Short presentation

Professor Peter Vilmann had an early scientific work in the field of digestive endoscopy and especially in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), which started as an international recognized pioneer on EUS with linear transducers, as well as a variety of EUS-guided diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. He was the first in the world to perform EUS-guided fine needle biopsy (1991) and the inventor of the first needle assembly for EUS-guided aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA).

During the years he had published more than 150 publications accepted in peer/reviewed international medical journals, as well as more than 25 medical books or chapters as an author or co-author. These included various aspects of EUS diagnosis and treatment, including EUS-guided pseudocyst drainage and other rendez-vous procedures for bile duct drainage.

Prof. Vilmann has conducted pioneering work in the field of EUS and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), including the development of EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). He also took an active role in the development of enteroscopy techniques, with testing of double balloon, single balloon and spiral enteroscopy. Also, he has introduced a non-anesthesiologist propofol sedation (NAPS) program at Gentofte University Hospital and took an active role in the structured evaluation of competency.
Latest work include developments in natural orifices transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and minimal invasive endoscopic interventions for obesity and digestive anastomoses (the center is for e.g. part of the Galaxy protocol which will include patients with acute cholecystitis deemed unfit for surgery for EUS-guided transgastric gallbladder drainage).

Based on the work during the years he has been part of various committees, including the Guideline Committee of European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
(ESGE), which finalized several guidelines on EUS-FNA, enteroscopy, NAPS, etc. as well as the International Committee of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).

From 2010, Prof. Vilmann holds a full professorship at Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, where a new endoscopy department has been build and became operational in September 2012. The endoscopy center is meant to be an Excellence Center of EUS and CLE (Confocal laser endosmicroscopy) in Europe, as it has state-of-the-art equipment, but also the human power needed to achieve a critical mass for a clinical and translational research environment.
Several grants have been assembled leading to the development of a powerful CLE center with two different types of equipment available (both a stand-alone endoscopic CLE scope, but also a probe based system).

Present research interests thus include advanced endoscopy techniques in general, but also further work in the field of EUS and EUS-guided biopsy, diagnostic (including elastography and contrast enhancement) and therapeutic EUS procedures, including EUS-guided and EUS-assisted procedures, double balloon enteroscopy as well as NOTES and CLE. A combination of EUS and CLE comes as a logical consequence of Prof. Vilmann endeavors during the past 20 years.

CV

Education

• Honoris Causa (HC), University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Romania (Sept. 2011)
• MD.Sc (dr.med A-disputats), University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Feb. 1998)
• Speciality, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Gastroenterology (Jan. 1994) and Surgery (Jan. 1993)
• MD (cand.med), University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Jan. 1981)

Positions and Employment

1982 - 1993 Training (medical doctor) at various hospitals in Denmark

1993 - 1994 1. reservelæge, Dept. of Surgery, Gastrointestinal Unit, Herlev Hospital, Denmark

1994 - 1995 1. reservelæge, Dept. of Surgical Gastroenterology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

1995 - 2009 Overlæge, Dept. of Surgical Gastroenterology, Gentofte Hospital, Denmark

2005- 2010 Scientific lecturer, Dept. of Surgical Gastroenterology, Gentofte Hospital, Denmark

2009 - Overlæge, Dept. of Surgery, Gastrointestinal Unit, Herlev Hospital, Denmark

2010 - Full Professor of Endoscopy in Copenhagen University Herlev Hospital, Denmark

Other Experience and Professional Memberships

ASGE member since 2001. Present member of the European Society of GI Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline Committee and American Society of GI Endoscopy (ASGE) International Committee working group (until May 2013).

Past chairman of the Danish Society of Endoscopy, Past board member of Scandinavian Association of Digestive Endoscopy (SADE), Past board member of the Education committee of the ESGE.

Editorial board of medical journals

Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, Endoscopy, Visible Human Journal of Endoscopy (VHJOE), Video Journal and Encyclopedia of GI Endoscopy VIJGIE, Endoscopic Ultrasound

Referee work for scientific journals

Gastroenterology, Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, Journal of the Danish Medical Association, Acta Radiologica, Respiration, Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Digestive Diseases and Sciences, Cytopathology, European Respiratory Journal, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gastroenterology Research and Practice, Ultrasound in Biology and Medicine, pancreatology among others

Honors

The Swedish Society of Medicine Jubileumspriset 1999, Copenhagen county employee Idea Prize 2005, ”Doctor Honoris Causa” (Æres Doktor). Romania Ministry of  Education, Research and Youth. University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania 2009, Primary Doctors at Gentofte Hospital Honorary award 2011, Visiting Professor, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India 2011, Herlev Hospitals High Impact prize 2011.

Ongoing research support

The A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation (2012). CLE equipment. USD 387,045. Role: PI, Arvid Nilssons Foundation, 2 PhD stipends (01/09/12-31/08/15). USD 324,875. Role: PI, Toyota Foundation (2012). CLE equipment. USD 63,170. Role: PI The Jochum Foundation (2012). CLE equipment. USD 90,243. Role: PI Aase and Ejnar Danielsen Foundation (2012). CLE equipment. USD 27,073. Role: PI

International multicentric studies

• EUS-guided gallbladder drainage with the AXIOS stent in patients with acute cholecystitis unsuitable for surgery: a feasibility study 2013-2014.
• Needle Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (CLE) on Pancreatic Masses 2012-2013 (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01734967). The aim of the proposed study is to describe confocal imaging criteria for pancreatic masses, lymph nodes or liver metastases identified during EUS procedures performed for pancreatic cancer staging (EUS-nCLE), while evaluating also the feasibility and safety of nCLE examinations based on i.v. fluorescein.
• Characterization of Crohn's disease by CLE and the relation to disease activity 2012-2014 (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01738529). Patients with colonic or ileal Crohn´s disease, where an indication for treatment and colonoscopy exists are examined with endoscope based CLE. Contrast Enhanced Harmonic Endoscopic Ultrasound (CEH-EUS) in Focal Pancreatic Masses: 2011-2012 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01315548)
• Controlled Trial Comparing the Performance of 22 Gauge Versus 25 Gauge EUS-FNA Needles (FNA-22G-25G) – international study (National Institute of Health ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01016288), coordinated by Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen – Subinvestigator [2009-2012]
• Endoscopic Ultrasound Elastography in Pancreatic Masses: 2009-2010 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00909103)

Publications

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Vilmann+P