Michael Lund Nielsen’s research focuses on protein composition and regulation, with particular emphasis on protein modifications and their functional significance. In this context, he will make use of MBG’s mass spectrometry research infrastructure.

A key conceptual contribution from Michael Lund Nielsen’s research group has been to demonstrate that protein modifications do not merely function as static recruitment signals, but can also encode dynamic regulatory information - including timing, spatial organisation, and the order of biological processes.

His research has led to methodological and biological breakthroughs in mass spectrometry-based proteomics and protein modifications and has helped define international standards for mapping post-translational modifications.

“More broadly, my research aims to establish mass spectrometry-based proteomics as a mechanistic biological discipline - moving beyond simply cataloguing proteins and modifications and instead defining regulatory principles that explain how protein networks function in space and time in both health and disease,” explains Michael Lund Nielsen.

With his background in both academic research and technological development, he has extensive experience in building and leading large proteomics infrastructures as well as international research consortia.

As part of his appointment, Michael Lund Nielsen will serve as the scientific director of MBG’s mass spectrometry core facility. The day-to-day operations will be managed by a dedicated facility manager, while his expertise in method development and advanced biological applications will enable a significant expansion of the facility for the benefit of researchers at MBG and across Aarhus University.

Michael Lund Nielsen sees this combination of research and infrastructure as particularly relevant for MBG, where proteomics can function as a shared enabling technology across research areas.

“Alongside building my own research programme, I see proteomics as a central enabling technology for the department. A key focus at MBG will therefore be to anchor advanced mass spectrometry-based proteomics as a shared platform that supports and accelerates research across MBG - including disease-relevant and translational systems.”

Academic background

Michael Lund Nielsen obtained his PhD in ion physics from Uppsala University. He subsequently continued as a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried, near Munich. In 2009, he took up a position as Associate Professor at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research in Copenhagen and was appointed Professor there in 2014.

His work is widely cited and has had significant impact on both basic research and applied proteomics internationally.

Outside the laboratory, Michael enjoys spending time with his family and being in nature. He also has a long-standing interest in coffee and particularly enjoys brewing good espresso at home - a daily ritual that brings calm and a focus on quality and detail.

This ability, however, appears to function best in younger and middle-aged individuals.

“It seems that in some older adults - we do not yet know whether this applies to everyone - this system does not function as well. This is likely due to changes in some of the DNA found in the mitochondria of muscle cells. These changes appear to play a role in the muscles’ ability to retrain,” explains Tinna Stevnsner.

The researchers now aim to gain a deeper understanding of what these epigenetic changes actually entail.

“What we are interested in is, first, what these epigenetic changes lead to, which molecular mechanisms are affected, and what it is that does not function optimally in older adults. At the same time, we want to investigate whether different types of exercise - for example strength training or endurance exercise - have different effects on this system,” says Tinna Stevnsner.

In the long term, the results of the project may lead to more precise recommendations on which types of exercise are most beneficial for older adults - particularly for those who do not experience progress despite regular physical activity.

The research project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which has awarded a total of DKK 17 million. Of this amount, DKK 15 million is earmarked specifically for the project.

“This is an important recognition of our research, and it means that we can carry out the research we want to pursue - within a field in which we believe we have strong expertise,” says Tinna Stevnsner with a smile.

The project will run for four years and will commence on 1 May 2026.

The award is named after the American biophysicist Kenneth S. Cole, one of the founders of modern membrane biophysics. It is presented by the Channels, Receptors & Transporters Subgroup of the Biophysical Society and is regarded as one of the most significant honors in the field.

“It is a great and deeply warm feeling of collegial recognition. One is truly moved when receiving an award nominated by one’s peers. And when it comes from the leading colleagues around the world who have put your name forward to the award committee, it is a great honor,” says Poul Nissen.

