CFIN 25th Anniversary

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For 25 years, a brain research center in Aarhus has pushed the boundaries of what can be measured in the living brain, and today physicians and researchers around the world use the methods developed by the Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN).

This year marks 25 years since the Danish National Research Foundation established the center, which sits under both the Faculty of Health Sciences and Aarhus University Hospital.

For a quarter of a century, the center has attracted leading researchers from Denmark and abroad, and CFIN's methods have transformed our understanding of brain disorders.

A new way of understanding the brain

On 7 October, the 25th anniversary will be marked with a symposium at Aarhus University Hospital. 

Among the speakers will be Professor Bruce Rosen from the Martinos Center and Harvard Medical School — newly appointed Skou Honorary Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences — after which Professor Leif Østergaard and Associate Professor Francesca Fardo will look back on the center's history.

"Twenty-five years ago, we were a group of researchers who wanted to understand the brain in a new way. Today, we're advancing basic research and improving the examinations of patients at the hospital, and that is the heart of what we're celebrating," says Leif Østergaard.

Twenty-five years ago, The Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF) founded CFIN - Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience as a center-of-excellence (CoE). It emerged from neuroimaging-based research at the Department of Neuroradiology and PET-center at Health - Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital. 

Since then, this fantastic group of people has

• established advanced neuroimaging methods and expertise that allow highly specialized patient examinations at Aarhus Universitetshospital and provide advanced neuroimaging methods for clinical & basic researchers at Health - Aarhus University and Aarhus Universitetshospital.
• attracted leading international research talents to Aarhus where they lead some of CFIN's 18 research groups.
• developed new imaging methods and analytical tools that are used by physicians and researchers across the world.
• led breakthroughs within brain metabolism, neurotransmission, brain microstructure, cognitive neuroscience and our understanding of brain disorders.
• branched into new Aarhus University centers, including a new DNRF CoE (Center for Music in the Brain).
• attracted more than 320 MDKK in competitive research grants and over 150 MDKK in private investment in CFIN spin-outs - over the past 5 years.

Thank you

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Our journey and continued growth would not have been possible without visionary long-term investments in the Danish Neuroscience Center buildings, in equipment, staff, researchers, and projects by 

• our host institutions Region Midtjylland, Aarhus Universitetshospital, Aarhus Universitet, and Health - Aarhus University,
• private foundations, including Lundbeck Foundation, Salling Fondene, KIRKBI A/S, Aarhus Universitets Forskningsfond, VELUX FONDEN, Villum Fonden, Carlsbergfondet, Novo Nordisk Foundation
• public funding agencies Forsknings-, Uddannelses- og Digitaliseringsministeriet, Danmarks Grundforskningsfond / The Danish National Research Foundation, Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond, European Research Council (ERC).
• the faculty, staff, junior researchers, PhD students, and students who contributed to our research and academic environment over the years.
• the people who volunteer as subjects for our research projects.