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. Molecular Neurobiology 39:11. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-025-05077-z
ABOUT ODIN
We unite bright minds from industry and academia to jointly create need-driven clinical research projects - and pave the way for innovative new treatments and diagnostics. We fund the best project ideas through competitive funding calls. Although companies cannot receive funding, it is free of charge to join.
The platform is sponsored by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with 180 million DKK from 2024-2029.
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