By Dorte Larsen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Translation by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs

How can genetic defects affect the signals in the brain, and what can this mean for the development of autism, ADHD and schizophrenia? These are some of the questions that Helene Halkjær Jensen, Assistant Professor is working on in her research.

In June, the research will be communicated in a new exhibition at Aalborg University Library (AUB), where complex biological mechanisms have been translated into a visual narrative format that makes the research easier to access for a wider audience.

Helene Halkjær Jensen's research focuses on genetic changes and their significance for nerve cell function. The goal is to contribute to a better understanding of how changes in brain signalling can be linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, and in the long term point to new treatment options.

Science in images and film

The animated video was developed in a collaboration of the design studio Herman Ditte, the Danish School of Media and Journalism, Aalborg University and Nordjyske Mediehus.

The project is part of the Visual Research Communication initiative, led by the Danish School of Media and Journalism and supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Illustrators, researchers and media collaborate to make complex science more accessible through visual communication.