Kirstine Juul Elbæk is a skilled researcher with a Master of Science (MSc) in Medicine with Industrial Specialization and a doctoral degree specializing in brain tumor biology and clinical proteomics. She joined the Human Cortex Lab in the summer of 2023, where she oversees our human brain tissue platform and biobanking initiative.

Kirstine’s current work focuses on spatial transcriptomics and optimizing culture conditions for patient-derived materials, furthering our understanding of gliomas. Her passion for glioma research, combined with her ties to clinical practice, inspires her to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and impactful patient care. With expertise spanning wet-lab techniques, in vivo brain tumor modeling, and computational analysis, Kirstine brings a comprehensive approach to our team.

Tong Tong is an electrophysiologist in neuroscience (Ph.D. from the Universitätsklinikum of Saarland, Germany, and M.Sc. from Universität Regensburg). She has been also trained as a clinic doctor with the specialty in neurology (MD from Soochow University, China).

Her research interest includes using electrophysiological techniques, pharmacological and optogenetic methods to understand the synaptic communications between neurons and cancer cells with the prospect of developing novel anti-cancer treatments.

Kata Molnár is an affiliated PhD student collaborating with the Human Cortex Lab while primarily conducting her research in Jens Randel Nyengaard’s lab at the Core Center for Molecular Morphology, Aarhus University. She holds a double master’s degree in Neuroscience and Neuroimaging from Aarhus University and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where her master’s thesis focused on investigating a novel mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). With experience at Novo Nordisk in Parkinson’s research and AI-based cell quantification, Kata brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work. Her PhD project focuses on glioma cells and their microenvironment in glioblastoma (GBM), utilizing advanced techniques such as single-cell transcriptomics, volume electron microscopy, and high-resolution confocal microscopy.

Ilayda Dilara Pusat holds a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and a Master’s degree in Human Biology, with specialized expertise in preclinical neuropharmacology, behavioral animal models, and in vivo calcium imaging. Her passion for teaching and mentoring has fostered curiosity and learning in academic environments. In her role, Ilayda supports ongoing research and laboratory work while developing her own innovative projects.

Mads is a dedicated medical student currently undertaking a 1-year research program at Aarhus University’s Department of Clinical Medicine. His work focuses on the structural characterization of tumor-to-neuron synapses in glioblastoma, shedding light on the complex interactions between tumor cells and neurons.

In collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Chao Sun, Mads employs advanced techniques such as tissue expansion and confocal microscopy to investigate these intricate connections, contributing valuable insights into the biology of brain cancer.

His research is supported by a scholarship from the Kræftens Bekæmpelse (Danish Cancer Society).

Emilie holds a Bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Molecular Medicine and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree (MSc) in the same field. She is a passionate and dedicated researcher with a strong interest in neuroscience, particularly brain cancer. For her Master’s thesis, Emilie is focused on developing an optimized and translational cultivation paradigm for human brain tissue slices derived from glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Her research involves advanced cellular, transcriptional, and imaging analyses to uncover key cellular and spatial characteristics, contributing to a deeper understanding of how to preserve the native tissue state and ensure optimal working conditions for GBM research.

Kathrine holds a Bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Molecular Medicine and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree (MSc) in the same field at Aarhus University. With a strong interest in neuroscience and oncology, Kathrine is conducting her Master’s thesis in collaboration with our research group. Her project focuses on investigating brain tumor slices using advanced microscopy setups to study their stereology, morphology, and cellular composition. By employing techniques such as immunohistochemistry and quantitative analyses, Kathrine aims to deepen our understanding of glioblastoma and contribute to the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Jens is a dedicated medical student and active researcher in the Human Cortex Lab and the Department of Neurosurgery at Aarhus University Hospital. His work focuses on clinical and translational research in neurosurgery and neuro-oncology, with a particular emphasis on malignant brain tumors. As a former research-year student in the group, Jens investigated cancer cell network communication in living tumor-infiltrated brain slices using advanced cellular imaging techniques. With extensive experience conducting clinical research across multiple specialties, Jens is committed to making a meaningful impact on the lives of neurosurgical patients through his work.

Allice is a medical student and an affiliated researcher with the Human Cortex Lab and the Department of Neurosurgery at Aarhus University Hospital. She has played a key role in contributing to our research biobank and possesses significant expertise in managing and utilizing REDCap databases.

During her research year in 2023–2024, Allice conducted clinical cohort studies, gaining valuable experience in clinical research. Since then, she has remained an integral part of the Human Cortex Lab, continuing to advance our work at the intersection of neuroscience and clinical practice.

Henriette assists the Human Cortex Lab with multiple taske including accounting, lab management, bookings, and much more. As an employee of the Department of Neurosurgery, Aarhus University Hospital, she also supports other research groups in the department.

Attila Ozsvár was postdoc in the Human Cortex Lab supported by the Lundbeck Foundation. He was awarded a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Szeged, Hungary working on the role of the GABAergic system on cortical microcircuits in rodents and humans.

Attila investigated the role of the GABAergic system in the human cortex by using electrophysiological, imaging and cell labeling viral methods. The project was performed in collaboration Jonathan Ting & Ed Lein at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, US.