Short presentation

Lars Erik Larsen (born 1963) holds a full professorship in veterinary virology and has worked with virus infections in production animals for the last 20 years. He has been involved in research on swine viruses (diagnostic tools, molecular epidemiology, vaccinology and basic pathogenesis) for the last 15 years. Lars has participated in several national and European projects on enzootic swine viruses with focus on PRRSV, PCV-2 and swine influenza virus. He is the head of the enzootic/zoonotic virus research group at UCPH and are scientifically responsible for the national surveillance program for Avian and Swine influenza viruses and chairs the Danish expert committee for avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses. Lars is also responsible for the teaching of veterinary students in veterinary virology and is supervisor of a range of Ph.d., master and bachelor students. Lars is presently board member of the Danish Society of Virology. He has published more than 100 international peer reviewed papers on veterinary virology and has co-authored more than 300 other publications.

Current research

The core research area is influenza in birds and pigs. The research focuses on investigating the factors that determine whether a specific influenza can infect humans (zoonotic potential) as well as the viral determinants, which control the virus’ ability to cause serious disease.

The group was the first to demonstrate the distribution and composition of influenza A virus receptors in the lungs of pigs. The group also participates in European and national projects working with other important viral infections in pigs such as PRRSV, Hepatitis E and virus in calves, poultry, mink, and wildlife. The projects also revolve around calf welfare, antibiotic use in pigs, and innovation projects on development and use of vaccines for the prevention of diseases in production animals.

The research is conducted in both cell cultures and in animal models. The group has established areverse genetics system for manipulation of influenza virus, and the group uses both conventional sequencing and Next Generation Sequencing for detailed analyses of the evolution of virus.

Research on influenza viruses is essential for the maintenance of a far-sighted contingency plan and support a diagnostics portfolio that is up to date. At the same time the results contribute to important new knowledge that can be used directly in the assessment of the zoonotic risk of future new influenza viruses.

The work on common (enzootic) virus infections is carried out in close cooperation with The Danish Agriculture & Food Council, SEGES and Kopenhagen Fur and it contributes to Denmark's continued competitiveness in the production of livestock. The research also contributes to improved animal welfare, higher productivity, and better food safety

CV

Personal information

Name:             Lars Erik Larsen

Born:               February 18, 1963 in Horsens; Denmark

Private:            Home address: Parkvej 7a 3550 Slangerup

Private status              Two kids (Simon from 1996 and Stefan from 1998)

Nationality:                 Danish

Current position:         Professor

Work address:          Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

University of Copenhagen

Dyrlægevej 88

1870 Frederiksberg C

Education (Academic Qualifications)

1991                D.V.M.; The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark

1998                Ph.D.; The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark

2008                 Diplomate of European College of Porcine Health Management (Dipl. ESPHM)

Awards

2002                O. Jensen's Memorial Award for work on BRSV in calves

2008                European PCV2 Award; Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany

2019                European PRRSV Award;      Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany       

Employment

Jan 1991 - Aug 1991            Visiting Research Scientist, Iowa State University; USA

Aug 1991 - Oct 1993           Study director, Scantox A/S, Ll. Shendsved; Denmark

Oct 1993 - Oct 2004            Senior Scientist Nycomed Imaging, Oslo, Norway

Nov 1994 - Dec 1997           Ph.d. Scholarship: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, RVAU, DK

Dec 1997 - Dec 2000           Research Scientist, Danish Veterinary Laboratory, Copenhagen, Denmark

Jan 2001 - May 2003           Senior Research Scientist, Danish Veterinary Laboratory, Copenhagen, DK

May 2003 - Dec 2003           Senior Scientist, Department of Virology, Novonordisk A/S, Bagsværd, DK

Jan 2004 - Jan 2009             Head of Section, National Veterinary Institute, DK

Aug 2010 - 2019                  Professor, National Veterinary Institute; DTU, DK

2019- present                      Professor, IVH, KU, DK

Teaching Experience and Censorships

2001-    Member of evaluation committees at minimum 15 bachelor, master and PhD exams at KU-LIFE

2001-    Co-advisor for 25 master students at DTU-VET and KU

2005-    Member of PhD evaluation committees in Sweden; Spain, Norway and Belgium

2006-    Main supervisor for 10 PhD students

2010-    Study responsible and main teacher of ”Virology for Veterinary Students”

Publications

103 peer reviewed; more than 300 others. H index:  27 (5 years calculated by Scholar august 2018). Total citations 1041 (938 without self citations). 19 citations/paper on average (Scorpus 2018). Research areas: Viral pathogenesis; Molecular epidemiology; vaccine development and assessment; development of diagnostic methods. Wild birds, poultry, swine, cattle, mink.

Full list of publications: ORCID: 0000-0003-0730-5555.

 Management experience/education

In 2004, I was appointed Head of Section of Pathology, Molecular Microbiology and Virology at the Division of Veterinary Diagnostic and Research. From 2004-2006, I was responsible for personnel management, budgets, work safety etc. of 27 employees including 6 senior scientists, 8 post docs/PhD students and 13 lab technicians. This position constituted 50% of my time, including participation in the management team of the division.

In 2007-2008, the pathology group constituting 9 employees was transferred to another section. From 2009, I was responsible for the virus research and diagnostic development group which constituted me, 3 post docs/scientists; 3 PhD students and 5 lab technicians. From August 2014, I have been responsible for the research group, which presently consist of one post doc, one molecular biologist, three PhD students and lab technicians. 

In addition to my practical experience with (line) management, I have passed the exam of the first two courses of the certified Danish “Diploma in Management” education.

I have several years of experience as scientific project manager of small and large research projects with participation from several different institutions and countries. In addition, I have had the scientific responsibility for the virus group at DTU-VET since 1998. Finally, I have completed a formal education in project management provided by the former Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Possible conflicts of interest

Current research

Major present projects:

FluZooMark - zoonotic aspects of swine influenza viruses - 2020-2025 - Novo Nordisk Foundation - 60 mill. DKK

PRRSV - sequencing, opathogeneses, vaccine strategies- 2020 - SEGES - 400.000 DKK

PRRSV - impact of mass vaccination - Svine levy foundation/European PRRSV award - 450.000 DKK

Svine influenza virus -  diversity, diagnostics,  control - 2020 - 490.000 DKK