Professor and head of Section of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences with 25 scientific staff members. The research group consists currently of two PhD students, one post doc and several MSc and BSc students. Research focus is on cardiovascular adaptations to exercise, often termed “Athlete´s Heart” in racehorses with focus on translational perspectives. Especially atrial fibrillation has high interest and the disease is disabling for both horses and people. The horse is an alternative animal model compared to traditionally used models such as rodents and pigs and we show that the horse and human has several similarities regarding this disease. The research with establishing this new animal model has been funded both by the Danish Research Council (2018, 2021, 2022, and 2024), Marie Curie Horizon 2020 ITN network and Marie Curie Horizon 2020 IF. The studies of atrial fibrillation are ongoing and methods established will be included in future projects.

Collaborations involve both veterinarians, biologist and MDs. Major collaborators include: Prof. Thomas Jespersen (AF and animal models), and assoc. prof. Steen Larsen (myocardial metabolism), Department of Biomedicine, UCPH. Consultant Steen Pehrson and Stefan Sattler, Rigshospitalet (pacemaker implantation and cardiac mapping), Prof. Pyotr Platonov (AF and animal models), University of Lund, Sweden. Prof. Dominik Linz and Assoc. prof. Sander Verheule (AF and tissue characterization), Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Prof. Alicia D'Souza (Athlete’s Heart), University of Manchester, UK. Prof. Prashanthan Sanders, University of Adelaide, Australia (AF, 3D electroanatomical mapping and exercise). Prof. Ingrid E. Christophersen, Bærum hospital, Norway (AF and genetics).

Research has been concentrated within cardiovascular adaptation to exercise, often termed “Athlete’s Heart” in racehorses. This also includes atrial fibrillation in horses as well as Sudden Cardiac Death in equine athletes.  For all projects, the synergy between equine and human research is strong and visible and I hope our research will gain new insight into diseases that are of importance for both horse and man.

Teaching of pre- and post graduate Veterinarians within internal medicine curriculum. Also supervision of bachelor (>30 projects) and master student (>60 projects) as well as PhD students is a part of my supervision

Present occupation:         

Professor, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Head of Graduate School,  Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Education:                        

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (1999)

PhD (2004). Thesis title: Cardiac development assessed by echocardiography in young Standardbred trotters

Employment:                    

PhD student, Department of Clinical Sciences, Internal Medicine, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (May 1999)

Maternity leave (May 1999 – February 2000)

PhD student, Department of Clinical Sciences, Internal Medicine, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (March 2000-December 2002)

Assistant Veterinarian, Department of Clinical Sciences, Large Animal Surgery, KVL (December 2002-April 2003)

Maternity leave (April 2003-February 2004)

PhD student, Department of Clinical Sciences, Internal Medicine, KVL (March 2004-June 2004)

Assistant Professor, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen (June 2004-November 2007)

Associate Professor, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen (November 2007 – October 2013)

PhD Coordinator, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen (April 2009 - 2016)

Head of Medicine and Surgery at Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen (August 2009 - present)

Professor (MSO), Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (October 2013 - Feb 2019)

Professor, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (2019 - present)

Head of Graduate School,  Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (2022 - present)

Other scientific qualifications

Reviewer:                       

• Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia
• Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
• Equine Veterinary Journal
• Veterinary Journal
• Journal of Veterinary Medical Science
• Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)
• Journal of Veterinary Cardiology

Co-editor:

• Equine Veterinary Journal (2010)

Editorial Board Member:

• BMC Veterinary Research (2012 - present)
• Member of ACVIM board for the ACVIM consensus statement 2013:“Recommendations for equine athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities”
• Editorial Board Member for Dansk Veterinær Tidsskrift (Danish Veterinary Journal) (2012 -present)
• Member of Veterinary Research Committee, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (2013-2016)
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Honours

• 2014: Best veterinary teacher elected by the veterinary students, University of Copenhagen

PhD supervision - present and past: 15 PhD students and 4 Post docs