Short presentation

My scientific background has been obtained through long-term employments at the Danish Veterinary Institute and the University of Copenhagen from where I graduated in 1989. I have worked in different scientific environments and collaborated with researchers in other disciplines throughout all the years. This has provided me with a profound knowledge in veterinary medicine beyond my own research discipline and given me the opportunity to established broad national and international networks.

I hold a PhD and a Doctor of Veterinary Science degree (dr.med.vet.) in pathology. Reproductive pathology and neuropathology have been the main focus of reseach, but I have studied diseases of most organ systems. I have performed research in pathology for around 35 years, which has provided me with extensive and profound knowledge and experience in this field. My duties have included diagnostics and research and covers both gross and microscopic pathology, including immunohistochemistry. Flourescence in situ hybridization and ultrasctructural pathology has been a part of some studies.

I have performed extensive research in fetal and congenital pathology in most domestic animal species; research that has qualified me as professor in veterinary reproduction. I have co-ownership of two patents for genetic testing of cattle. My reseach has dealt with infections of both the pregnant and the non-pregnant uterus as well as non-infectious conditions, including genetic and inherited disorders. I have been the driving force in much of my research as indicated by first or senior authorship of more that half of my peer-reviewed publications. I hold an international recognized position in fetal pathology and congenital disorders.

During my 10 years at the Danish Veterinary Institute, I was responsible for the histopathological diagnostics of transmisssible spongiform encephaties and was trained at the Central Veterinary Institute, Weybridge, UK. In addition to diagnostics of neurological disorders of adult ruminants, I have done extensive research in congenital neuropathology and lately, dementia and neuropathic pain in dogs.

Based on my extensive research in fetal conditions, I am current full professor in veterinary reproduction and obstetrics, but my research achievements and experience also qualifies me as professor in veterinary pathology. The professorship in veterinary reproduction and obstetrics has added clinical and surgical skills to my paraclinical experience.

I have done research in both spontanously occurring diseases as well as experimental diseases. I have studied spontanously occurring diseases in all domestic mammalian species and occationally in wildlife, while experimental studies have been done in pigs, including minipigs, cattle, mice and rats. I have a FELASA C animal experimental approval. I have high ethical standarts regarding animal welfare, which together with my significant knowledge in veterinary medicine, has led to membership of the National Veterinary Health Counsil (“Det Veterinære Sundhedsråd”) to which I was appointed by the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark in 2018.

The many years in research has provided me with extensive experience in research assessment. The experience is based on e.g., my year-long university employment, including 14 years as full professor, assessment of more than 1,000 manuscripts submitted to the journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, where I was editor-in-chief for several year, assessment of PhD and veterinary master theses and leading of and participation in research. I have excellent skills in scientific writing and publishing.

I have many years of experience in project and staff management, including management of facilities for histopathology. Currently, I’m research group manager for reproduction, obstetrics and cattle research.

I have taught veterinary medicine to veterinary students at the University of Copenhagen since 2000. I taught general and special veterinary pathology for 10 years, including necropsy sessions, organ based gross pathology, histopathology sessions and lectures followed by 14 years teaching elective cesaean section in cows, fetotomy sessions and lectures on reproductive and obstetric disorders. I have been member and later chairman of the Veterinary Study Committee.

Current research

The study of fetal diseases, including congenital syndromes and causes of abortion in domestic animals, is the backbone of my is research. The research in congenital syndromes has recently focused on chondrodysplasia (“bulldog calves”), schistosoma reflexum, congenital syndromic Chiari-like malformation  in Holstein cattle and perosomus elumbis, but new congenital syndromes are consistently added to the list of investigated disorders. Please see the list of publications for a full overview. The identification mutations and other chromosomal aberrations is done in close collaboration with Professor Cord Drögemüller’s group at the University of Bern, Switzerland.

Research in causes of abortion (other than congenital syndromes) is currently focused on twin abortion in cattle and equine abortion in general, but I have an interest in causes of abortion in all animal species.

I have research interest in reproductive disorders in domestic animals. I’m involved in studies on endometritis in mares, but my interest also involves cattle, sheep, and other animals.

Due to my experience in neuropathology, I assist the neurology group at the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. This included neuropathological examination and characterization of neurological disorders in companion animals as well as supervision of PhD students.

CV

EDUCATION

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (1987); Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark

PhD in Veterinary Pathology (1990); Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark

The PhD program focused on diagnostic pathology in bovine fetuses and calves up to the age of 6 months. In addition there was a focus on pathology-based diagnostic of genetic diseases, in particular spinal muscular atrophy in Danish Red Cattle.

