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SUND NEWS 6December 2012

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SUND NEWS is a staff magazine for all employees associated with the Faculty of Medicine, i.e., those at the departments and in the faculty administra-tion. SUND NEWS is available to everyone on the website and we hope that students in the health science programs as well as internal and external partners will also find SUND NEWS relevant.

Contributions to SUND NEWS are welcome and can be sent to Cecilia Honores Møller at chm@adm.aau.dk

The deadline for the next issue of SUND NEWS is February 22.

About SUND NEWS

Foreword Welcome to the last issue of SUND NEWS for this year.

I hope everyone has had a good, stimulating year at the faculty office and the Department of Health Science and Technology. Before we go on Christmas break, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their efforts in 2012. As always, it has been a great pleasure working with you.

And now the news from my side. We are delighted and proud that the new continuing education master’s program in sexology has been approved. Knowledge on sexology, research in sexology and qualified sexological counseling has long been in short supply in Denmark. The program will be offered as of September next year and is aimed at doctors, psychologists and other health professionals. There is already great interest in the program, confirming our assumption that there is a need for more sexological expertise in the health care system.

The faculty budget for 2013 – that along with AAU’s overall budget must be approved by the university board – shows a deficit of 9.9 million kroner. This may sound strange, but the deficit is positive in that it reflects activity. Our pro-grams are still very new, we are hiring new employees, get-ting the PhD program started and establishing the Depart-ment of Clinical Medicine. The faculty’s deficit for 2013 is thus an expression of investment.

The Department of Clinical Medicine and Aalborg University Hospital will be formally launched on 1 January 2013. The de-partment is physically located at Aalborg University Hospital with its management at the Science and Innovation Center. The construction of the new department is in full swing and I look forward to the new collaboration with Aalborg Univer-sity Hospital.

Season’s greetings and best wishes for a Happy New Year. I look forward to seeing you all at the 2013 New Year’s Recep-tion.

Egon Toft

PhD defenses at the Faculty of MedicineImran Khan Niazi, December 14 2012Dissertation titel: Movement related cortical potentials based brain computer interface for stroke rehabilitation.

Charlotte Allerød, November 30 2012 Dissertation title: A decision support system for mechanical ventilation - Description and evaluation

Thomas Nørgaard Nielsen, November 16 2012 Dissertation title: Selective peripheral nerve interfaces

Anderson de Souza Castelo Oliveira, November 15 2012 Dissertation title: Modular organization of motor control during dynamic tasks: Effects of perturbation and training

Jakob L. Dideriksen, October 26 2012 Dissertation title: Influence of Motor Unit Characteristics and Behavior on surface EMG, Force, and their Association

More information: http//www.sundhedsvidenskab.aau.dk/ Forskning/Ph.d.-forsvar+2012/

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4 - 9E d u c a t i o n a n d Te a c h i n g

1 7 - 1 8I n b r i e f

1 0 - 1 6R e s e a r c h

Content

Education and Teaching

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» It came as a big surprise to me that I won the award for Best Poster presentation at the conference. There wasn’t ac-tually supposed to be a Best Poster award, but this changed during the conference, says Kasper Bendix Johnsen, a student in the 7th semester in Medicine with Industrial Specialization.

Kasper Bendix Johnsen has long been interested in microR-NAs and during the last two years this interest intensified. The understanding, development and application of micro-RNAs for the treatment of brain cancer have been central themes in his projects. MicroRNAs are small regulatory mol-ecules that can block the activation of genes and thereby trig-ger or inhibit biochemical processes in the cells of the body.

» MicroRNA is an exciting field and there is great potential in the use of microRNAs for understanding various somatic diseases and thus knowledge of which treatments would be best for curing diseases, says Kasper Bendix Johnsen.

Conference at the University of CambridgeThe interest in microRNAs led Kasper Bendix Johnsen to the scientific conference MicroRNA Europe 2012 Meeting at the University of Cambridge.

» This was not the first time I attended a scientific confer-ence, but it was the first time I attended a conference at the University of Cambridge where many esteemed research-ers in the field of microRNA were gathered. It was huge. It was also the first time that I was going to present results on my own from the Laboratory of Cancer Biology, and be responsible for presenting and discussing our work with the researchers who visited my poster stand, says Kasper Bendix Johnsen.

