Day 275 -- Biopharmaceutical Research Unit (BRU) Research Day

Friday was Novo's annual BRU research day.  Novo is split into two research units:  Diabetes (called DRU) and everything else (called BRU).  Collin and I are both in BRU and therefore got to attend this day together.   This year's venue was an area in the northern part of Copenhagen.  The site is called "Docken" and is where, a long time ago, ships were built and then released into the water.  Now it seems like a large warehouse/ shipyard area that is also starting (?) to be revitalized.  We took the train to the closest station and walked the final 2.2 km along construction sites and large warehouses, hoping we were going the right way.

I guess they roll out the red carpet?!   Actually, despite the outside appearance the venue is pretty nice.  Of course we failed to capture any pictures once we got inside, but here are two from the Docken website

sandy outdoor space out back

view from the back

The day started with a scientific talk on FVIIa by Ulla Hedner (who discovered and pushed forward Novo's only currently-marketed haemophilia treatment in the 80s) and a few talks on inflammation and immunogenicity.  Lunch was a typical Danish lunch of meats, breads, mayonnaise potatoes, and frikadeller (Danish meatballs).  The afternoon had more scientific presentations followed by a performance by three sopranos from the Royal Opera.  They performed a medley of songs from both operas and musicals, in English and Danish, ending of course, with a rousing rendition of Abba's "Thank you for the Music".  

Dinner followed the musical act.  We sat with our departments so I didn't see Collin through this part.  It started with a salad with some sort of ceviche, followed by meat and beans and tomatoes and potatoes, of course.  Dessert was some sort of nutcake.  Nothing to memorable  

Following dinner, a cover band took the stage and played a mix of music in both English and Danish...some I knew, some I did not.  And everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, danced.  Danes apparently love dancing.

Collin and I got home shortly after midnight.  It was a long and busy and tiring day.

I will leave you with a picture of the sign outside the bathrooms that made me laugh.