Michael Lund Nielsen

Michael Lund Nielsen is a Professor in the Proteomics Program at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. He has held this position since September 2014, following his role as Associate Professor at the same institution from July 2009 to September 2014. His research group focuses on developing innovative proteomics technologies to investigate post-translational modifications at an endogenous level.

Dr. Nielsen earned his PhD in ion physics and mass spectrometry from Uppsala University, Sweden (defended February 2007), preceded by an MSc in Applied Mathematics and Chemistry (January 2001) and a BSc in Analytical Chemistry (October 1998). His educational background bridges chemistry, mathematics, and physics, providing a strong foundation for his interdisciplinary research approach.

Dr. Nielsen's research focuses on developing novel proteomics methods for studying underexplored post-translational modifications (PTMs) including SUMOylation, arginine methylation, and ADP-ribosylation. His group has made significant contributions by establishing that serine residues are the preferred acceptor site of PARP1 on a proteome-wide scale, which has important implications for understanding cellular processes and disease mechanisms. His work enables systematic investigation of cellular networks co-regulated via PTMs, advancing our understanding of how these modifications impact cellular phenotypes and diseases.

His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on proteome-wide analysis of protein modifications, with recent work emphasizing ADP-ribosylation and its relationship to phosphorylation. The research spans multiple disciplines including molecular biology, biochemistry, and systems biology, with applications in understanding neurodegenerative diseases and cellular signaling pathways.

• Sapere Aude research award, Danish Research Council (2014)
• EMBO long-term fellowship (2007)
• Keystone Symposia Scholarship, proteomics and bioinformatics (2005)

As principal investigator of the Nielsen Group at CPR, he leads research that has significant implications for medical interventions, particularly in relation to PARP inhibitors used in cancer therapy. His group's analytical capabilities allow for studying protein modifications across various cellular and biological conditions, contributing to both fundamental biological understanding and potential therapeutic applications.

The Nielsen Group utilizes high-resolution mass spectrometry to generate powerful data resources for elucidation of uncharacterized PTMs. Their work has established unique analytical approaches for investigating endogenous protein modifications, positioning them at the forefront of proteomics research with strong international collaborations.