Research That Has Shaped an Entire Field

Poul Nissen’s research on membrane proteins and ion transport has had major significance for the understanding of fundamental biological processes - from neuronal signaling to muscle function and energy metabolism. A key element in the award citation is that his work has helped shape new generations of research within the field.

“Over the past more than 20 years, our laboratory has advanced many aspects of the field, both in terms of the fundamental mechanistic understanding of how transport across cell membranes occurs, and not least on transport via the so-called P-type ATPases. This has been a major and defining focus for us, where we have made a clear international impact,” he explains.

According to Poul Nissen, the award is also a recognition of the research environment in Aarhus that he has been part of for many years.

“It is very much the laboratory and the environment around us that have made this possible. We have had a fantastic laboratory with many generations of truly outstanding researchers. One of the things I take great satisfaction in is seeing so many young people go on to successful careers - both in academia, industry, startups, and other positions built on their research experience.”

Looking Ahead to the Frontiers of Future Research

While the award marks an important milestone, the future remains very much in focus for Poul Nissen. Today, the laboratory continues its work on human membrane transport proteins while also developing new approaches within cryo-electron tomography.

“One of the ultimate goals is to be able to study the function of biomolecules in their natural cellular environments - not only in isolated and purified form. This opens up entirely new connections and hidden interactions that we have not previously been able to observe.”

The Kenneth S. Cole Award Lecture and the award ceremony will take place at the CRT Kenneth S. Cole Award Dinner on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in conjunction with the annual Biophysical Society meeting.

In her project, Thi Bich Luu is studying special plant proteins, known as receptors, which detect microbes and activate the plant’s defence mechanisms. Thi Bich Luu’s previous research has shown that some of these receptors not only increase plants’ resistance to pathogens, but also inhibit their growth.

“We know that the same receptors can control both immune responses and growth. My goal is to understand which parts of the receptors regulate growth and immunity respectively, so that we can separate the two functions,” explains Thi Bich Luu.

Stronger plants, greater sustainability

With the new grant, it will be possible to systematically map the structure and function of the receptors. In the long term, the results may pave the way for developing crops that are both robust against harmful microbesand able to maintain high yields.

“The goal is to develop a strategy to fine-tune plant immunity so that crops can protect themselves effectively while still growing well - an important step towards more sustainable agriculture,” says Thi Bich Luu.

The project is supported by the Inge Lehmann Programme under the Danish Independent Research Fund, which supports talented researchers in carrying out ambitious and groundbreaking research projects.

MBG innovation as the foundation

The molecular technology driving the test was developed in Associate Professor Birgitta Knudsen’s group at MBG. Originally designed as a highly sensitive detection platform for specific enzyme detection. Using an essential enzyme specific to the malaria parasite, Plasmodium spp., the system can identify malaria parasites at extremely low concentrations. Over the past years, the technology has been further refined in collaboration with VPCIR bioscience, an MBG spin-out company specializing in diagnostic innovation.

“This project shows how fundamental molecular research can lead to practical solutions with global impact,” says Birgitta Knudsen. “A saliva-based test could make malaria diagnostics more accessible, especially for children and communities where blood sampling is difficult or culturally sensitive.”

The MBG team behind the project

Several key members of the MBG team are directly involved in developing the new saliva-based malaria test. Laboratory technician Noriko Hansen provides technical assistance, prepares essential reagents, and contributes to laboratory testing during protocol optimisation. Birgitta Knudsen (PhD, Associate Professor) is co-inventor of the MBG-developed technology and serves as PI and Work Package leader for MBG’s activities in PROMISE. Florian Noulin (PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher) brings 20 years of experience in malaria research, including extensive fieldwork in Africa, and plays a central role in developing and validating protocols at CERMEL in Gabon. Cinzia Tesauro (PhD, Assistant Professor), also a co-inventor of the technology, works closely on protocol optimisation and development.

