EDUCATION

2013   PhD in microbiology, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM).

2007  Cand. Scient. in biology, Roskilde University (RUC).

WORKEXPERIENCE

2021 – now    Associate professor, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), ISIM.

2016 – 2021  Assistant Professor, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), ISIM.

2015 – 2016  PostDoc, H:S Rigshospitalet,
Department of Clinical Microbiology.

2013 – 2015  PostDoc, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), ISIM.

2008 – 2010 Scientific assistant, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), ISIM.

2007 – 2008 Scientific assistant, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Department of Systems Biology, Biosys.

SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS

I have supervised and co-supervised: 1 PhD, 8 MSc, 4 BSc and 2 MD students.

Research output: 37 peer reviewed articles and book chapters. 2 patent applications. 1601 citations, H-index: 19 (Web of Sciences, November 2022). Google Scholar indexed. 2485 citations, H-index: 21. ORCID: 0000-0002-1671-2155.

ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

2017 -            Inventor and organizer of yearly CBC seminar

2021 -            Chairman of 2 PhD assessor committee at SUND-UCPH

COMMISSIONS OF TRUST

2021-             National Editor of APMIS Journal

2017              Guest Editor for a special issue 'Signaling Systems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm'

Talks at national and international conferences

12 oral presentations and 7 poster presentation. Selected oral presentations: Eccmid, 2019, Eurobiofilm, 2017, The Danish Council for Strategic Research, annual meeting, 2014, Nobel Biofilm Conference, 2013, Eccmid, 2013, ASM – Biofilm Conference, 2012, Eurobiofilm, 2011.

PRESS

>50 national and international newspapers, popular science magazines and science websites.

Press releases: Fungi and bacteria grow on body implants (UCPH), 3/7/2018, Garlic can fight chronic infections (UCPH), 16/11/2017, Garlic counteracts virulent bacteria (UCPH), 18/2/2014, Garlic constituent blocks biofilm formation, could benefit cystic fibrosis patients and others (ASM), 27/5/2012.

Research Support

01/08/2021 – 31/07/2023 Diagnosis of sterile site infections. Supported by MD Sophus Carl Friis and Olga Doris Friis’ Foundation. Role: Co-PI. 500.000,-. 25/8/2021 – 31/12/22 Karakterisering af biofilminfektioner by Direktør Emil C. Hertz og Hustru Inger Hertz Fond. Role: PI. 20.000,-. 05/11/21 – 31/3/2024 Biofilminfektioner i kroniske sår by Hartmann Fonden. Role: PI. 80.000,- 03/02/2022- 31/12/2023 Karakterisering af biofilminfektioner by Aase og Ejnar Danielsens Fond. Role: PI. 180.000,-

Up until the 1970s, bacteria were understood to live as single organisms (planktonic mode of life), floating or actively swimming in their respective environments. This perception was challenged by the discovery that bacteria can live as organized aggregated communities, termed biofilms, and today the biofilm mode of growth is considered the favored life form of bacteria. Biofilm formation in the environment is believed to be an ancient strategy by which bacteria increase their survival potential in hostile environments. Extensive investigations support this to also be valid for biofilm related infections where the bacteria show highly elevated tolerance towards antibiotics and the immune system, compared with planktonic cells.

Several signalling systems have been shown to be involved in different aspects of biofilm formation and maintenance, not least Quorum Sensing (QS) and cyclic-di-GMP. The importance of such signalling systems is supported by the growing identification of how factors regulated by these systems favor survival potentials of pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Our knowledge of signalling systems is constantly evolving and new components taking part in the regulation are discovered. Treatment of biofilm infections is significantly more difficult and complex compared to the relatively simple task of treating acute infections.

I primarely forcus on validation of substances for inhibition of pathogenic bacteria as well as investigation the role of bacterial biofilms in infection control and treatment of chronic infections. My focus is molecules capable of attenuating signalling systems like QS and cyclic-di-GMP as potential approaches in the attempt to develop new strategies against biofilms. My work spans from the identification of early leads to preclinical drug candidates by proping their efficacies.