Research areas

Research Area

The research conducted in the group of Henrik Dimke can be divided into two lines. Focus is directed towards:

1) Elucidating the regulatory mechanisms involved in maintaining mineral balance (Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphate) via trans- and paracellular pathways in kidney and intestine. In particular, we aim to understand the molecular regulation of divalent cation transport proteins such as the epithelial channels TRPV5 and TRPM6, which play key roles in renal Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport as well as the paracellular pore forming claudins. In addition, focus is directed towards understanding the role of the calcium sensing receptor and its involvement in renal calcium transport and kidney stone formation.
2) Moreover, additional studies are focusing on understanding the role of the endothelium in renal physiology and various forms of kidney disease.

Methods and Techniques

To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms involved in maintaining mineral balance, with special focus on the transport of the divalent cations calcium and magnesium in intestine and kidney, we have set up several approaches to study these specific areas utilizing various complex targeted transgenic strategies, histological and molecular biological techniques as well as human kidney isolates. In general, all studies aim to use whole-animal models to understand the often-complex relationship between structure and function of the kidney, intestine and bone as well as signaling cascades and hormonal regulatory systems functioning between cells and organs.

CV

Henrik Dimke is Professor of Translational Kidney Physiology. He is a molecular biologist with a M.Sc from Aarhus University and a PhD from Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands. He has worked within the field of physiology for more than 20 years and been abroad for nearly 7 years at leading international research laboratories. The group of Henrik Dimke is part of the Epithelial Transport Section at the Cardiovascular and Renal Research unit, situated in the Department of Molecular Medicine at the University of Southern Denmark. In addition, Henrik Dimke is affiliated withthe Department of Nephrology, at the Odense University Hospital.

The laboratory of H. Dimke has received funding from the Independent Research Fund Denmark, in the form of Research Project 1 and Sapere Aude grants as well as Fabrikant Vilhelm Pedersen og Hustrus Mindelegat, support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and the Carlsberg Foundation.

Follow Henrik Dimke on twitter @h_dimke and connect with Henrik Dimke on linked-in  

Teaching portfolio

Experience with teaching, guidance and exams: 

-Henrik Dimke has been teaching since 2008. Focus has mainly been directed towards physiology teaching of medical and biomechanical students (lectures and class hours as well as exercises) and related exams.  

 Educational administrative tasks: 

- Course director for module B8 (since 2016)  

Classes taught at SDU since 2014: 

Medicine, Module B8: Homeostasis

- Acid Base Physiology

- Renal Clearance 

- Diuretics

- Regulatory function of the kidneys

- Calcium and Phosphate Balance 

- Responsible for physiology exercise module B8

SU502 biomedicine 

- Acid Base Physiology 

Methods, materials and tools: 

-Lectures (PowerPoint, whiteboard), team teaching (whiteboard), responsible for group teaching (physiology-exercise).  

Educational development: 

-Lecturer training program at SDU (2016)  

Educational awards: 

-Department of Molecular Medicine Teaching Award (2017) 

Methods, materials and tools: 

-Lectures (PowerPoint, whiteboard)

-Classroom teaching (whiteboard)