Translation: Zitta G. Nygaard

Associate Professor Simon Glerup, Department of Biomedicine, and PhD student, MD Søren Dinesen Østergaard, Department of Clinical Medicine, first met in October 2011 at a symposium held by The Grethe Lundbeck European Brain Research Foundation. It soon became clear that they shared a common interest in translational research – i.e. research across species, disciplines and methods.

"Simon was telling me about the results of his behavioral studies of gene-modified mice deficient in the so-called "sortilin-like" receptors of the brain. Compared to the normal mouse stem the gene-modified mice are hyperactive and will, quite unlike normal mice, calm down when treated with an ADHD drug", says Søren Dinesen Østergaard.

Being experienced in clinical psychiatry, Søren Dinesen Østergaard was immediately fascinated by Simon’s account of the ADHD-like behavior in the gene-modified mice. And the seeds of a research hypothesis were sown.

ADHD of Mice and Men
"We asked ourselves the question that if a mouse that is deficient in the sortilin-like brain receptors shows an ADHD-like behavior, then changes in the genes encoding these specific receptors may contribute to the development of ADHD in humans," explains Simon Glerup .

In order to test the hypothesis Simon and Søren contacted Associate Professor Ditte Demontis, population biologist and geneticist employed at Aarhus University. In the following months the three scientists were busy corresponding on the idea and in March 2012 they submitted a completed application to the Lundbeck Foundation entitled: "ADHD of Mice and Men" (inspired by Steinbeck).

The foundation decided to award the three scientists a grant of DKr two million to the project, which is a collaboration with German, Dutch and Chinese partners over the coming years.

Associate Professor, PhD Simon Glerup,
Aarhus University
Department of Biomedicine
sg@biokemi.au.dk
Mobiltelefon: 51221727