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Migraine affects the lives of millions of people worldwide, causing severe headache, nausea, and hypersensitivity to both light and sound for hours, or even days, at a time. Håkan Ashina and his team at Rigshospitalet are working to better understand migraine triggers and pinpoint therapeutic targets to prevent and treat these debilitating attacks.

 “Migraine is a disabling brain disorder marked with recurrent attacks. Most patients report specific triggers, as well as auras that tend to precede the headache phase of an attack,” says Håkan Ashina. Despite decades of research, the precise molecular mechanisms that initiate migraine attacks remain unclear. Ashina hypothesises that migraine attacks begin with the activation of pain-sensitive nerve fibres in the meninges, the protective layers surrounding the brain. By studying this activation in rodents, his team can pinpoint the exact anatomical site of origin. From there, Håkan Ashina’s team will investigate how certain signalling molecules either induce or inhibit pain signalling in these nerve fibres.

“One of the most exciting aspects of our work is the potential to uncover entirely new therapeutic targets for migraine. The promise is significant—by understanding the underlying biology, we move closer to treatments that could have a real impact.”

With an initial focus on two signalling molecules which are widely believed to trigger migraines, PACAP and amylin, Håkan Ashina will combine preclinical and clinical approaches to improve our understanding of disease mechanisms and translate findings into new treatment options.

“My team is comprised of physicians, so we approach research through a clinical lens—always considering what matters most to patients, while also understanding the intricacies of molecular mechanisms. As a physician, the most exciting prospect is being able to turn research into treatments that truly help people with migraine.”

Patients are at the heart of Håkan Ashina’s work. By bridging the gap between basic and clinical research, he aims to develop impactful treatments guided directly by patient data. “We are incredibly grateful to the participants in our studies—their contributions have the power to unlock scientific breakthroughs.”

Håkan Ashina has received long-standing support from the Lundbeck Foundation, including the Talent Prize in 2021 and the Early-Career Clinician Scientist Grant in 2023. This support has been instrumental in shaping his path towards becoming an independent researcher. He says, “Having grants at every stage of my career has made it a natural and evolving partnership. Their commitment to supporting high-risk, high-reward research has allowed me to pursue bold ideas early in my career. Ultimately, I want to translate new scientific discoveries into clinical benefits, and that is a vision the Lundbeck Foundation shares.”