrup Mogensen hopes to obtain new knowledge about basic immunological mechanisms in the immune system against viral infections in the brain. New knowledge which will hopefully lead in the long term improved prevention and early treatment of patients with this serious infectious disease.

The grant will finance research time together with a half-funded clinical position at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital. In addition, the grant will contribute to carrying out genetic sequencing, allowing the scientists to include as many patients as possible in the study. It will strengthen the study and increase the possibilities of obtaining new knowledge in the area. Finally, the grant will be part of a main research area within strengthened diagnostics and treatment of adult patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders under the auspices of the International Centre for Immunodeficiency Diseases (ICID) at Aarhus University Hospital.

Further information

MD, PhD Trine Hyrup Mogensen
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases
trine.mogensen@dadlnet.dk