Broad international collaboration

PROMISE is coordinated by the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) in Hamburg and brings together partners from Gabon, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, South Korea. Clinical testing is already underway at CERMEL in Gabon, with wider field studies planned for additional malaria-endemic regions such as Benin.

For MBG and its partners, the project represents a rare opportunity: to transform a Danish laboratory discovery into a practical, low-cost diagnostic tool with the potential to benefit millions.

Official press release from PROMISE:

Spitting instead of pricking: International research project PROMISE aims to revolutionise malaria diagnosis
Malaria tests based on saliva samples instead of blood samples – that is the vision of a transnational research consortium that is meeting for the first time today in Gabon. Under the leadership of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), the researchers want to launch a novel saliva test that is hygienic, painless and potentially usable anywhere. The project is being funded with around 2.5 million euros by the South Korean RIGHT Foundation. It will run for three years.

Malaria remains one of the most dangerous infectious diseases. According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 263 million people fell ill in 2023 alone, and almost 620,000 died; most of them were children under the age of five in Africa. Four countries, including Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, account for half of the global disease burden.

Why many people do not get tested
Although early diagnosis can save lives, many people shy away from going to the testing station. Blood sampling is unpleasant, especially for children, and is sometimes taboo or simply not possible when the availability of medical staff is limited. In addition, even the latest rapid blood-based tests do not always provide reliable results, for example in the case of rarer malaria pathogens or genetic variants of the parasite. PROMISE aims to address this issue with a test that does not require a needle but is highly accurate.

Malaria has traditionally been diagnosed by detecting pathogen components in the blood. The new diagnostic system relies on saliva. The central biomarker is an enzyme produced by the malaria pathogen that can be reliably detected even at low parasite loads – with high specificity and sensitivity. The test format is based on a lateral flow assay (LFA), a rapid paper strip test similar to a pregnancy test.

From laboratory device to practical rapid test
The technology was developed by the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (AUMBG) at Aarhus University in Denmark and is now transferred to market. Implementation involves several steps: optimising the enzyme detection technology, developing an easy-to-use saliva sampling system and producing stable, storable test reagents. The test will be clinically tested in several countries, including Gabon, Benin and South Korea. In the future, it will also be used in other malaria-endemic areas.

“Our vision is a universally applicable rapid test that works for all age groups and all types of malaria – without the need for blood. This would enable us to revolutionise diagnostics even in remote regions," says Prof. Dr. Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma, project coordinator and working group leader at BNITM as well as head of drug research at the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL) in Gabon.

Enabling access, improving care
The project is funded by the RIGHT Foundation (Research Investment for Global Health Technology) in South Korea with around 2.5 million euros. The research partners are committed to making the future diagnostic product affordable and widely available, especially in countries with a high disease burden.

The aim of the clinical trials is to create the necessary conditions for the approval by the Europe-based authorities in charge and a recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, a laboratory test is planned for research institutions, which will allow the results of the rapid test to be precisely verified and compared for quality assurance purposes. This laboratory test will be available worldwide, also at an affordable cost.

Partner countries: Gabon, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, South Korea

Partner institutions
· Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Germany – project coordination
· Aarhus University, Dept. of Molecular Biology and Genetics (AUMBG), Denmark
· Genes Laboratories, Republic of Korea
· GC Laboratories, Republic of Korea
· VPCIR biosciences ApS, Denmark
· Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Switzerland
· Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Gabon

Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, yet most plants cannot access the vast nitrogen reserves in the atmosphere because it exists in an inert form, dinitrogen (N₂). Today’s agriculture relies heavily on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, but crops partly absorb the applied nitrogen, while the rest is lost as runoff, creating both economic and environmental challenges. Legumes, however, have evolved a unique partnership with soil bacteria called rhizobia, which convert atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form through a process known as symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

“Nature has already solved the challenge of nitrogen limitation,” says Aleksandr Gavrin. “Legumes form special root organs, called nodules, where bacteria live and convert nitrogen for the plant. In return, the plant provides sugars, and this is a beautifully balanced exchange that sustains both partners.”

