I conduct research on the immune system and lead the Biophysical Immunology Laboratory at the Department of Biomedicine. We combine biophysics, chemical physics, and nanotechnology to understand how the structure of molecules determines their function. Our goal is to gain new insights into diseases such as autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. I hold an MSc in Chemical Biotechnology, a PhD in Immunology, and a Doctor of Medical Science (DrMed) degree from Aarhus University. I have also conducted research at the University of Oxford and Harvard Medical School.
I investigate the innate immune system, which constitutes the body's first line of defense against infections but can also cause disease when its responses become excessive. I have contributed to the discovery of key molecules in the complement system, an important component of innate immunity. My group has also developed a method for measuring the binding properties of multivalent molecules. Most recently, we identified a receptor that binds with high affinity to the protein aggregates that arise early in Alzheimer's disease.
I primarily teach immunology in the medical curriculum and also contribute to courses in pharmacology and nanomedicine. In engineering programs, I serve as a guest lecturer in immunology and tissue engineering. I have supervised or co-supervised more than 20 PhD students and currently mentor project students from medicine, nanotechnology, engineering, and related fields. I serve as an examiner of MSc and PhD theses in Denmark and internationally and have taught courses through the Danish University Extension (Folkeuniversitetet) in several cities.
I collaborate with research and educational institutions, large companies and start-ups, as well as patient organizations that often participate as partners in research projects. These collaborations with industry have resulted in several patents, and I regularly present at industrial research forums.
I evaluate research proposals for Danish and international foundations and research councils, including the European Commission, the UK Medical Research Council, and the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet). I also advise major pharmaceutical companies and smaller biomedical enterprises in Denmark and abroad on project development, scientific assessment, intellectual property, and research strategy.
I conduct research and teaching at the Department of Biomedicine. Since 2007, I have held leadership responsibilities within the Graduate School of Health, and since 2014 I have served as Director of the PhD Programme at the department. For more than a decade, I have co-organized the Aarhus Immunotherapy Symposium, bringing together researchers from universities, hospitals, and industry. I am a member of the University History Committee and have published on the history of immunology and Aarhus University.
