Aim
The BioPsych project (2021-2023) aimed to find RNA biomarkers for different psychiatric disorders. The BioPsych team had access to the Danish Brain Collection, and they used the small brain fragments collected from psychiatric patients between 1945-1982 to identify sex-specific RNA biomarkers that can discriminate between disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Approach
In the BioPsych project, the research team used small brain fragments from the Danish Brain Collection, Risskov, to identify sex-specific RNA biomarkers for different psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The brain samples were collected from psychiatric patients in Denmark between 1945 and 1982, and the patients had not been treated with the modern medicines used today. Therefore, the BioPsych team was able to compare the "natural state" of brains between different psychiatric disorders. This allowed the team to look for biomarkers that can distinguish between the different psychiatric disorders.
After identification of potential biomarkers, the team has initiated in vivo experiments where the biomarkers are radiolabelled and injected into pigs. As a follow-up to the project, the BioPsych team has initiated a new collaboration to investigate whether the identified biomarkers are also found in saliva and blood, which will make it easier to use the potential biomarkers.
On this page, you can watch a video recorded at the beginning of the BioPsych project. You can also read an article with a specific focus on the potential of biomarkers for depression. Lastly, you can find a list of project participants and read a short cartoon introduction to the project.
THE BioPsych TEAM
Academic team members
- Betina Elfving, Associate Professor, Aarhus University
- Jørgen Kjems, Professor, Aarhus University
- Lasse S. Kristensen, Assoc. Professor, Aarhus University
- Dirk Bender, Head of radiochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital
- Erik Kaadt, PhD student, Aarhus University
- Rolf Søkilde, postdoc, Aarhus University
Industrial team member
- Boye Schnack Nielsen, Bioneer
- Morten Venø, omiics
PUBLICATION FROM THE BioPsych PROJECT
- Søkilde R, et al. 2025. Application of microRNA In Situ Hybridization on Long-term Stored Human Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded Brain Samples from Psychiatric Patients. Mol Neurobiol. 62(10):12736-12746. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-025-05077-z
- Kaadt E, et al. 2026. Psilocybin-associated microRNA changes in the pig brain: Establishing an nCounter pipeline for cross-species microRNA quantification. Eur J Pharmacol. 179222. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2026.179222. Epub ahead of print
PREPRINTS
Preprints are manuscripts made publicly available before peer review. They are included to support rapid dissemination of research findings and are clearly identified as preprints.
- Kaadt E, et al. 2024. MicroRNAs Underlying the Antidepressant Effect of Psilocybin – Establishing an nCounter Pipeline for MicroRNA-Quantification in the Pig Brain. Research Square. doi: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3787179/v1
ABOUT ODIN
ODIN brings researchers from academia and industry together to co-create need-driven research projects that can lead to new treatments, diagnostics, tools, and technologies. We fund the strongest project ideas through competitive funding calls. Companies cannot receive ODIN funding, but participation is free of charge and gives access to academic expertise, new collaborations, and opportunities to explore early-stage research challenges.
ODIN is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation.
CONTACT ODIN
You are welcome to contact us if you have questions or comments. Reach out to odin@au.dk.
Although the platform spans five Danish universities, we're based in Aarhus. Our office is located at Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Bldg 1535-117.
