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, Senior 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.

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.

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 Schandorff, 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.

​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.​

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.

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.​

Steinunn Dóra Jónasdottir, BSc Student

I am a research assistant at the NEAD Centre, currently contributing to the PACT/SYNCARE project by helping with psychological evaluations and fNIRS scanning. My research interests lie within neuropsychiatry, particularly in how brain-based 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 from the University of Copenhagen.

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.