Center for Experimental Neurosciense (CENSE) at the Department of Neurosurgery and the Danish Neuroscience Center focuses on large animal research, specifically on the Göttingen minipig for developing models of neurologic and psychiatric diseases.
The brain of the minipig has a large degree of homology to the human brain and is sufficiently large for the use of human sized implant materials, neuromodulation devices, new medicine and stem cells for preclinical testing. CENSE has developed new anatomical atlases and MRI-guided stereotactic equipment for placement of electrodes and neuromodulatory devices in the central nervous system, including the spinal cord. This includes the neurosurgical techniques, as well as high TESLA MRI, PET and CT to test in vivo function.
The group has also developed histopathology techniques for brain extraction and exact sectioning of brain extraction and exact sectioning of brain sections in relation to scanning modalities and stereology purposes. Our procedures are performed according to GLP standards and conform to Aarhus University's Animal Welfare Policy.