Team and collaborators

NEAD Centre is led by Kamilla Miskowiak, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry

The team consists of the following researchers

	Kamilla Miskowiak, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Head of NEAD Centre, programme leader for reserach into interventions targeting cognition I have a degree in Clinical Psychology from University of Copenhagen with my dissertation on multidisciplinary research on depression, which received the university gold medal (2006), and an MSc (with Distinction) (2004) and a DPhil (PhD) (2008) from University of Oxford in Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry. I lead a number of clinical and experimental studies in patients with affective disorders using clinical ratings, neurocognitive testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Alongside my research I have received training in and worked with cognitive behavioural therapy of patients with depression or bipolar disorder and qualified as clinical psychologist in 2011.
	Julian Macoveanu, Senior researcher, PhD Programme leader for research into structural and functional MRI of high-risk populations Senior researcher and lecturer. The main research lines aim to identify neuroimaging biomarkers predictive of increased risk for affective disorders in high-risk populations, and neural mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits and treatment-related improvement. The methodological expertise includes extensive experience with cross-sectional and longitudinal MRI study designs including behavioral and drug interventions, acquisition and analysis of structural, functional and diffusion MRI data.
	Hanne Lie Kjærstad, Psychologist, Senior Researcher Programme Leader for Socio-emotional Cognition in Mood Disorders – Biomarkers and Interventions My research focus is on investigating cognitive and neuroimaging trajectories and predictors of prognosis and illness onset in patients with bipolar disorder and their unaffected first-degree relatives (part of the Bipolar Illness Onset study (BIO/PREDICT)). I am particularly interested in investigating the role of socio-emotional cognition and their neural underpinnings in mood disorders, using novel behavioral and virtual reality-based assessments. I have a BSc(Hon) (1st class) from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and a MSc and PhD from the University of Copenhagen.
	Anne Juul Bjertrup, Postdoctoral Researcher, Psychologist, PhD Programme leader for research into biomarkers and prevention of mood disorder onset/relapse in perinatal period As a psychologist and postdoctoral researcher on the PACT study, my research focuses on investigating the impact of affective cognitive training during pregnancy on reducing the risk of postpartum depression. I am particularly interested in the role of affective cognition in pregnancy and parenthood, as well as the neurocognitive mechanisms that contribute to the development of postpartum depression. Additionally, I am interested in exploring the intergenerational transmission of risk from parents with affective disorders to their children.
	Jeff Zarp Petersen, Postdoctoral Researcher, Psychologist, PhD Programme Leader for research into cognitive impairments across mood disorders – methods, implications, and origins I obtained my MSc and PhD in Psychology from the University of Copenhagen. My main scientific works include clinical and neurobiological research investigating non-emotional, cold cognitive functioning in patients with mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder) and their neural underpinnings as assessed with neuropsychological tests, clinical assessments, and neuroimaging measures.
	Andreas Elleby Jespersen, Postdoctoral Researcher, Psychologist, PhD Project Leader on VIRDIS My research focuses on (I) identifying neurocognitive biomarkers to enhance diagnostic accuracy in neuropsychiatric conditions, and (II) designing and testing novel pro-cognitive interventions to improve daily functioning and quality of life for people living with mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. I am particularly interested in how emerging technologies, especially virtual reality, can advance diagnostics, assessment, and treatment within mental health care. I am project leader on the VIRDIS study – a large-scale project aimed at developing and testing a novel virtual reality platform designed to support more accurate diagnosis of various mental health conditions.
	Lydia Fortea, Postdoctoral Researcher, bioinformatist, PhD My research focuses on: (i) identifying neuroimaging biomarkers underlying different psychiatric conditions and cognitive impairments to better understand their neural mechanisms, and (ii) developing machine-learning predictive models of diagnosis, treatment efficacy, and cognitive subgroups to advance precision psychiatry. By integrating large-scale neuroimaging datasets with advanced statistical and computational methods, my goal is to translate robust brain-based markers into clinically useful tools for more accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment.
	Johanna Mariegaard, Psychologist, PhD student Psychologist (University of Copenhagen) and PhD researcher on the ALTIBRAIN project where we investigate the effect of altitude-like hypoxia and cognitive training on neuroplasticity and cognition in patients with affective disorders and healthy participants.
	Karoline Holm Elkjær Rasmussen, PhD student I am a PhD researcher on the PreParent project, where we are developing an online screening tool for postpartum depression risk factors and investigating the preventive effects of an online affective cognitive training program for parents-to-be with identified risk factors. My research focuses on how affective cognition shapes the transition to parenthood and the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying postpartum depression. I am also interested in the intergenerational transmission of parental affective disorders and their impact on children's emotional and cognitive development.
	Viktoria Damgaard, PhD student PhD researcher on the ALTIBRAIN project where we examine whether altitude-like cognition training can increase plasticity in the brain and improve cognitive functions in healthy participants and patients with affective disorders. My primary research interests are centered around the relationship between neuroplasticity and cognition, and how this can aid the development of new and improved pro-cognitive treatment strategies in neuropsychiatric disorders.
	Eya-Mist Rødgaard, PhD student PhD student on the TRANSCIN project, a large-scale register-based study examining cognitive impairment and resilience in persons with various neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric conditions and their neuronal underpinnings.
	Astrid Endrup Iversen, PhD student I am a PhD researcher on the BACE project where we apply targeted socio-emotional cognitive training in patients with affective disorders and unaffected first-degree relatives to investigate changes in underlying neural activity and associations with illness prognosis over time. I am particularly interested in the neural underpinnings of socio-emotional cognition and the identification of neurocircuitry-based biomarkers of treatment effects.
	Bjørn Ole Barkholt Nordseth, PhD student Psychologist (MSc, University of Copenhagen) and PhD researcher on the EPIC project, in which we explore the potential epigenetic enhancement of a virtual reality-based cognitive remediation therapy program, aiming to improve cognitive functioning and neuroplasticity in persons with affective disorders.
	Katrine Cramer, Research nurse I am a nurse working on the ICARE and EPIC studies. In ICARE, I conduct cognitive screenings and provide counselling for patients with affective disorders. In EPIC, I assist with administrative tasks and clinical tasks, blood sampling, including patients and screenings, ECG recordings etc. I have previous experience as a clinical nurse working with patients with affective disorders, and I find it both interesting and highly relevant to support these patients with cognitive challenges in the present trials.
	Daniel Jensen, MSc Student Master’s student in Psychology at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant at the NEAD Centre. My work includes neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings, and MRI scanning of participants across various studies, as well as fNIRS data processing and analysis within the SYNCARE project. I am interested in developing novel approaches to enhancing cognition in both clinical populations and healthy individuals.
	Steinunn Dóra Jónasdottir, MSc Student I am a research assistant at the NEAD Centre, working with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings and MRI scans across the different projects at NEAD. I also contribute to the collection and analysis of qualitative data, and assist on the PreParent project as a student therapist. My research interests lie within neuropsychiatry, particularly in how cognitive- and biomarkers can be used to enhance diagnostics and treatment strategies. I hold a BSc in Psychology from the University of Amsterdam and am currently pursuing an MSc degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Copenhagen.
	Ida Kruse Søndergaard, BSc student Psychology student at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I assist with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings, and MRI scanning of participants across the different studies in the NEAD Centre. My research interests are within the field of Neuropsycholopgy and Cognitive psychology.
	Nanna Ingvorsen, BSc Student Psychology student at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I assist with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings, and MRI scanning of participants across the different studies in the NEAD Centre. My research interests are within the field of cognitive and clinical psychology, and neuropsychology.
	Elisabeth Frost Lyngsie, BSc Student I have a BSc in psychology from University of Copenhagen and will soon be a graduate student. I work as a research assistant at NEAD centre, where I assist with neuropsychological testning, clinical ratings and fMRI and fNIRS scanning of participants across different projects at the centre. I am particularly interested in both diagnostic evaluation and treatment within clinical psychology and psychiatry. As a result of this I simultaneously work at a private psychiatric clinic, where I do psychological evaluations of ADHD in adults.
	August Bladt, BSc Student Psychology student at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I assist with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings, and MRI scanning of participants across the different studies in the NEAD Centre. My research interests are within the field of neuropsychology and clinical psychology.
	Mie Tornbjerg, BSc Student Psychology student at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I assist with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings, and MRI scanning of participants across the different studies in the NEAD Centre.
	Sofie Maria Bjerregaard, BSc Student Psychology student at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I assist with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings, and MRI scanning of participants across the different studies in the NEAD Centre. My research interests are within the field of psychiatry as well as cognitive-, clinical- and neuropsychology. I am interested in how to prevent the onset of illness but also research in treatment of illness.
	Andrea Parslov Nørregaard, BSc Student I'm a psychology student at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I assist with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings, and MRI scanning of participants across the different studies in the NEAD Centre. My research interests lie in neuropsychology, cognitive psychology and clinical psychology.
	Cecilia Lindorf Krogstrup, BSc Student Psychology student at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant at the NEAD Centre. I'm particularly interested in neuropsychology and its interplay with clinical psychology, and I'm assisting with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings and MRI scanning across various studies at the NEAD Centre.
	Clara Friis Damlund, BSc Student Psychology student at University of Copenhagen and research assistant at the NEAD Centre. I assist in the research project BACE.