Research areas

Participatory systems approaches, systems evaluation, health promotion, diabetes prevention research

Main research areas

 I have a Master of Science in Public Health Sciences degree and a PhD in Active Living and intervention research followed by +10 years of academic experience in public health, health promotion and prevention research, with primary experience in developing and evaluating complex, real-life population-based interventions. In the last five years I have specialized in systems approaches and systems evaluation. I work in close collaboration with practice to ensure sustainability and scalability, and in a variety of settings such as e.g. vulnerable neighbourhoods, primary and vocational schools.

Major research themes include health promotion capacity, organizational readiness, participatory whole-systems-approaches, physical activity, smoking and alcohol prevention, mental health and wellbeing. I have worked with a wide range of qualitative, quantitative, and process-oriented methods and approaches, many different types of designs, e.g., observational, and controlled studies, natural experiments and participatory (whole-of) systems designs.

My main body of research has been targeting children and young people from a population-based and social health inequity perspective and with an overweight of studies within physical activity.

Potential conflicts of interest

None

Current research

Research management and funding (current position)

• National Initiative to Promote Water Consumption Among Children and Youth. Main research partner, 2025-2030. Funding phase 2 (2025-2026) 9,600,000 (Centre for Childhood Health).
• National School-Based Physical Activity and Sports Partnership. Research partner, 2024–2030. Funding phase 2 (2024-2026) 9,200,000, (Centre for Childhood Health).
• My Life – I Decide. A health promoting school intervention to increase mental health, life-skills, and well-being among 10th grade students. Principal Investigator, 2024-2027. Funding: 4,997,200 (Trygfonden) + 1,240,766 (Danske Regioner)
• Children's Cooperation Denmark (Child-COOP): Promoting healthy physical activity behaviour in children aged 6-12 years: a 3-year system dynamics trial. Co-applicant, 2023-2026, Funding: 9,800,000 (Novo Nordisk Fonden)
• The Move NEET Youth study: A Systems Approach to Promote Physical activity among Youth at FGU-schools. Principal Investigator, 2023-2026, Funding 4,500,000 (Hjerteforeningen)
• Mens Health Program, part I+II: Developing a health promotion program delivered by professional football clubs and local communities. Research partner. A collaboration between 5 Danish Steno Centers, 2022-2026, Funding: 3,000,000 (StenoDK)
• The PROVE IT study: Promoting healthy weight in young adults attending vocational education – a feasibility study of a participatory systems approach. Principal Investigator, 2022-2026, Funding: 3,540,390 (Novo Nordisk Fonden)
• Move-Out: Efficacy and mechanisms of an education outside the classroom intervention. Co-applicant, 2021-2025, Funding: 5,300,000 (Novo Nordisk Fonden)
• Data-driven co-creation and health promotion at Vocational Education and Training (VET) schools. Principal Investigator, 2020-2025, Funding: 2,550,000 (Danske Regioner, Helsefonden, Tværspuljen)
• ASPHALT Part II. Multi-Method Evaluation of a Comprehensive Peer-Led Youth Community Sport Programme Implemented in Low Resource Neighbourhoods. Principal Investigator for Research, 2020-2025, Funding: 10,000,000 (Novo Nordisk Fonden)
• Formative evaluation of “Fælles om ungelivet”. Principal Investigator for Research, 2020-2024, Funding: 650,000 (Sundhedsstyrelsen)
• Health and wellbeing survey at VET schools. Principal Investigator 2018-2020, Funding: 1,000,000 (Hjerteforeningen)
• Smokefree vocational schools. Principal Investigator for Research, 2018-2022, Funding: 9,400,000 (Sundhedsministeriet)
• ASPHALT Part 1, Co-applicant, 2017-2019, Funding: 10,000,000 (Novo Nordisk Fonden)
• A pre-study of effective tobacco prevention at vocational schools. Principal Investigator, 2017-2018, Funding: 500,000 (Hjerteforeningen)
• Health promotion activities and capacity at Danish VET schools. Principal Investigator, 2017, Funding: 300,000 (Hjerteforeningen)