During the conference there were presentations on the sta-tus of the use of microRNAs in understanding, diagnosis and treatment of disease by leading researchers in the field, including Michael Gait, Professor, University of Cambridge and Hermona Soreq, Professor, the Hebrew University of Je-rusalem.

» I was very honored to receive the award and I see it as a great recognition by recognized researchers in my research area. I’m even more eager to do research in the field, says Kasper Bendix Johnsen, who also wants to pursue his inter-est in microRNAs in an academic research career after the master’s program.

Students receive an award and have a great experience at the University of CambridgeKasper Bendix Johnsen, master’s student in Medicine with Industrial Specialization, took part in the scientific conference MicroRNA Europe 2012 Meeting at the University of Cambridge in England and won the award for Best Poster presentation.

» Name: Kasper Bendix Johnsen » Age: 23 år » Program: Master’s degree student in Medicine

with Industrial Specialization

Kasper Bendix Johnsen with the coordinator of the conference, Krishnarao Appasani.

Teaching DayBy: Jesper Franch, Head of School, School of Medicine and Health

Teaching Day 2013 – Pedagogy Day gets new name.

Teaching Day will be held in Aalborg on Wednesday 17 April 2013. Similar to last year, the day will begin with a joint morning session of presentations and workshops for teachers from the four faculties. The afternoon offers separate events in each fa-culty, and the School of Medicine and Health’s afternoon focus will be on teaching quality and measures to improve teaching outcomes.

For the benefit of Teaching Day there will be no classes held at the university that day. A program and information about registration will be sent out in early 2013.

For more information about Teaching Day, please contact Jesper Franch, Head of School, School of Medicine and Health or Annette Lorentsen, Head of Department, Department of Learning and Philosophy.

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Education and Teaching

The first SUND Matchmaking Day was held Tuesday, 30 October 2012. The School of Medicine and Health invited a number of companies to the university to learn about the health-related degree programs, opportunities for and expe-riences with project collaboration and to meet students and researchers.

It was a good event and well-attended with over 150 people who attended lectures and visited information booths.

Based on the response from the participants there are plans to hold a similar event next year.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event - and not least to everyone who took part in the planning and execution.

SUND Matchmaking DayBy: Line Maj Jensen, Academic Officer, School of Medicine and Health

SUND Matchmaking Day was a well-attended event with 150 participants.

Education and Teaching

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A well-functioning sexual life is very important for human health and quality of life regardless of age. In general, know-ledge about the Danish population’s sexual behavior and well-being is sparse, but a study from 2010 showed that nine out of ten adult Danes considered sex life important and that sexual problems and dysfunctions were widespread.

There is a great societal need for more insight in sexual re-lationships, and to strengthen prevention, health promotion and guidance in the area. The newly established Sexology Clinic at Aalborg Hospital – the future Aalborg University Hospital – in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine will address this need.

A fruitful collaborationThe Sexology Clinic started 1 September 2012 at Aalborg Ho-spital. The clinic is the first of its kind in North Jutland and treats various sexual problems in men and women from all over Jutland. It is a unique sector cooperation between the North Denmark Region Psychiatry and the somatic hospitals in Aalborg and Hjørring, all of which are involved in the ope-ration of the clinic. The idea for the clinic came from Clinical Associate Professor Astrid Højgaard, a specialist in gyneco-logy and obstetrics and a former chief physician at the Jut-land Sexology Clinic, Randers Regional Hospital. She left the clinic in Randers in order to create the new clinic at Aalborg University Hospital.

Sexology – a fruitful triangleA collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine and the future Aalborg University Hospital will increase know-ledge about Danes’ sexual problems and dysfunctions and improve existing treatment methods. Clinical prac-tice, research and education are part of a fruitful cooperation.

Practice

Sexology ClinicThe Sexology Clinic at Aalborg University Hospital treats men and wo-men, singles and couples. Issues for women are particularly a lack of sexual desire, painful intercourse and vaginismus. In men, the dominant problems are erectile dysfunction, premature or difficult ejaculation or ejaculation failure. Some patients are referred for sexual dependence/ad-diction and for uncertainty about sexual orientation and gender iden-tity. Some patients have had long-standing problems; other problems have arisen as a result of physical or mental illness or their treatment, or because of changes in life conditions or changing phases of life. The clinic only sees patients with a doctor’s referral from general practice, hospital departments or outpatient services from most of Jutland.

Research

Sexology Research CenterThe Sexology Research Center is under the Department of

Clinical Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine.