DVSci (dr.med.vet) (2007); University of Copenhagen, Denmark

The doctoral thesis focused on pathology of bovine inherited disorders in Danish cattle identified by me from 1989 until 2006 and their eradication. The thesis was published as a supplement to Acta Pathologica and was based 10 selected papers.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Veterinary Practitioner, Kolding Animal Hospital, Denmark 15.03.1987 - 31.12.1988

I was employed in a traditional multispecies veterinary clinical practice with large animal clinical practice in the morning and companion animal medicine in the afternoon. I was a part of a four-shift night/week-end emergency duty.

PhD student (veterinary pathology); Department of Veterinary Pathology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University 01.01.1989 - 31.12.1991

Basic training in pathology, including histopathology and interpretation of laboratory data. Training in cytogenetics and interpretation of pedigree data.

Researcher (veterinary pathology); Danish National Veterinary Laboratory 01.01.1992 - 31.12.1994

Employed in the Department of Pathology and Epidemiology. Pathological examination, including histopathology and immunohistochemistry, of carcasses and specimens submitted for diagnostics. Interpretation of laboratory data (bacteriology, virology, serology, parasitology, etc.) from diagnostic cases and finalizing external reports. Continued my research in teratology and established a research platform in fetal pathology, mainly for cattle.

Senior Researcher (veterinary pathology); Danish National Veterinary Laboratory 01.01.1995 - 30.06.2000

As above, but at senior level. During this period, I became responsible for the pathology-based diagnostic of spongiform encephalopathies (BSE, scrapie) and further increased my experience with neuropathology in addition to general increased experience with pathology.

Associated professor (veterinary pathology); University of Copenhagen 01.07.2000 - 31.08.2009

During this period, I improved my skills in pathology, including general pathology, e.g., cell and tissue reaction to injury. During my previous employment, necropsies had mainly been on fetuses, calves, lambs and pigs, which could be easily transported to the laboratory. As associated professor at the university, I expanded my skills on necropsy of adult animals (mainly horses and cattle) and companion animals as part of the service to the university animal hospitals. I also participated in forensic pathology investigations. As associated professor I became enrolled in teaching general and special pathology to veterinary students. This included gross and microscopic pathology and lectures on the pathology of the central nervous system, gastro-intestinal tract, pancreas and peritoneum. I continued my research in teratology and fetal pathology while preparing my DVSci thesis.

Professor (veterinary reproduction and obstetrics); University of Copenhagen 01.09.2009 - current

I applied for the professorship to be able to focus my research on reproductive pathology (teratology, fetal diseases, etc.) and to join the research at the department in equine reproductive pathology. During my employment, I have broadened my research in reproductive pathology, e.g., by leading the development of a porcine model for testing vaccines candidates for human genital chlamydiosis (together with Statens Seruminstitut), investigating bacterial invasion of the endometrium in bovine postpartum uterine disease and studying fetal development. Due to my significant and broad experience in pathology, I was involved in a broad range of research projects, where pathology was required. I was e.g., involved in research in dementia and neuropathic pain research in dogs and pathology of feral cats. While shifting to an area with clinical teaching, I over the years took over the teaching of cesarean section in cattle (around 16 experimental/teaching bovine cesarean sections per year) and fetotomy. Lectures included bovine pregnancy and post-partum conditions, abortion, notifiable diseases, and reproduction of pigs.

Member of the National Veterinary Health Council ("Det Veterinære Sundhedsråd") 2018 - current

I was appointed as member of the National Veterinary Health Council in 2018 by the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. The Council evaluates possible offences of animal protection regulations after request from authorities such as court, police or the Veterinary Food and Drug Administration (https://detvetsund.dk/). The council handles a large number of cases (250-300 cases annually) covering all domesticated and wild animal species. The membership has provided me with a broad and profound insight into animal welfare, forensic, and ethical issues.

Editor-in-Chief Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 01.01.2013 – 31.12.2023

I became Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica in 2013 after having acted as national editor since 2007. As EiC I have the responsibility for the quality of the journal and its development and have screened more than 1,000 manuscripts for overall quality, etc. I have continued my editorial work as assistant Editor-in-Chief (01.01.2024 – current). Details about the journal can be found here https://actavetscand.biomedcentral.com/.

Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the scientific journal Reproduction in Domestic Animals 01.12.2025 - current. Detail about the journal can be found here

Possible conflicts of interest

Assistant editor-in-chief for the scientific journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica and member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the scientific journal Reproduction in Domestic Animals

Member of the Danish Veterinary Health Counsil