The European Commission has recently highlighted bio-based fertilisers and biological nitrogen fixation as key strategies for achieving climate neutrality by 2050 further underscoring the importance of this research area.

Fine-tuning the nitrogen fixation process

While this symbiosis is remarkably efficient, it is also tightly regulated. Plants control the rate of nitrogen fixation depending on their nutritional needs and environmental conditions. Aleksandr’s new project aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind this regulation.

“Like any biological process, nitrogen fixation has both positive and negative regulation,” he explains. “We want to understand how the plant adjusts this rate and whether we can gently modulate it to increase efficiency without harming the plant.”

Using advanced molecular and biochemical approaches, Aleksandr Gavrin and his team will study how cytoplasmic signalling affects the activity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria inside plant root nodules. The project specifically focuses on cytoplasmic signalling cascades thought to act as a negative regulator of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

By identifying and potentially disabling such negative regulatory mechanisms, the project aims to explore whether legumes can be bred, using non-transgenic methods, for enhanced nitrogen-fixing capacity. Several grain legumes, including peas, chickpeas, lentils and fava beans, already have mutagenized populations that can be used for such traditional breeding approaches.

An international collaboration

The project is a close collaboration with Professor Justin Lee and his group in Germany.

“This is my first funded collaboration,” says Gavrin. “It’s a true partnership in which both sides are funded, and we will work together to identify new regulatory mechanisms in symbiotic nitrogen fixation.”

Lee, based at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Halle, is a leading expert in kinase-mediated cytoplasmic signalling, making him a key partner for investigating new pathways in legume biology.

The collaboration will not only advance basic understanding of plant–microbe interactions but also contribute to sustainable agriculture by reducing reliance on environmentally harmful fertilisers.

Towards greener agriculture

By revealing how legumes naturally manage symbiotic nitrogen uptake, the research could pave the way for breeding or engineering crops that are more self-sufficient.

“If we learn how to fine-tune nitrogen fixation, we might one day produce legume crops that provide higher yields with less fertiliser input,” says Gavrin. “It’s a small but important step toward a greener, more sustainable future and maybe even a world where we all eat a bit more peas and beans, and a bit less pizza and pasta,” he adds with a smile.

The project “Increasing Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation via Cytoplasmic Signaling Modulation” is funded through the Danish Independent Research Fund’s Green Research programme, which supports innovative projects contributing to environmentally sustainable solutions. In total, the Danish Independent Research Fund has awarded 6.7 million DKK to the project.

Five researchers from MBG have received grants from the Danish Independent Research Fund (DFF) to explore fundamental biological processes – from gene regulation and cellular transport to genome evolution.

• Peter Zeller – Functional screening to identify novel repressive chromatin factors (DKK 3.17 M)
  This project investigates how cells regulate access to their genetic material by identifying new chromatin factors that help switch genes on and off. The results could shed light on mechanisms underlying development, aging, and disease.

• Christian Kroun Damgaard – Applying a new gene knockout strategy for circular RNAs (DKK 3.17 M)
  This project introduces a new method to study circular RNAs – a recently discovered class of RNA molecules with key roles in cellular regulation. By creating cell and zebrafish models that produce normal proteins but no circular RNAs, the researchers aim to uncover how these molecules influence brain development and cancer.

• Esben Lorentzen – Structural Basis of ODA16 Regulation in Ciliary Outer Dynein Arm Transport (DKK 3.17 M)
  The project aims to reveal how molecular “release signals” control the transport of motor proteins within cilia – the tiny hair-like structures essential for breathing and development. The findings may lead to better understanding and diagnosis of diseases such as Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.

• Kasper Munch Terkelsen – Evolution of meiotic recombination in birds (DKK 3.15 M)
  By mapping recombination patterns across around 200 bird species, this project explores how genetic exchange has evolved and is controlled – insights that can deepen our understanding of fertility, inheritance, and genome evolution.

