SIF
- smooth muscle cell in vitro assays for the development of atherosclerosis therapies
Disease
Atherosclerosis
Aim
To develop smooth muscle cell-based in vitro assays that accurately model relevant cell phenotypes driving atherosclerosis.
Approach
The SIF project will use single-cell spatial transcriptomics to investigate the spatial context and transcriptional profiles of disease-modulating smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypes. These insights, combined with existing knowledge, will drive the development of relevant SMC assays. Two complementary approaches will be employed: One using SMCs outgrown from human atherosclerotic plaques and another leveraging SMC spheroids. Both assays enable hypothesis-driven drug testing and will be scaled for industrial application to support compound library screening.
Project period
2025-2028
Academic partners
Lasse Bach Steffensen, Associate Professor, University of Southern Denmark
- Head of SIF
- Smooth muscle cells, Atherosclerosis
Jacob Fog Bentzon, Professor, Aarhus University
- Smooth muscle cells, Atherosclerosis
Lars Melholt Rasmussen, Professor, Odense University Hospital
- Cardiovascular disease, Clinical Biochemistry, Human artery biobank
Industry partners
- Novo Nordisk
- AstraZeneca
The SIF project (2025-2028) aims to develop smooth muscle cell-based in vitro assays that accurately model relevant cell phenotypes driving atherosclerosis.
The SIF project will use single-cell spatial transcriptomics to investigate the spatial context and transcriptional profiles of disease-modulating smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypes. These insights, combined with existing knowledge, will drive the development of relevant SMC assays. Two complementary approaches will be employed: one using SMCs outgrown from human atherosclerotic plaques and another leveraging SMC spheroids. Both assays enable hypothesis-driven drug testing and will be scaled for industrial application to support compound library screening.
On this page you can follow the SIF project as it progresses. You can also read a short introductory article on the output of the project and you can find lists of project participants.
THE SIF TEAM
Academic team members
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Lasse Bach Steffensen, Associate Professor, University of Southern Denmark
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Jacob Fog Bentzon, Professor, Aarhus University
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Lars Melholt Rasmussen, Professor, Odense University Hospital
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Laura Alonso Herranz, Postdoc, Aarhus University
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Anton Markov, Postdoc, Aarhus University
Industrial team member
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Dimitra Aravani, Research associate, Novo Nordisk
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Anna Uryga, Director, Novo Nordisk
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Charles Pyke, Novo Nordisk
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Michael Nyberg, Vice President, Novo Nordisk
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Qing-Dong Wang, Chief Scientist, AstraZeneca, Sweden
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Kenny Hansson, Executive Director, AstraZeneca, Sweden
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Ceri Michelle Wiggins, Director, AstraZeneca, UK
INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN SIF
AstraZeneca is multinational biopharmaceutical company with many different focus areas - kidney diease is just one of them. The head quater of AstraZeneca is based in Sweden.
Novo Nordisk is a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company most commonly known for products for treating diabetes. However, the company has focus areas within cardiometabolic diseases.
You can find out more about the industrial partners in SIF using the links below.
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.
CONTACT ODIN
You are welcome to contact us if you have questions or comments. Reach out to odin@au.dk or find the Secretariat's direct email addresses under contacts.
Although the platform spans five Danish universities, we're based in Aarhus. Our office is located at Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, blg 1521-214.
