About Us
Laboratory of Aquaporin Water Channels and Bioimaging
Meet the team
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Lene Niemann Nejsum
Professor of Epithelial Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Clinical Medicine
Master of Science degree, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. (1999)
PhD in medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (2004)
Postdoctoral research fellow, Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Institute of Biology, Stanford University, USA (2004-2009)
Dr. med. Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (2023)
Dr. Lene Niemann Nejsum is a Professor of Epithelial Physiology and Pathophysiology. She earned her PhD in Medicine in 2004, followed by a five-year postdoctoral position at Stanford University, and completed a Doctor medicinae in 2023 from Aarhus University. Her research focuses on epithelial function and aquaporin (AQP) water channels, which are crucial for water homeostasis and implicated in cancer. Dr. Nejsum's lab investigates the AQP2 vesicle population in renal cells using advanced microscopy, achieving the first visualization of their 3D network. Additionally, her laboratory has discovered novel AQP functions in cellular morphology, adhesion, migration, and polarity—key mechanisms in cancer development and progression.
Vibeke Secher Dam
Laboratory Manager, Department of Clinical Medicine
Master of Science degree, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. (2007)
PhD in medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (2014)
Vibeke Secher Dam is Lab manager. She has a background in physiology of ion channels and other membrane proteins, mainly in vascular biology and cancer. She obtained her PhD in medicine in 2014, followed by a postdoctoral position in breast cancer physiology. Current focus is mainly on aquaporin water channels, with the motivation of exploring the role in various clinical subjects. Vibeke is responsible for the daily management of the laboratories with supporting technical assistance in present research projects.
Frédéric H. Login
Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine
Master of Science degree, Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France (2003)
PhD in Molecular Biology, Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France (2007)
Postdoctoral research fellow, Department of “Biologie Fonctionnelle Insectes et Interactions”, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Lyon, France (2007-2009)
Postdoctoral research fellow, Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden (2009-2014)
Postdoctoral research fellow, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (2014-2018)
Frédéric H. Login obtained his PhD in molecular biology in 2007 at Claude Bernard University in Lyon, France. After two postdocs in France (National Institute of Agricultural Research) and Sweden (Umeå University), he joined Lene Nejsum’s research group in 2015. Frédéric uses various molecular biology and biochemistry approaches combined with advanced microscopy techniques to unravel the molecular mechanisms that regulate cellular trafficking of aquaporins (AQPs) and the involvement of AQPs in cellular processes such as cell migration, adhesion and polarization.
Lærke Bay Marcussen
PhD.-student, Department of Clinical Medicine
Master of Science degree, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (2020)
PhD student, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University (2023-present)
Lærke Bay Marcussen is a Master of Science in Molecular Medicine and currently a PhD student. For her master’s thesis, she studied the functions of human antibodies and their interactions with the immune system. Following her position at Statens Serum Institut during the COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent work as a Research Assistant, she commenced her PhD studies. Her current research focuses on aquaporins and junctional proteins in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) throughout the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Andreas Riishede
MD. Academic Assistant, Department of Clinical Medicine
Master of Science in Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. (2012)
Specialist training in Pathology:
Department of Pathology, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark. (2015-2016)
Department of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. (2016-2018, 2019-2020)
Department of Pathology, Viborg Hospital, Viborg, Denmark. (2018-2019)
Andreas Riishede has a Master of Science in Medicine from Aarhus University. He has worked several years as a medical doctor, including 5 years of specialist training in pathology. Andreas joined the Lene Nejsum group in 2022. Here he contributes with his experience in pathological changes in various tissues, bright field microscopy and the interpretation of different tissue stains and immunohistochemical stains. His current focus is on the pathological changes in chronic kidney disease on a tissue level and the expression of aquaporins in female breast cancer.
Amalie Maria Grønning
PhD.-student, PhD.-fellow, Department of Clinical Medicine
Bachelor of Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (2020)
Amalie Maria Grønning is an integrated PhD student. Her research focuses on the regulation of the renal water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP2). Specializing in the mechanisms of AQP2 exocytosis, the involvement of protein kinases and the response to stimulation with the anti-diuretic hormone vasopressin, Amalie is dedicated to understanding the intricate processes that govern water balance at the cellular level. This research is crucial for developing potential treatments for common water balance disorders. She is especially skilled in expansion microscopy of cells and tissues.
Teresa Kirkegaard Jensen
PhD student, Department of Clinical Medicine
Bachelor of Science Degree in Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. (2022)
Integrated PhD fellowship, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. (2023-now)
Teresa Kirkegaard Jensen is an integrated PhD student in the research group of Professor Lene Niemann Nejsum at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University. After completing her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Medicine in 2022, she initiated the master’s program in Molecular Medicine and transitioned to her integrated PhD studies in 2023. Her research investigates the role of aquaporin (AQP) water channels, particularly AQP5, in breast cancer pathogenesis, as it is associated with worse prognosis and survival in patients. The aim of her research is to examine AQP5 as a potential new target in personalized breast cancer treatment.
Frederikke Liebst Poulsen
Biomedical Laboratory Scientist, Department of Clinical Medicine
Bachelor of Biomedical Laboratory Science, VIA University College, Aarhus Denmark (2015-2018)
Frederikke Liebst Poulsen is an authorized Biomedical Laboratory Scientist from VIA University College in Aarhus. She graduated in 2018 and has since accomplished a range of qualifications from her time in the laboratory of molecular pathology at Odense University Hospital and Aarhus University Hospital. In the Nejsum lab group Frederikke’s main tasks includes Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded tissue sectioning, immunohistochemistry and immunohistofluorescence stainings.
Benjamin Bach Green
PhD.-student, Department of Clinical Medicine
Master of Science degree, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (2024)
Benjamin Bach Green is a Master of Science in Molecular Biology and current PhD student. His studies focus on the maintenance of water homeostasis in the body. Specializing in broadening our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of the water channel aquaporin 2 (AQP2) in the kidney collecting duct. This research is essential for developing potential new treatment options for patients suffering from water balance disorders. He aims to characterize the AQP2 vesicle population by using a combination of expansion microscopy and the image processing program Imaris.
