معرفی
Jens Pahnke is a Professor at the University of Oslo, Department of Pathology (PAT) at the National Hospital. He leads the Pahnke Lab in Dementia Research, focusing on molecular mechanisms and treatment options for neurodegenerative diseases with special emphasis on Alzheimer's disease. His laboratory investigates clearance mechanisms of toxic peptides via the blood-brain barrier, new imaging techniques, mitochondrial function, and neuroimmunological mechanisms.
Dr. Pahnke's primary research interests include ABC transporters, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, blood-brain barrier function, and mouse models of neurodegeneration. His work particularly emphasizes the role of ABC transporters in neurodegenerative processes, with significant contributions to understanding how these transporters affect disease progression and potential treatment avenues. His lab utilizes advanced techniques including mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), AI/ML-assisted data analysis, and comprehensive OMICS approaches (metabolomics, lipidomics, proteomics).
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong focus on ABC transporter function in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly ABCA7 in Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. His research demonstrates sex-dependent treatment responses, connections between lipid metabolism and neurodegeneration, and promising repurposing of existing drugs like FTY720 for Huntington's disease. His work bridges basic science with translational applications, including the development of imaging techniques to assess transporter function and the investigation of natural compounds like St. John's Wort for therapeutic potential.
Dr. Pahnke is actively involved in several major research initiatives including the HDFTY study investigating FTY720 for Huntington's disease treatment (planned start 2025) and the A7HD project examining ABCA7 dysregulation in Huntington's disease (2025-2028). His laboratory has established collaborations with researchers across Norway, Latvia, Israel, Germany, Czech Republic, France, and Sweden, creating a strong international network focused on neurodegenerative disease research.
His lab employs cutting-edge methodologies including mass spectrometry imaging with 20µm resolution, AI/ML-assisted segmentation of MS spectra, and sophisticated mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases. They have demonstrated that ABCA7 functional modulation significantly affects disease onset and severity in Huntington's disease, with female mice showing complete rescue until 57 weeks of age when ABCA7 is knocked out, while male mice exhibit a significant delay in disease progression of more than 10 weeks.
