About TNU

The Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit (TNU) was established on April 1, 2013, as a research unit within the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University. 

Conducting research in translational neuropsychiatry, TNU fosters an interdisciplinary research environment spanning basic neurobiological investigations to clinically oriented studies with the overarching aim of advancing understanding of brain neurobiology and facilitating the development of novel therapeutics. 

The unit builds on decades of psychiatric research previously conducted at the Centre for Psychiatric Research at the former Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov.

Where It All Began

Psychiatric research in Aarhus has strong roots dating back to the 1940s and was formally organized in the 1960s, when several research units were established at the State Hospital in Aarhus, located in Risskov.

From the 1990s, psychiatric research in Aarhus underwent several reorganisations.
In 1994, the Research Library, the Department of Psychiatric Demography, and the Department of Biological Psychiatry were brought together to form the Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research. Until 2003, the institute also housed the WHO Collaborating Centre. In 2004, the institute was renamed the Centre for Basic Psychiatric Research.

In 2007, a restructuring brought together basic and clinical psychiatric research into the Centre for Psychiatric Research.

A Large Psychiatric Research Centre (2007–2013)

From 2007 to 2013, the Centre for Psychiatric Research functioned as a large research centre conducting basic, clinical, and translational research. Activities were based at the Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov as well as at the newly established Psychiatric Research Unit West in Herning.

The centre was responsible for several key functions and resources, including:

• One of the world’s largest Brain Collections
• The Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register
• The Neuropsychiatric Clinic
• The Clinical Biochemical Laboratory

In 2012, Aarhus University and the Central Denmark Region decided to significantly restructure this research environment. Senior researchers and their activities were decentralized to clinical psychiatric departments, with the aim of establishing smaller research units embedded directly within clinical settings.

Establishment of the Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit at Aarhus University

As part of this restructuring, the basic and translational research activities conducted in laboratories and animal facilities were transferred to Aarhus University. This transition took effect on April 1, 2013, marking the official establishment of the Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit.

Since becoming a university-based research unit, TNU has maintained close collaboration with clinical psychiatric research departments. Furthermore, since 2022, the unit has been located in new facilities at the heart of Aarhus University Hospital. This location supports close interdisciplinary collaboration with clinical research departments across all medical specialties.