Team
NEAD Centre is led by Kamilla Miskowiak, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry
The team consists of the following researchers
Kamilla Miskowiak, DPhil, DMSc, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry
Head of NEAD Centre | Programme Leader for Cognition-Focused Interventions
I hold a degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Copenhagen (2006), where my dissertation on multidisciplinary research in depression earned the university’s gold medal. Additionally, I completed an MSc (with distinction) (2004) and DPhil (PhD) (2008) in Exper-imental Psychology and Psychiatry from the University of Oxford, UK, and a DMSc (2018) from the University of Copenhagen.
As Head of the NEAD Centre, I lead multidisciplinary research into cognition in neuropsychi-atric conditions, including mood and psychosis spectrum disorders, high-risk populations, and healthy individuals. My work integrates neurocognitive testing, virtual reality-based cognitive assessments, clinical ratings, biofluid analysis, and neuroimaging (fMRI and PET). Leveraging the unique Danish registers, my team conducts large-scale online cognitive studies and recruits enriched subgroups for deep phenotyping and targeted interventions.
In addition to my research, I am trained in cognitive behavioural therapy and have worked clinically with patients with depression and bipolar disorder, qualifying as a clinical psycholo-gist in 2011.
Julian Macoveanu, PhD
Principal Investigator in Clinical Neuroimaging | Programme Leader of the Neuroimaging of Brain Plasticity and Cognitive Enhancement
My current research program investigates: (i) epigenetic enhancement of neuroplasticity and cognitive function, (ii) effects of cognition training during hypoxia on brain plasticity, and III) brain-based biomarkers predictive of risk and resilience for the onset of affective disorders in at-risk populations.
Hanne Lie Kjærstad, PhD
Psychologist, Researcher | Programme Leader for Socio-emotional Cognition in Mood Disorders – Biomarkers and Interventions.
I hold a BSc(Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and a MSc and PhD from the University of Copenhagen.
My research primarily focuses on (I) neuroimaging and cognitive biomarkers of mood disor-ders to improve early detection and diagnosis and predict illness trajectory and (II) developing new treatments targeting cognitive impairments to mitigate the risk of adverse illness course and illness onset in patients and high-risk individuals, respectively. I am particularly interested in the neuroscience of emotion and emotion regulation, incorporating multi-model techniques – including virtual reality, behavioral, and neuroimaging methods – to uncover underlying mech-anisms and inform innovative treatments.
I am Principle Investigator of the BACE study – a randomized controlled trial applying tar-geted socio-cognitive emotional training in a subgroup of impaired patients with mood disor-ders and high-risk relatives to investigate changes in underlying neural activity and associa-tions with illness prognosis over time.
Anne Juul Bjertrup, PhD
Psychologist, Researcher | Programme Leader for Screening and Prevention of Mood Disorder Onset/Relapse in Perinatal Period
As a psychologist and researcher on the PACT and SYNCARE studies, my research focuses on investigating the impact of affective cognitive training during pregnancy on reducing the risk of postpartum depression and improving mother-infant interaction. I am particularly inter-ested in the role of affective cognition in pregnancy and parenthood, as well as the neurocog-nitive mechanisms that contribute to the development of postpartum depression. Additionally, I am interested in exploring the intergenerational transmission of risk from parents with mood disorders to their children.
Jeff Zarp, PhD
Psychologist, Postdoctoral Researcher | Programme Leader for Cognitive Health in Psychiatric Disorders – Assessment, Drivers, and Outcomes
I obtained my MSc and PhD degrees in Psychology from the University of Copenhagen. My research integrates clinical and neurobiological approaches to investigate cognition in psychiat-ric disorders and healthy populations. The scientific work mainly focuses on cold (non-emotional) cognitive functions, their underlying neural underpinnings, and the methodological understanding of the drivers of cognitive health and impairment in these groups. By aiming to optimize and develop new strategies for assessment, monitoring, and intervention, the goal is to advance precision in cognitive profiling, utilizing neuropsychological tests, self-reports, clin-ical assessments, and neuroimaging measures.
Anjali Sanker, PhD
My research is dedicated to the study of mood disorders, both major depressive and bipolar disorders. An important focus is on identifying reliable biomarkers that can predict clinical response to treatments as well as negative outcomes such as suicide using multimodal neuroimaging techniques.
Andreas Elleby Jespersen, PhD
Psychologist, Postdoctoral Researcher | 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.
Johanna Mariegaard Schandorff, Psychologist, PhD student
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 work part time on the ALTIBRAIN studie. In this studie, I assist with administrative tasks, taking blood tests, screenings and ECGs etc. I have previously worked as a clinical nurse helping patients with affective disorders and find it very interesting and relevant to help these patients with their cognitive issues in the present trials.
Ida Østergaard, MSc Student
MSc student of Medicine at the University of Copenhagen and a scholar on the ALTIBRAIN project at the NEAD Centre. I conduct physical examinations, perform paraclinical work, monitor research participants during treatment and carry out MRI scans of participants across the different studies. My research interests focus on neuroplasticity and enhancing our comprehension of affective mental disorders to develop effective treatments.
Lauge Levinsen, MSc Student
MSc student of Medicine at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I am participating in the ALTIBRAIN project, where I assist with test monitoring, data collection, and paraclinical activities. My research interests focus on neurophysiology, endocrinology and new ways to treat neurodegenerative disorders.
Stella Lystlund, MSc Student
Psychology student at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I assist with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings and fMRI scanning of participants across the different studies in the NEAD Centre.
Sebastian Vestergaard Segerlin, MSc student
Graduate student of psychology at Syddansk Universitet and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I assist with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings and fMRI scanning of participants across the different studies in the NEAD Centre.
Anne Sofie Liingaard Hansen, MSc student
MSc Student of Medicine at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant at the NEAD Centre. I assist at the NEAD Centre, where I perform paraclinical work, monitor research participants during treatment and assist with data collection. My research interests focus on neurophysiology and improving quality of life in patients with affective disorders.
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.
Anne Bügel Fisker Madsen, BSc Student
Undergraduate medical student at the University of Copenhagen. I currently work as a scholar on the ALTIBRAIN project where I assist with physical examinations of potential participants and monitoring treatment. My research interests are within the field of neurophysiology and how it can be used for development of better treatment options for psychiatric patients.
Jakob Lindegaard Lund, BCs student
Psychology student at the University of Copenhagen and research assistant in the NEAD Centre. I assist with neuropsychological testing, clinical ratings and fMRI scanning of participants across the different studies in the NEAD Centre.
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.
Oliver Romlund Gadman, 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, clinical 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.
Barbara Ørum, BSc student
Student of medicine at the University of Copenhagen and a scholar on the ALTIBRAIN project at the NEAD Centre. In this role, I conduct physical examinations, perform paraclinical work, monitor research participants during treatment and carry out MRI scans of participants across the different studies. My research interests focus on neuroplasticity and enhancing our comprehension of affective mental disorders to develop effective treatments. Additionally, I work in the emergency department at the Psychiatric Center Nordsjælland as my student job.
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.
Nanna Mittertreiner, 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.
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.
Steinunn Dóra Jónasdottir, BSc Student
Anne Karen Nielsen, BSc Student
Psychology student at Aarhus University and research assistant at PreParent’s Impact project in NEAD. On the IMPACT project I work as a therapist and contribute to the implementation of the intervention module by the participants.
I have particular research experience in project coordination and recruitment, neuro- and social-cognitive testing, data collection and interviews of patients and relatives as well as experience in VR therapy.
I am particularly interested in research aimed at the prevention and intervention of severe mental disorders.