Jakob Balslev Sørensen

Jakob Balslev Sørensen serves as Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences since 2009. He concurrently holds leadership roles as Deputy Head of Department (2014-present) and previously directed the Neuronal Signaling Lab (2014-2017). His research investigates fundamental mechanisms of synaptic communication with direct implications for neurological disorders.

• 2006: Habilitation in pre-clinical physiology at Georg August University zu Göttingen
• 1999: Ph.D. in Biophysical studies of ion channels (University of Copenhagen)
• 1996: M.Sc. in Biology with highest distinction and Mathematics minor (University of Copenhagen)

The Sørensen group pioneers research on neurotransmitter release mechanisms at chemical synapses, employing optical/electrophysiological measurements combined with molecular biology (mouse knockouts, viral expression) and cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy. Their work focuses on how synaptic vesicle fusion dysregulation causes 'synaptopathies' including epilepsy, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia, with recent expansion into neurodevelopmental disorder models using human neurons and advanced imaging techniques.

Publications from 2023-2025 reveal three dominant research trajectories: (1) Structural analysis of SNARE protein mutations (SNAP25, STXBP1) in synaptic exocytosis defects, (2) Development of cryo-EM frameworks for synaptic vesicle visualization, and (3) Electrophysiological characterization of neuronal hyperexcitability in encephalopathy models. This work bridges molecular biophysics with clinical neurology through multidisciplinary approaches.

• Lundbeck foundation Junior group leader Scholarship (2008-2015)
• Novo Nordisk Seniorforskerstipendiet (2008, declined due to funding overlap)
• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 'The own position' grant (2005-2007)
• University of Copenhagen Gold medal (1996)

Professor Sørensen leads an active research group securing continuous funding from major foundations while mentoring junior scientists. His lab maintains strategic collaborations with international neuroscience consortia and participates in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences' research initiatives. Current projects integrate computational modeling with cryo-EM to visualize synaptic proteins in native environments, aiming to develop targeted interventions for synaptic dysfunction disorders.

The Neuronal Signaling Lab operates within Copenhagen's Neuroscience Department, maintaining specialized facilities for live-cell imaging, electrophysiology, and cryo-electron tomography. The team actively collaborates with clinical neurology departments to translate molecular findings into therapeutic approaches for synaptopathies, with recent work featured in high-impact journals including Brain and eLife.