Hanne Borger Rasmussen

Short presentation

Associate professor at Department of Biomedical Sciences

Cell polarity is a structural and functional specialization essential to proper function of most eukaryotic cells. For example, polarization is required for the long-range communication by neurons and the vectorial transport of ions and solutes across epithelial cells. To establish and maintain cell polarity, plasma membrane proteins must be selectively targeted to and retained in their proper membrane domains. This must be a demanding task for a structurally complex cell such as the neuron, which is able to localize proteins with nano- to micrometer precision in its extensive and large surface area. With my research I wish to understand how this is achieved at the molecular level. By using ion channels as model proteins, I address how polarized cells such as epithelial and neuronal cells establish and maintain a polarized distribution of plasma membrane proteins at the cell surface. Technically, I focus on imaging methods to study these questions which includes dynamic, live-cell imaging studies, where we directly follow polarized transport and plasma membrane dynamics of fluorescently tagged proteins in living epithelial and neuronal cells.

Primary fields of research

• Protein trafficking in epithelial and neuronal cells
• Ion channels
• The axon initial segment of neurons
• Cell signaling in epithelial and neuronal cells and its impact on protein trafficking/localization
• Molecular basis of channelopathies (diseases caused by dysfunction of ionchannels)
  
  

CV

Academic career and training

• 2014-   Tenured Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
  
  
• 2009-2014   Non-tenured Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  
  
• 2005-2009   Postdoc., Department of Medical Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  
  
• 2004   Exchange PhD student, UC Davis, University of California, USA, Laboratory of Prof. James Trimmer
  
  
• 2002-2005   PhD student, Graduate School of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Laboratory of Prof. Søren-Peter Olesen
  
  
• 2000-2002   Research Scientist, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  
  
• 1997-2000   Exchange bachelor and master student, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France, Laboratory of Prof. Antoine Triller

Education

• 2006   PhD, Graduate School of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
  
  
• 2000   M.Sc. in Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Teaching

• Teach anatomy and histology of the organs systems to medical-, dental and molecular biomedicine students

• Supervisor for bachelor, master and PhD students