The research center is composed of researchers across de-

partments: the Department of Clinical Medicine, the Depart-

ment of Health Science and Technology and the Department

of Communication and Psychology.

The research group has begun organizing research activities,

and the group has been very active in the description of the

new continuing education master’s program in sexology

which will be offered as of September 2013.

Some of the personnel at the Sexology Clinic are researchers who teach and conduct research in the field in parallel with their work in the clinic. The research activities taking place in the Sexology Research Center at the Department of Clinical Medicine contribute with knowledge to further qualify the treatment at the Sexology Clinic and the faculty’s new conti-nuing education master’s program in sexology.

Thus, practice, research and education will be closely linked and interdependent.

Evidence-based treatment

Patients

Research

New knowledge

Education and Teaching

Practice

Sexology ClinicThe Sexology Clinic at Aalborg University Hospital treats men and wo-men, singles and couples. Issues for women are particularly a lack of sexual desire, painful intercourse and vaginismus. In men, the dominant problems are erectile dysfunction, premature or difficult ejaculation or ejaculation failure. Some patients are referred for sexual dependence/ad-diction and for uncertainty about sexual orientation and gender iden-tity. Some patients have had long-standing problems; other problems have arisen as a result of physical or mental illness or their treatment, or because of changes in life conditions or changing phases of life. The clinic only sees patients with a doctor’s referral from general practice, hospital departments or outpatient services from most of Jutland.

The research unit is led and coordinated by Birgitte Schantz Laursen, MSc Nursing, PhD, who is employed in an 80% as-sociate professor position. Currently, the following persons are also included:

» Astrid Højgaard, Chief Physician, Specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, Specialist in Clinical Sexology and Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine

» Christian Graugaard, Cand. Med., PhD, Professor in General Sexology, Department of Clinical Medicine

» Bo Møhl, MSc Psychology, Specialist Psychologist in Psychiatry, Professor in Clinical Psychology (20%) at the Department of Communication, Faculty of Humanities

» Charlotte Overgaard, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Science and Technology

» Nico Rijkhoff, Professor in Urogenital Rehabilitation, Department of Health Science and Technology

» Morten Frisch, Cand. Med., PhD, Dr. Med., Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, affiliated with the research unit as an Adjunct Professor in Sexual Health Epidemiology

Sexologisk ForskningscenterThe Sexology Research Center has received 400,000 kroner from the Obel Family Foundation to be used in setting up the center.

Education

Master’s program in Sexology The Faculty of Medicine has just been accredited a Master’s pro-gram (continuing education) in Sexology. The program is the first accredited program in the sexology area in Denmark. The first class begins in September 2013. Teaching will primarily be hand-led by staff from the Sexology Research Center.

The program provides a theoretical introduction to sexology as a multi-scientific discipline, and knowledge and tools for identi-fication, analysis, prevention and basic treatment of sexological problems.

The program is aimed at doctors, psychologists and health professionals.

Evidence-based treatment

Patients

Research

New knowledge

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Education and Teaching

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I saw a unique opportunity to create something new in North Jutland…What got you to Aalborg University Hospital?I thought it could be interesting to set up a sexology clinic in con-nection with the new Aalborg University Hospital. I had previously been involved in establishing the Jutland Sexology Clinic at Randers Regional Hospital so I knew what was needed. I saw a unique op-portunity to create something new in North Jutland where the clinic could be integrated with research via the hospital’s collaboration with the university.

As clinicians, we are obligated to deliver evidence-based treatments – including sexology. And in order to improve the quality of treat-ment I thought why not establish a research unit in sexology. This was lacking in Denmark, and there was also no accredited program in sexology.

How did you start the collaboration with Aalborg University?I had a talk with Dean Egon Toft and explained to him my vision for the Sexology Clinic integrated with research. Egon Toft asked me to explain what a sexology research unit would look like, including the research competences to be recruited, and what potential research ar-eas we could concern ourselves with linked to the clinic’s work.

I assembled a dream team consisting of some of the best competenc-es in the sexology area in Denmark. These people are currently em-ployed as researchers in the Sexology Research Center, so we have a great team of talented people to drive the research underlying the treatment.

What specific sexual issues will you work on in the clinic and research center?We are in the planning stage. We have created a catalog of ideas that we all contribute to. The catalog already contains many research ar-eas, and they reflect our various challenges in the area of sexology, both psychological and somatic.

