Denmark

What if the key to complex neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s lies within the unpredictable dance of proteins inside our cells?  

EU-supported researchers from the University of Copenhagen made a breakthrough in their study of intrinsically disordered proteins, which are associated with a variety of diseases.  

Unlike well-structured proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins lack a fixed shape. They swirl like pasta in boiling water, which makes their behaviour unpredictable.  

Recently, Dr Estella Newcombe and Professor Birthe Kragelund discovered that these proteins can bind to each other in a way never seen before. This surprising discovery could pave the way for treatments that stay active longer in the body, bringing us closer to more effective therapies.  

Estella, from Australia, joined Birthe’s lab as part of the two-year SYN-CHARGE research initiative, supported by €219 000 in EU funding. Her work alongside other talented researchers on protein interactions helped transform the lab into a hub of new ideas, paving the way for exciting discoveries. 

‘That's the joy of working with talented, young people, like Estella. It’s the dynamic interaction between culture, language and research approaches’, says Birthe. ‘That’s where the crazy ideas happen, and that's how we move forward.’ 

For more than 40 years, the EU has championed research, nurturing curiosity, innovation and collaboration across the globe. From breakthroughs in neurobiology and healthcare to Earth monitoring and clean aviation, the EU’s efforts reach far beyond the lab, shaping a better future for everyone.