• Rune Hartmann – How is the recognition of RNA viruses linked to the formation of linear ubiquitination and activation of NF-κB-mediated signaling? (DKK 3.1 M)
  To fight viral infections, the immune system must first recognise the invading virus and then activate a series of defence mechanisms. This project investigates how the formation of linear ubiquitin after virus detection coordinates the inflammatory response – a process that is essential for fighting infection but can also cause severe disease, as seen in COVID-19 patients with excessive lung inflammation.

Villum Experiment grants

Researchers from MBG and iNANO have received Villum Experiment grants from the Villum Foundation, which supports bold and unconventional research ideas with the potential to open entirely new directions in science.

The Villum Experiment programme is known for its anonymous review process, where the originality of the idea outweighs the applicant’s CV. This approach encourages curiosity, creativity, and scientific risk-taking – creating space for projects that challenge conventional thinking.

• Jiawei Xu, postdoc – Making Live Transparent Fruit Fly for Live Tissue Imaging (DKK 2.5 M)
  The project aims to create a transparent fruit fly using genetic engineering, allowing researchers to observe developmental processes inside a living organism. This innovative model could provide new insights into how tissues and organs form – processes that are usually hidden behind the insect’s exoskeleton.

• Nikolaj Abel, assistant professor – One cryo-ET tag to solve them all (DKK 2.5 M)
  This project will develop a universal tagging method for cryo-electron tomography, making it easier to visualise and interpret the molecular architecture of cells at near-atomic resolution.

• Asger Givskov Jørgensen, postdoc in Jørgen Kjems’ group at iNANO, has received support for the project Molecular Footprints: Monitoring RNA Aptamer–Protein Interactions through Chemical Modifications and Nanopore Readout (DKK 2.5 M).

DFF Green Research grant: Alex Gavrin

Aleksandr Gavrin has received a grant under the Danish Independent Research Fund’s thematic call for Green Research, focusing on improving the efficiency of nitrogen fixation in legumes.

• Aleksandr Gavrin – Increasing Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation via Cytoplasmic Signaling Modulation
  The global overuse of synthetic fertilizers poses a significant environmental challenge. Legumes play a vital role in sustainable agriculture through their symbiotic partnership with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, which convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants.
  This project seeks to identify the molecular mechanisms that limit this symbiosis and to explore ways to enhance its efficiency. Using advanced molecular and biochemical methods, the researchers will study how plants regulate the rate of nitrogen fixation. Insights from this work could pave the way for developing legume crops with improved nitrogen-fixing abilities – ultimately reducing agriculture’s dependence on synthetic fertilizers.

Every day, our DNA is exposed to damage that can lead to mutations, cancer, and inherited disorders if not properly repaired. Although researchers know that certain tumour-suppressing proteins play a crucial role in coordinating the DNA damage response, it remains unclear how these complexes function within chromatin, the natural environment of our genome.

With the new grant, Pablo Alcón and his team will use advanced structural and biochemical methods to study DNA repair directly inside human cells, providing a clearer picture of how cells maintain genome stability and what goes wrong in cancer.

“Our goal is to understand how the cell’s own repair machinery works in its natural context. By revealing how these repair complexes assemble and function, we hope to uncover fundamental mechanisms that protect genome integrity,” says Pablo Alcón.

Contributing to future cancer treatment

The knowledge gained from the project may help explain why certain mutations lead to cancer and could ultimately inform the development of more precise therapies and genome-editing tools.

The project is funded through Knæk Cancer, the national fundraising campaign organised by the Danish Cancer Society and TV 2 to support innovative cancer research.

The distinction was presented in front of colleagues from across Europe during a scientific conference in Oxford and celebrated with a lecture at the annual meeting of Academia Europaea in Barcelona, marking the academy’s recognition of Jens Stougaard’s pioneering research.