But otherwise, I can only say that the research areas will be a mix of the diverse problems we encounter in the clinic, in research and with health professionals in the master’s program in sexology. What is your vision for the research in sexology?As a clinician, I am concerned that the research should be used in practice and benefit patients. I hope that we can develop knowledge about treatment methods that benefit certain categories of problems. We also need to develop measurement methods including pain meas-urement to help patients better manage their difficulties.

» Age: 55 år. » Resides in Aalborg with her wife who is

also employed at AAU » Specialist in gynecology and obstetrics » Clinical Associate Professor at AU and

AAU » Chief Physician at the Sexology Clinic,

Aalborg University

Astrid Højgaard

Education and Teaching

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In line with the increasing focus on internationalization of education and student mobility, the Agency for Universi-ties and Internationalization issued a consolidated order at the end of 2011 (Ministerial Order no. 1389 of December 15, 2011 on International Educational Activities at Universities) that as per January 2012 regulates all types of educational cooperation at the bachelor’s and master’s level with foreign universities.

For the universities, this is a simplification, because in con-trast to previous practice it means dealing with one executive order rather than a number of different orders. Nevertheless, there are still a number of different rules and conditions re-gulating the various types of cooperation that you should be aware of before you enter into an agreement with one or more international partners.

As part of the quality assurance of the programs offered in collaboration with foreign universities, the university ma-nagement decided to introduce a standard cooperation ag-reement that must be used when making an agreement with the foreign university. The standard agreement outlines who is responsible for what, what rules apply when, and is in ge-neral a roadmap for how the cooperation on education and

Standard agreement for international educational activities

supervision of students must take place. In other words, the standard cooperation agreement aims to make it easier and faster to make agreements on educational cooperation with foreign universities.

The faculty sent the standard cooperation agreement, which consists of the agreement itself as well as a guide to its use, to heads of school, study boards and department heads in early November 2012.

Questions related to the agreement itself or the development of educational partnerships can be directed to Education and Programs at the faculty.

More information:

http://www.sundhedsvidenskab.aau.dk/Officielle+dokumenter/Uddannelsesregler+og+ressourcer/Standardaftale+for+internationale+uddannelsesforl%C3%B8b/

As you know, the possibility of group exams has been rein-troduced in the universities with the new Examination Order (Executive Order No. 666) of 24 June 2012; group exams had not been legally authorized during the 2007-2011 period. You can read more about the group exam in the Examina-tion Policies and Procedures for the Faculty of Medicine on the faculty website along with guidance on group exams for students, project supervisors, and examiners at the Faculty.

Reintroduction of group exams

More information: http://www.sundhedsvidenskab.aau.dk/Officielle+dokumenter/Uddannelsesregler+og+ressourcer/Projekteksamen/

Astrid Højgaard

By: Ann Caroline Hansen, Academic Officer, Education and Programs

By: Ann Caroline Hansen, Academic Officer, Education and Programs

Research

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Time: 21 December 2012 at 13.00Location: Science and Innovation Center Auditorium (Forskningens Hus), Aalborg HospitalTitle of lecture: Mapping of Genetic Disorders - a Danish-American-Greek Odyssey

Over the last ten years, Kim Dremstrup has been behind the expansion that the Department of Health Science and Technology has been through. The number of students has increased nearly sevenfold, staff numbers have more than doubled and the department covers over five times as many square meters as ten years ago. Now he will continue to meet the many future challenges in the department.

» I am very pleased that Kim Dremstrup has agreed to continue in office for another six years. I look forward to continuing working with him, says Dean Egon Toft, who also thanks the appointment committee for an effective ap-pointment process.

Motivated department head has new challengesHead of Department Kim Dremstrup looks forward to con-tinuing his work with department staff.

» I’m motivated every day to take on the tasks of a de-partment with 250 employees working in technology and methods that can improve people’s quality of life. A work-place that is helping to shape young people so that they can contribute to society and the workplace, where our research often comes into play in the formation of companies or cooperation agreements with industry and the health sector, says Kim Dremstrup.

Kim Dremstrup continues as Head of DepartmentProfessor Kim Dremstrup has been re-elected as Head of Department, Department of Health Science and Tech-nology and over the next six years will ensure consolidation of the department and several research collabora-tions with industry and the health sector. The appointment committee was unanimous in its decision.

