Collaborative Projects

Anders A. Jensen

Exploring the potential of a newly discovered activity component in psychedelics

Professor
University of Copenhagen


Anders A.  Jensen receives DKK 39 million in funding from the Lundbeck Foundation's Collaborative Projects programme.

This project – headed by Professor Anders A. Jensen from the University of Copenhagen – originates from a recent paradigm-shifting discovery made by Professor Eero Castrén and his colleagues from the University of Helsinki; that antidepressant drugs, in addition to their activity on the serotonergic neurotransmitter system, also modulates the signalling through another receptor – the so-called "brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)" receptor TrkB.

In the project, seven researchers from the University of Helsinki, Rigshospitalet and the University of Copenhagen will develop new classes of positive allosteric modulators of TrkB based on psychedelics, study the molecular and cellular basis for the modulators' activity and their effects in in vitro and in vivo studies, and probe the therapeutic potential in allosteric modulation of the TrkB receptor in various psychiatric disorders.

The project group comprises high-profile researchers (PIs) with strong track records within both BDNF/TrkB and the psychedelics fields. The group is highly multidisciplinary, enabling the researchers to pursue the ambitious goals and address the complex research questions in the project.

We are very grateful for and excited about receiving the Collaborative Projects grant from the Lundbeck Foundation and through this to be provided with the opportunity to explore the potential in this newly discovered activity component in psychedelics,’ says Anders A. Jensen.

Co-applicants and partners in the project are:

  • Professor Gitte Moos Knudsen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

  • Professor Jesper L. Kristensen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Special Consultant Kasper Harpsøe, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Professor Eero Castrén, University of Helsinki, Finland

  • Professor Ilpo Vattulainen, University of Helsinki, Finland

  • Associate Professor Sari Lauri, University of Helsinki, Finland

...

 

 


 

The other Collaborative Projects grant recipients - 2022:

Rikke Steensbjerg Møller

Rikke Steensbjerre Møller receives DKK 20 million grant from the Lundbeck Foundation’s Collaborative Projects programme

Stephan Pless - Københavns Universitet

Stephan Pless receives DKK 20 million in funding from the Lundbeck Foundation.

Kristian Strømgaard

Kristian Strømgaard receives DKK 20 million in funding from the Lundbeck Foundation's Collaborative Projects programme.

David Gloriam - Københavns Universitet

Professor David Gloriam receives DKK 35 million in funding from the Lundbeck Foundation Collaborative Projects programme.

Poul Henning Jensen

Poul Henning Jensen receives DKK 20 million in funding from the Lundbeck Foundation's Collaborative Projects programme.

Michael

Professor Michael Eriksen Benros to receive DKK 20 million grant from the Lundbeck Foundation’s Collaborative Projects programme

Anders A Jensen - Københavns Universitet