Kort præsentation

MD, DMSc, and DTM&H. Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, specializing in molecular epidemiology, at the University of Copenhagen. Director of the International Reference Laboratory of Mycobacteriology (IRLM) at Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Denmark´s public health institute. Consultant in infectious diseases at Zealand University Hospital Roskilde.

My primary interests are infectious disease strategies, communication, preparedness, and research. Especially, infectious diseases molecular epidemiology. I thrive when (molecular) epidemiology surveillance and research add value to global health by uncovering biological and molecular epidemiological patterns and informing local and global control strategies. I advocate for transforming complex data into clear , meaningful information that benefits the public – not just remaining confined to the laboratory.

I serves as national- and international expert in various capacities, including roles with WHO (Supranational Reference Laboratory Network), ECDC (European Reference Laboratory TB Network), European Society of Mycobacteriology (President and Steering Committee member). I am also a member of Danish "National Tuberculosis Group".

Previously, as Chairman of the Danish SARS-CoV-2 Variant Assessment Committee, I coordinated multidisciplinary efforts in Denmark to analyze and address emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. This involved collaboration among researchers, sequencing teams, diagnostics specialists, epidemiologists, mathematical modelers, health agencies, regional authorities, and hospitals. 

Primære forskningsområder

My research focuses on tuberculosis, mycobacteria, and molecular biology, with a specialization in the molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases. A key area of interest is the application of whole genome sequencing of mycobacteria. The ultimate goal is to ensure that molecular epidemiology research contributes significantly to global health by identifying molecular epidemiological patterns and informing both local and global disease control strategies.

At the University of Copenhagen, research is conducted in close collaboration with Statens Serum Institut.  Through advanced sequencing methods, including whole genome sequencing, the research maps infection transmission on national and international scales. The findings are directly applied to improve disease control through evidence-based advisory initiatives at both national and global levels.

This research uniquely combines laboratory-based data with extensive registry data. Denmark is home to one of the world's oldest and most comprehensive tuberculosis registries, with data on TB mortality in Danish cities dating back to 1876. The research team also benefits from an exceptional databank and strain collection, extending back to 1936, which provides invaluable resources for epidemiological studies.

Collaboration is a cornerstone of this work, with many projects undertaken alongside international partners, including key organizations such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Kommentarer til publikationsliste

En opdateret liste over > 100 peer review publikationer kan hentes på https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=lillebaek%20t%20NOT%20sestoft