Inaugural lecture by Michael Bjørn Petersen

Since March 2012, Michael Bjørn Petersen has been employed at the Department of Clinical Genetics at Aalborg Hospital, a department that was created in 2009. The department provides genetic diagnosis and counseling of patients referred from the North Denmark Region. Michael Bjørn Petersen is the author and co-author of approximately 180 scientific publications in international genetics journals, focused particularly on the investigation of genetic eye diseases and deafness, and also chro-mosome disorders and their causal mechanisms.

Kim Dremstrup continues another six years as Head of the Department of Health Science and Technology.

Michael Bjørn Petersen, Chief Physician, Department of Clini-cal Genetics, Aalborg Hospital, joined the Faculty of Medi-cine as Professor of Clinical Genetics on 1 November 2012.

In connection with Michael Bjørn Petersen’s appointment as Professor of Clinical Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine, the management at Aalborg Hospital (the future Aalborg Univer-sity Hospital) is pleased to invite you to the inaugural lecture entitled “Mapping of Genetic Disorders - a Danish-American-Greek Odyssey.”

Research

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In Denmark, approximately 10-12,000 people every year suf-fer from apoplexy. Apoplexy covers both bleeding and blood clot in the brain and is manifested by sudden paralysis of one side of the body. In order to compensate for the damage caused by a stroke, patients are offered various forms of re-training in the hospital or at home.

» The supply of rehabilitation methods for stroke patients is great, but our knowledge about their direct effects on the body’s nervous system is limited, and the individual patient’s response to retraining is largely unpredictable, says Profes-sor Ole K. Andersen, who heads the new research center in conjunction with Winnie Jensen, Associate Professor.

Technology must explain and treatResearch at the center targets the development of technologi-cal solutions to increase knowledge about the retraining’s ef-fect on the nervous system and use this to develop better and more targeted rehabilitation of patients.

» We know that an important key to rehabilitation lies in our ability to influence brain cell plasticity, i.e., the ability of cells to survive after apoplexy. We will design and produce technology solutions that can help understand, measure and exploit brain cell plasticity in apoplexy patients with a strong focus on the individual patient, says Ole K. Anders-en.

The center is a broad interdisciplinary research collabora-tion among health technology researchers, media technol-ogy, psychology, rehabilitation centers and companies in the health sector. The research center is interested in a number of external collaborations. Contact the Center for NeuroEn-gineering Solutions in Stroke Rehabilitation via the website:

New research center for rehabilitation of apo-plexy patientsThe Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction has opened a new interdisciplinary research center in neurorehabilita-tion. The Center for NeuroEngineering Solutions in Stroke Rehabilitation will develop knowledge and technol-ogy that helps patients with damage following a stroke return to everyday life.

Researcher Erika G. Spaich talks with external participants at the opening.

Associate Professor Winnie Jensen talks with Ben Smith from the com-pany Bensmith at the official opening of the research

center November 27.

https://smi.hst.aau.dk/research/units/strokerehab/

Research

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On 8 October 2012, professors and clinicians from Ningxia Medical University and Ningxia General Hospital arrived in Aalborg to visit the Faculty of Medicine and Aalborg Hospi-tal - the future Aalborg University Hospital.

The purpose of the visit was to sign two cooperation agree-ments with the Danes covering the exchange of PhD students between the countries, exchange of clinical experience and treatment, as well as research in the cardiovascular area. In addition, the aim was also to experience the research envi-ronment at the faculty as well as treatment and facilities at the university hospital.

» We will exchange PhD students, surgeons and other healthcare personnel such as surgical nurses, anesthesi-ologists, cardiologists and perfusionists. The exchange of researchers and clinical personnel will ensure that we in Aalborg gain insight into new surgical techniques, increase our operation volume in the hospital, so we will be even bet-ter and more experienced in various surgeries and research, and have access to greater patient data for research, says Jan Jesper Andreasen, Chief Physician, Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Aalborg Hospital, who along with Dean

Treatment and research in heart area gets boost with Chinese collaborationThe Faculty of Medicine and the future Aalborg University Hospital have a new Chinese partner - Ningxia Medi-cal University and Ningxia General Hospital. The collaboration will include ensuring knowledge exchange and access to new and more patient groups in research in the cardiovascular area.

Egon Toft initiated the collaboration with the Chinese back in 2010.

It would take two years before a cooperation agreement be-tween researchers and clinicians in Ningxia Medical Univer-sity and Ningxia General Hospital was signed.

» In China these types of collaborations begin with a friendship. This means that we have to get to know each other first as people, and this takes some time when there is great geographical distance, says Jan Jesper Andreasen, who had been to China several times to pave the way for the collaboration with Ningxia Medical University and Ningxia General Hospital before the contract was signed in October.

In Chinese fashion, the cooperation agreement was signed at a formal ceremony at Aalborg University. Signing on behalf of the Faculty of Medicine were Egon Toft, Dean and Niels Maarbjerg Olesen, Faculty Director, and signing on behalf of Aalborg University Hospital were Carl-Otto Gøtzche, Di-rector of the Head, Ortho and Heart Center, and Jan Jesper Andreasen, Chief Physician, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

The cooperation agreement was signed between the Danes and the Chinese at a formal ceremony at Aalborg University.

Research

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Professor Jens Zimmer Rasmussen, Dr. Med., who is em-ployed part-time at the Department of Health Science and Technology, got an offer in early summer that he found dif-ficult to turn down.

» I was contacted by the head of the course Neurosci-ence and Neuroimaging that was starting in the fall at the Danish-Chinese University Center in Beijing. The head, Professor Jens Nyengaard from Aarhus University, asked if I could teach Introduction to Neuroscience that was to be held for the first time in October and November. I said yes and ended up being in Beijing from 27 October to 10 November, said Jens Zimmer.

Engaged studentsAwaiting Jens Zimmer were two intense weeks with 20 pio-neer students who were evenly distributed from Denmark and China. They all had a bachelor’s degree and were now pursuing a master’s degree in the neuroscience area.

» It was a good group of students. The instruction was in English, which the Danish students handled well, while the Chinese students were not as experienced especially in spoken English. But things got better as they became more “daring” as the course progressed. It was a pleasure to meet the Danish pioneer students and the fellow Chinese students, who were also trying something new, and did not just come from Beijing. Everyone worked hard, as they also had many teaching hours in other subjects. Everyone was focused on their studies, but there was also room for fun and humor. Everyone also passed the recently held with generally good grades, says Jens Zimmer and continues:

» It was exciting to teach in a new and special program in Beijing, where similar programs also ran within other areas. Like the students, both the Danish and the Chinese staff at the secretariat also put in enormous effort. It is two cultures, but fortunately with the same interests. I’d be happy to do it again next year.

Two weeks of teaching at the Sino-Danish Center for Education and ResearchProfessor Jens Zimmer Rasmussen, Dr. Med., from the Department of Health Science and Technology went to China this fall to teach Danish and Chinese master’s students at the Danish-Chinese University Center in Beijing.

The Danish University Center - Sino-Danish Center – in Beijing runs four two-year master’s or continuing education master’s programs with an equal distribu-tion between Danish and Chinese students. The pro-grams are in the areas of:

» Water and Environment » Neuroscience and Neuroimaging » Innovation Management » Public Management and Social Development.

Each program is recognized as a program here at home and in China and, like the center, each has both a Dan-ish and a Chinese head.

Vidensamarbejde mellem Danmark og KinaIn 2008, the Ministry of Science laid out a strategy for knowledge collaboration between Denmark and China. In 2010, an agreement between the Graduate Chinese Academy of Sciences and the eight Danish universities and the Ministry of Education on the establishment of a Danish University Center in Bei-jing was signed. This center is now established and provisionally located near the Olympic Village in the northern part of Beijing, adjacent to a number of the Chinese Academy’s own departments, with an office in a residence building for Chinese students.

The stay was little longer for Jens Zimmer than for most teachers who this time only taught at the center from a cou-ple of days up to one and a half weeks. The center pays the Danish universities full pay plus a little extra for the time that their people are “stationed.” The amount is then used to pay the travel, accommodation, and related expenses that the teachers initially pay for themselves.

Research

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The Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI) has collaborated with Qilu Hospital of Shandong University in China for many years on research on neuropathic pain and muscular pain as well as training PhD students from Qilu Hospital, Shandong University.

In October, the Center for Sensory-Motor Inter-action was host to a delegation of five people from Qilu Hospital including Professor and Chairman of the Board, Xianzhong Cao. The delegation received a tour of SMI laboratories by Lars Arendt-Nielsen and Hong-You Ge, and there was an opportunity to discuss the poten-tial for expanding the collaboration on pain re-search between the two parties. Before the del-egation returned to Shandong Province, China, the parties signed a new cooperation agree-ment. The agreement includes new research projects and the exchange of PhD students.

Collaboration with Qilu Hospital of Shandong University

Five persons from Qilu Hospital visited SMI in October where they discussed potential future cooperation with Professor Lars Arendt-Nielsen.

Chinese Partners SUND has a many Chinese partners, shown here.

Research

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The Department of Clinical Medicine is to be established at the Faculty of Medicine 1 January 2013. The department is physically located at Aalborg University Hospital, where re-search and clinical practice will be directly related.

Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen, Professor, Chief Physician and Di-rector of Research at Aalborg University Hospital, will head the Department of Clinical Medicine. As both director of re-search and head of department, Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen is tasked with ensuring the development and quality of clinical research in North Jutland.

Approximately forty research units are attached to the De-partment of Clinical Medicine, each with their own specialty. Many of the research units are organized in a number of interdisciplinary research collaborations within the larger research area, for example, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and neurological conditions.

The research will form the basis for teaching in the bachelor’s and master’s programs in medicine.

Research interacts with teaching and practiceAalborg Universitetshospital bliver mere end blot en sa-marAalborg University Hospital is more than just a partner of the Department of Clinical Medicine. The department and the university hospital are interdependent, since the physi-cal environment at the university hospital is vital to research, and research is vital for improved patient care at the hospital.

The university hospital also provides the framework for teaching master’s students in medicine. Master’s students

Welcome to the Department of Clinical MedicineIt has been the custom to introduce a research center in each issue of SUND NEWS. This time we break with tradi-tion and introduce a department, the Department of Clinical Medicine which becomes a reality at the Faculty of Medicine as of next year.

» Clinical research focuses on the practical aspect of medicine, i.e., contact with and treatment of the patient, and therefore takes place in the clini-cal setting close to patients. The clinical research must develop new therapies and create a better basis for diagnosis, prevention, treatment, devel-opment of methods, etc., which can translate into better patient care at the university hospital, the region’s hospitals and medical clinics.

will be taught right where things are happening - in the clinical setting close to patients and alongside the hospital’s healthcare personnel. Consequently, the last part of the med-ical program reflects the doctor’s reality.

Clinical professors and associate professors conduct the re-search at the department and provide the teaching at the university hospital. They are also employed as physicians at the university hospital treating patients. The researchers are therefore engaged in research, direct patient care and teach-ing students at once.

A department in developmentSelv om instituttet den 1. januar 2013 er etableret, vil det staAlthough the department will be up and running as of 1 January 2013, it will still be under construction in the com-ing years. Recruitment of technical-administrative personnel and academic staff will take place continuously in line with the department’s development; the number of academic staff will already increase markedly in 2013. Financing for the department’s clinical professorships comes from the North Denmark Region.

At the turn of the year, there will be 18 clinical professors and 10 associate professors as well as two technical-administra-tive staff employed at the department. In addition, clinical associate professors at Aalborg Hospital who are currently affiliated with Aarhus University Hospital will transfer to the department, and four professors, three associate professors and a postdoc are being transferred from the Department of Health Science and Technology to the new department.

Research under the Department of Clinical Medicine includes these areas:

» Anesthesiology » Breast Surgery » Center for Clinical Research » Cardiology » Clinical Biochemistry » Clinical Epidemiology » Clinical Genetics » Clinical Immunology » Clinical Microbiology » Clinical Nursing » Endocrinology » Ergotherapy and

Physiotherapy » Geriatrics » Gynecology/Obstetrics » Hematology » Infectious Diseases » Medical Gastroenterology » Neurosurgery » Neurology » Nuclear Medicine

» Occupational Medicine » Ophthalmology » Oncology » Oral and Maxillofacial

Surgery » Orthopedic Surgery » Oto-rhino-laryngology » Pathology » Pediatrics » Plastic Surgery » Psychiatry » Radiology » Renal Medicine » Respiratory Medicine » Rheumatology » Sexology » Social Medicine » Surgical

Gastroenterology » Thoracic Surgery » Urology » Vascular Surgery

Research

Through interdisciplinary collaboration we can advance clinical research…

What is your most important task as head of department?My primary task is to further develop clinical research to the highest international level in collaboration with the department’s researchers. I will create an optimal framework for research and a good environ-ment at the department and the university hospital making it a place where researchers like being. Both will be conducive to research.

My primary task will also be to define and strengthen selected clinical research areas that we must lead in, nationally and internationally. There are several areas we want to strengthen. These include throm-bosis, register data research, fish oil research and pain research. In particular, I would like to expand our interdisciplinary research. It is through interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers at the De-partment of Health Science and Technology, among others, that we can advance the clinical research.

How do you see everyday life at the Department of Clinical Medicine 1 January 2013?The organization is in full swing and we are busy. The secretariat with HR and financial services has been established and is still in the pro-cess of being developed. We are focusing on establishing collabora-tions with external firms such as pharmaceutical companies, and we are working with the Danish Health and Medicines Authority who would like us to initiate new clinical trials. In addition, we are in-creasing the number of PhD students in conjunction with the doctoral school at the Faculty of Medicine.

What vision do you have for the clinical research?The competition on clinical research is now global. My vision is thus that we can distinguish ourselves internationally. We will produce clinical research at a high international level and attract the best re-searchers to our research areas. It must be attractive to work in clinical research at the Department of Clinical Medicine/Aalborg University Hospital. We must demonstrate and document our strengths, and ex-pand our collaboration to include more international partners.

We must produce high-quality research that sets new standards in healthcare and provides the basis for the best medical training in Den-mark.

» Age: 57 år » Chief Physician, Professor of Cardio-

vascular Medicine and Thrombosis » Director of Research, Aalborg

University Hospital » Head of Department, Department of

Clinical Medicine » Resides in Skørping with his wife

SUND’s first post-doctoral training program in the health technology, clinical and biomedical field is now underway. Ten postdocs are enrolled in the pro-gram, a number expected for the first year. The postdoc program focuses on up-grading in teaching qualifications, research management, applying for funding, and innovation. Some of the postdocs currently enrolled are from the hospital, and participation is expected from other research institutions.

Postdoc program

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Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen

In brief

Dear readers of SUND NEWS. Thank you taking part in our reader survey in September. The survey was done so that we can give you a relevant and meaningful employee maga-zine.

The survey was sent out to readers at the Department of Health Science and Technology, the Department of Learn-ing and Philosophy, the Department of Business and Man-agement, the Faculty Office and elsewhere on campus. We are now in the process of analyzing the data. Among other things, we got tips for stories and news that can make SUND NEWS even better, and we thank you.

Although the SUND NEWS reader survey has ended, we are always open to good ideas for articles and news as well as general suggestions for improving SUND NEWS. Send your suggestions to Cecilia Honores Møller, Communication, the Faculty Office.

SUND NEWS reader survey

The Faculty of Medicine marks the New Year with a New Year’s Reception, Thursday 3 January 2013, 13.30-15.00 in the auditorium, Niels Jernes Vej 8A (NOVI), 9220 Aalborg East.Dean Egon Toft welcomes a new year at the faculty that brings new tasks and a new department – the Department of Clinical Medicine. The 2012 Teachers of the Year will also be honored. There will then be a musical performance and we’ll wish each other a Happy New Year.

More information about the New Year’s Reception is available from the dean’s secretary Ann Karina Schelde

See you there!

New Year’s Reception

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In brief

The Faculty of Medicine served coffee, lectures and a chem-istry show when the Region Secretariat from the North Den-mark Region paid a visit on 4 September 2012.

The occasion for the visit was the Region Secretariat’s staff day, where they visited relevant neighbors. Dean Egon Toft gave a presentation of the Faculty as a whole – its study pro-grams, research and external collaborations.

SUND neighbor visit

The first of October each year, the university reports the number of registered student FTEs (full time equivalents: one student full time equivalent = 60 ECTS credits in passed activities) to the Ministry, which releases revenue to the uni-versity. The total number of FTEs and the completion bonus are the two most important elements in the university’s edu-cation revenue.

Registered students and completion bonus

In 2012/2013, SUND’s projected student FTE is 902.8 FTE

In the 2011/2012 academic year, SUND reached a total of 789.5 FTE, which resulted in a total income of 67 million kro-ner. This is a significant increase compared to the previous year, as shown by the graph below, although the faculty did not quite reach the budgeted 823 FTEs.

The faculty had also arranged three lectures that provided insight into selected areas of research. Department Head Kim Dremstrup gave a lecture on ‘the brain’, Ole Kæseler Andersen gave a lecture on how paralyzed people could walk again using new technology, and finally, Morten An-dersen Dahlgaard, Head of SEA at AAU Innovation, talked about Aalborg University’s collaboration with external com-panies and organizations.

The visit ended with an AAU chemistry show which put a smile on the faces of the guests from the Region.

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