reNEW Copenhagen Node

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has identified stem cell medicine as a major opportunity in biomedical science. Stem cell medicine products require high quality research in stem cell and developmental biology. However, the path from scientific discovery to final market-ready product is usually long, slow and expensive.

reNEW is built on the prior support of stem cell research within Denmark, created as a tripartite collaborative research network between three internationally leading Institutions: The University of Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark), Leiden University Medical Centre (Leiden, The Netherlands), and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Melbourne, Australia). 

Given the long history of stem cell science within the University of Copenhagen, supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the research teams within reNEW from the University of Copenhagen were identified based on their research excellence in stem cell biology and their poised position with respect to stem cell medicine.

About the team

The reNEW Copenhagen team includes leading scientists, Professor Joshua Brickman and Professor Palle Serup as well as Professor Kim Bak Jensen, recruited from BRIC, UCPH, and Associate Professor Agnete Kirkeby, from the Department of Neuroscience, UCPH and the University of Lund.

Horizontal photo of the Mærsk Tower

The Faculty within Copenhagen also includes three junior group leaders recruited to the University of Copenhagen (2018-2021), Associate Professors Mariaceleste Aragona, Jan Zylicz and Jakub Sedzinski. These junior groups ensure a breadth of tissue and disease expertise, as well as a clear succession plan for the Copenhagen site. The Copenhagen node is placed at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, with access to state of the art research facilities and infrastructure. 

Professor Melissa Little is the CEO of the consortium.