Peripherial neuropathy (neuronal damage) constitutes a common complication of diabetes (diabetic polyneuropathy). Around half of all individuals with diabetic polyneuropathy will develop painful diabetic polyneuropathy. The underlying mechanisms, leading to diabetic polyneuropathy and painful diabetic polyneuropathy has not yet been full elucidated. This greatly affects the ability of clinicians to detect the condition in the early stages as well as the available treatment options, which are far from optimal, reaching only partly or no pain relief.

My research aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by investigating the changes occurring in the periphery of individuals with diabetic polyneuropathy and painful diabetic polyneuropathy. Ultimately the aim is to identify possible predictive, diagnostic, or prognostic biomarkers as well as possible novel treatment targets.

The methods applied incl. differential clinical methods and skin biopsies. The biopsies allow for the investigation of multiple parameters incl. altered structure and plasticity of the tissue as well as protein expression patterns. Methodologically this is facilitated by the application of microscopy, immunohistochemistry, stereology and multiplexing within immune staining, among others.  

My PhD-project is a part of a large collaboration between Aarhus University, Aalborg University and Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark