Nyhedsbrev nr. 20

*Plan for lokale møder efterår 2012

The Overall Organization of the Department - in the Long Term (after 2016)
An extraordinary SU meeting and a meeting with the Department's permanent VIP were held to discuss my proposal for a possible future, physical organization. The proposal recommends localization of biochemistry and physiology and biophysics in the new building, that the groups from the former IMMI and Human Genetics remain in the Bartholin building and that EM and dissection continue in the anatomy building. The proposal also implies that neuroscience research and MEMBRANES (new research centre) are located in the new building, that a class 3 lab is established in the Bartholin close to the FACS core facility. There will be animal facilities and confocal microscopes in all 3 buildings. The location of groups from pharmacology has not been decided yet. The proposal is made with regard to the fact that it may difficult to perform neurophysiology in the Bartholin building due to its proximity to Nørrebrogade and the coming local railway. The wishes of the individual research groups will be taken into account, as far as possible, before the final and detailed plan is made.

Construction Projects
Biweekly all-day meetings are held between building consultants (architects and engineers), developer (BYGST), technical management and users (the head of the 6 construction groups with Poul Henning Jensen, Anders Børglum and myself participate as representatives of the users). We have started to plan standard laboratories, standard offices, animal and core facilities. At a later stage a more detailed planning will take place. The general principle of the new construction is flexibility. The 6 building groups consist of the following persons (the heads are in italics):
 
Laboratories: Morten S. Nielsen, Sebastian Frische, Thomas Vorup-Jensen, Thomas Corydon, Kimmo Jensen, Kamille Smidt Rasmussen, Steen Vang Petersen, Vibeke Uhre.

Core facilities: Søren Paludan, Rob Fenton, Søren Moestrup, Rikke Nielsen, Jacob Giehm Mikkelsen.

Other rooms: Helle Prætorius, Steffen Thiel, Lotte Hansen, Anne Hedemand.

Logistics: Marianne Hokland, Søren Nielsen, Christian Aalkjær, Birgit Holm Hansen, Viggo Nielsen, Mette Madsen, Holger Brüggemann, Charlotte Christie Petersen

Technical requirements: Thomas Holm Pedersen, Carl Christian Danielsen, Birgitte Lüttge, Jørgen Andresen, Jens Kjær, Claus Bülow

Animal Facilities: Frederik Dagnæs-Hansen, Ulla Dansberg, Anders Nykjær, Ernst-Martin Füchtbauer, Jens Leipziger, Jeppe Prætorius.

Article in Nature
As you may have noticed, Christian Folsted, Søren Moestrup and colleagues have published a new article in Nature (about the structure of hemoglobin bound to haptoglobin). I am attaching a fine press coverage (in Danish) of the article which appeared in the Weekendavisen (Danish Newspaper). Christian Folsted, who is employed a an assistant professor with the Department, has now published 3 articles in Nature and one in Science, all as first author, which is quite unique! Congratulations to the authors.

Signature on Various Applications and Forms
It can at times be difficult to reach the undersigned when you need a signature for your documents. The easiest way for you is to contact Anni Mandrup Høeg – she will help get my signature.

Entering into Accounts
As described in the mail from Morten Pless of 17 September the transition to a new accounting system implies an altered and hopefully more simple use of IndFak and AURUS. If you have any problems with the system, you are welcome to contact the secretariat.

The Danish Diabetes Academy
The Novo-Nordisk Foundation, together with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and universities have donated approx. 300 million Dkr for the establishment of the Danish Diabetes Academy to strengthen research in both types 1 and 2 diabetes. Kamille Smidt Rasmussen, Jørgen Rungby, Anders Børglum and myself take part in various work programmes (a total of 22). No application deadlines have been announced so far, but the plan is that the academy will support PhD scholarships (full and partially financed scholarships), postdocs and professors (only a few). Support for both basic research related to diabetes and more clinical research can be obtained. So rack your brains for any suggestions and ideas you may have.

Local Meetings**
Local VIP and house meetings will be held in the coming months. As for VIP meetings the participants will be those of the Deputy Head of the Department, Chairman of the Department's Teaching Committee, Head of the Secretariat and myself. As for house meetings, the Deputy Head of the Department, buildings’ managers, Head of the Secretariat and myself will participate. The purpose of the meetings is to improve the internal communications level of the Department - especially on local matters.

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO)
TTO offers help with the handling of inventions and cooperation agreements. AU inventors can apply with the TTO for funding of maturation and documentation of an invention, which Aarhus University has taken ownership of. Direct contact to an employee or to tel.: 87 15 32 05, email: tto@au.dk. The TTO’s website contains links to forms and the Investor Guide. TTO invites interested parties to an event on 7 November 2012 entitled "Is your research ready to fly - bring it to business". You will be informed of how some researchers managed to bring their research to product.

**Meeting Schedule Autumn 2012