Academia Europaea is an independent European academy of sciences with around 5,000 members, including several Nobel laureates. The organisation works to promote international collaboration and scientific excellence across disciplines.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this award, which also recognises the long-term commitment and dedicated work of my colleagues and collaborators,” says Jens Stougaard.

About the award

The prize is named after Adam Kondorosi, a pioneer in research on nitrogen fixation and the symbiotic relationships between plants and bacteria. The award represents yet another international recognition of the strong research in plant biology conducted at Aarhus University.

The two researchers have led a new study that uncovers a key mechanism in reducing agriculture’s dependence on synthetic fertilizers.

Plants need nitrogen to grow - a nutrient most crops can only obtain through fertilization. However, a few plants, such as peas, clover, and beans, can manage without it. They live in symbiosis with special bacteria that convert nitrogen from the air into a form the plant can use.

Today, scientists around the world are working to understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind this process, with the long-term goal of transferring the trait to other crops such as wheat, barley, and maize.

If successful, plants could become self-sufficient in nitrogen, reducing the need for artificial fertilizers, which currently account for about two percent of global energy consumption and emit large amounts of CO₂.

Now, researchers from Aarhus University have identified exactly which small changes in plant receptors cause them to switch from activating their immune defenses to instead initiating symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which is a remarkable and important discovery, emphasizes Simona Radutoiu.

Friend or foe?

Plants use receptors on the surface of their cells to detect signals from microorganisms in the soil. Some bacteria signal “enemies,” triggering the plant’s defense mechanisms, while others signal “friends,” helping the plant obtain nutrients.

Leguminous plants such as peas, beans, and clover invite special bacteria into their roots. These bacteria can convert nitrogen from the air and pass it on to the plant. This partnership, known as symbiosis, allows legumes to grow without synthetic fertilizers.

In their new study, researchers from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics discovered that this ability is largely governed by just two amino acids - two small “building blocks” in a protein located in the plant’s roots.

This protein acts as a receptor that perceives bacterial signals and decides whether the plant should sound the alarm (activate immunity) or welcome the bacteria (start symbiosis).

The researchers identified a small region in the protein, which they named Symbiosis Determinant 1. It functions like a switch that determines which message is transmitted inside the plant cell. By changing just two amino acids in this switch, the researchers were able to transform a receptor that normally triggers immune defense into one that initiates symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

“We’ve shown that just two small changes can make plants alter their behavior in a crucial way from rejecting bacteria to cooperating with them,” explains Simona Radutoiu.

Goal: Transfer the trait to wheat, barley, and maize

In the new study, the modification was carried out in the plant Lotus japonicus. But the same principle was also found to apply in barley proteins. “It’s quite remarkable that we can now take a receptor from barley, make the corresponding small changes, and see nitrogen fixation restored,” says Kasper Røjkjær Andersen.

The implications are significant. If this new understanding can be transferred to other crops, it could one day be possible to give cereals such as wheat, maize, and rice the ability to fix nitrogen themselves just like legumes do today.

“But there are still other essential keys we need to find first,” notes Simona Radutoiu, adding:
“Only very few crops can form symbiosis today. If we can extend this ability to staple crops, it could make a real difference in how much nitrogen agriculture requires.”

Such a development could revolutionize farming by reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers, cutting CO₂ emissions, and making food production more sustainable.

Years of collaboration

The breakthrough is the result of years of collaboration and dedicated work by a large research team at Aarhus University. The main body of experimental work was carried out by Magdalini Tsitsikli, Bine Wissendorf Simonsen and Thi Bich Luu, who are the study’s three first authors.

"This project shows what's possible when skilled PhD students and postdocs work together across disciplines. Collaboration really is at the heart of scientific progress," says Professor Simona Radutoiu.

She emphasizes that the achievement reflects the strong research environment at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, where teamwork across experience levels continues to drive discovery.

Read the full paper in Nature.