Internationally recognised award presented to young researcher from Aarhus
Per Borghammer from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital has just received the Marie Curie Award. He received the award, which was presented for his research into Parkinson's disease, at the annual congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine.
![[Translate to English:] Per Borghammer har netop modtaget The Marie Curie Award for sin forskning i Parkinsons sygdom.](/fileadmin/_processed_/6/4/csm_Per_Borghammer_2_90ce5c40ae.jpg "[Translate to English:] Per Borghammer har netop modtaget The Marie Curie Award for sin forskning i Parkinsons sygdom.")
In recent years there has been increased focus on Parkinson's disease as more than a brain disease. Patients have a wide range of symptoms from other organs, including the parasympathetic nervous system, which is important for digestion and other functions in the internal organs. Per Borghammer has spent the last three years developing the world's first tracer for PET scanning of the parasympathetic nervous system. And this is the research for which he is being honoured.
The Marie Curie Award was presented to Per Borghammer – in competition with 1,900 other research projects – at the annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine in Gothenburg.
"It is a great honour to receive the Marie Curie award. We have been working on the project for three years and it is fantastic to receive this recognition from international experts. It whets the appetite to continue with our research in this field," says the researcher.
Also improved knowledge of diabetes
He hopes that the award will provide more focus and awareness of the research and the new PET scanning technology. The method has a significant impact on how we understand not only Parkinson's disease but also other diseases such as e.g. diabetes.
"In addition to achieving a deeper understanding, there is the possibility of further developing the method for clinical use for the very early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, but also to assess the degree of damage to the peripheral nervous system in the case of diabetes," explains Per Borghammer.
Many patients with Parkinson's experience nausea, dryness of the mouth, urinary and sexual problems, because the peripheral nervous system is damaged.
"The detailed correlation between the symptoms and which the areas of the peripheral nervous system that are affected is an area where we must continue researching. The patients suffer significant discomfort and varying effects of their medication, which is not absorbed by the body in the normal way," says Per Borghammer.
Further information
Consultant, MD, PhD Per Borghammer
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Centre
Tel.: +45 8949 2240
Mobile: +45 2826 1039
perborgh@rm.dk