Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and its applications in biomedicine
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This is a specialised course. This means that 80% of the seats are reserved to PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at UCPH and 20% of the seats are reserved to PhD students from other Danish Universities/faculties (except CBS).
The course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1. Understand the principles of modern mass spectrometry-based proteomics, including instrumentation, peptide fragmentation, and quantitative proteomics workflows.
2. Design and critically evaluate proteomics experiments to address biological and biomedical research questions.
3. Interpret peptide and protein mass spectrometry data and understand the principles of peptide and protein identification.
4. Apply computational proteomics concepts, including database searching, quantitative analysis, statistical evaluation, and biological interpretation of proteomics datasets.
5. Understand how advanced proteomics technologies can be applied across diverse areas of biomedical research, including PTM analysis, cancer biology, single-cell proteomics, cellular organization, evolutionary biology, and precision medicine.
Content
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to modern mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and its applications in biomedicine.
The course covers the fundamental principles of proteomics, including the history of proteomics, mass spectrometry instrumentation, peptide fragmentation methods (CID, HCD, ETD, and ECD), sample preparation strategies, protein and peptide fractionation, and quantitative proteomics approaches.
Participants will gain hands-on experience in peptide spectrum interpretation and be introduced to computational proteomics workflows, including database searching, quantitative data analysis, statistical evaluation, and biological interpretation of proteomics datasets.
The course further highlights state-of-the-art applications of proteomics, including post-translational modification (PTM) analysis, glycoproteomics, organellar proteomics, cancer proteomics, immunopeptidomics, native mass spectrometry, single-cell proteomics, top-down proteomics, protein ubiquitylation, dynamic RNA and protein turnover studies, in vivo SILAC, and paleoproteomics.
The programme combines lectures by leading international experts with student presentations and interactive discussions, providing participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical insight into contemporary proteomics research.
Participants
Maximum 25 PhD students with interest in proteomics, precision medicine, protein research, cell biology, cell signaling, omics technologies.
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
- All graduate programmes
Language
English
Form
The course consists of lectures, interactive exercises, student presentations, and scientific seminars delivered by internationally recognized experts in proteomics.
Participants will be introduced to both fundamental and advanced MS-based proteomics technologies and computational workflows.
The course includes hands-on exercises in peptide spectrum interpretation, discussions of experimental design and data analysis, and presentations from participating students linking course topics to their own research projects.
Course director
Jesper Velgaard Olsen, Professor, Center for Glycocalyx Research (CGR), ICMM, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), jesper.olsen@sund.ku.dk
Sara Charlotte Buch-Larsen, Senior Researcher, Center for Glycocalyx Research (CGR), ICMM, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), sara.buch-larsen@sund.ku.dk
Teachers
Albert Heck, Professor, Utrecht University
Chris Adams, Senior Director of Proteomics at Rezo Therapeutics
Claudia Ctortecka, Group leader, Amsterdam UMC
Janne Lethiö, Professor, Karolinska Institutet
Marcus Krüger, Professor, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne
Matthias Selbach, Professor, Max Delbrück Center
Shabaz Mohammed, Associate Professor, University of Oxford
Blagoy Blagoev, Professor, University of Southern Denmark
Enrico Cappellini, Associate Professor, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen
Frank Kjeldsen, Professor, University of Southern Denmark
Claire Koenig, Postdoc, Max Delbrück Center
Hans H. Wandall, Professor, CGR, ICMM, University of Copenhagen
Anders H. Kverneland, Translational researcher, CCIT, Herlev Hospital
Ivo A. Hendriks, Associate Professor, CGR, ICMM, University of Copenhagen
Katrin A. Stuber, Postdoc, CGR, ICMM, University of Copenhagen
Jesper V. Olsen, Professor, CGR, ICMM, University of Copenhagen
Sara C. Buch-Larsen, Senior Researcher, CGR, ICMM, University of Copenhagen
Dates
November 16th-20th 2026
Course location
Panum, the Mærsk Tower
Registration
Please register before October 15th 2026.
Expected frequency
Every second year
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.