Main research areas

CURRICULUM VITAE

Education

1986                    Medical Doctor,

                            University of Copenhagen                                             

1996                    Certified specialist in internal medicine

2006                    Certified specialist in endocrinology

Clinical position

• Chief Physician, Endocrinology Section, Department of Endocrinology and Nephrology, Nordsjællands Hospital Hillerød Clinical work includes outpatient clinics – mainly diabetes and duties in the Emergency Department

Academic positions

• Current position: Clinical Professor, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen 01.01.2017-
  • Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc), University of Copenhagen, 2009:

Scientific qualifications per February 1^st, 2021

Severe hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetes: Impact of the renin-angiotensin system and other risk factors. Dan Med Bull 56:193-207;2009.

• Principal supervisor at 10 PhD projects and supervisor at further 8 PhD projects (7 ongoing)
• Mentor for one post doc (ongoing)
• Opponent at 8 PhD theses and 1 DMSc dissertation
• Reviewer for 25 international scientific journals incl. JAMA, The Lancet, Lancet Diab Endocrinol and Diabetes Care
• Associate Editor, Diabetologia since 2020
• Investigator/co-investigator in 20+ international multi-centre RCT studies since 2007
• Fund raising as principal applicant since 1998: > 33,000,000 DKK

Summary of research

I started in diabetes research in 1998 in collaboration with Professor Birger Thorsteinsson at Nordsjællands Hospital Hillerød. During the early phase the focus was on identification of risk factors for severe hypoglycaemia in diabetes. We developed a novel classification of hypoglycaemia awareness (the ability of patients with diabetes to perceive hypoglycaemic warning symptoms), which is the strongest risk factor for severe hypoglycaemia. This is now used internationally. We were first to introduce genetics in the field of hypoglycaemia and identified several gene variations associated with increased risk of severe hypoglycaemia. These findings became the backbone of my thesis. Furthermore, I pioneered the use of continuous glucose monitoring in hypoglycaemia research and in randomized clinical trials with insulins.

During recent years, I have headed up the Endocrine Research Unit, Dept. Endocrinology & Nephrology, Nordsjællands Hospital Hillerød. I have developed the research group into a more collaborative unit, partnering with research groups with complimentary expertise. I have included a focus on hitherto unexplored asymptomatic hypoglycaemia, on adaptation to recurrent hypoglycaemia and conducted multicenter randomized clinical trials on insulin in patients at increased risk of hypoglycaemia. I have engaged in several national and international collaborations with the aim to explore the association between severe hypoglycaemia and cardiovascular disease in diabetes. This includes the development of a porcine model of hypoglycaemia for mechanistic studies of cardiovascular effects of hypoglycaemia. I am also part of an SDCC led collaboration on the impact of human factors on the outcome of insulin pump therapy. Since 2018 I have been a partner in the IMI2 Hypo-RESOLVE consortium, contributing to research projects on epidemiology and consequences of hypoglycaemia in diabetes.

Bibliometrics

See ORCID: 0000-0003-0588-4880

Expertises

Clinical:

Diabetes; insulin therapy; insulin pump therapy (CSII); continuous glucose monitoring (CGM); hypoglycaemia; acute diabetology

Scientific:

As above. Professor with special focus on acute diabetology

Current research

See above

Potential conflicts of interest

Research support: Novo Nordisk

Advisory boards: Novo Nordisk, Sanofi Aventis

Consultant: MSD

Speaker honorarium: AstraZeneca, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk