Curriculum

Present position from 01/01/2017: Professor, Unit for Health Promotion Research, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark.

Former employment until 31/1272016: Consultant, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital, head of the Department for Thrombosis Research, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, and Professor in Thrombosis Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark.

Education, employment, academic examinations, etc.
Graduated Esbjerg Statsskole 1967. Bachelor of Medicine, Århus University 1975. 11 months national service with the Military Medical Corps and 4 years employment in clinical departments at Terndrup, Aalborg and Esbjerg. Specialist in Clinical Biochemistry 1986. 3 years employment as Research Registrar at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Esbjerg Central Hospital. Doctorate dissertation (Dr. Med. Sc.) from Århus University 1987 ("Pathophysiology and clinical aspects of fibrinolysis and inhibition of coagulation. Experimental and clinical studies with special reference to women on oral contraceptives and selected groups of thrombosis prone patients"). Consultant at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Esbjerg Central Hospital since 1986. Head of the Institute of Thrombosis Research, South Jutland University Centre since 1985.Since August 1998 the South Jutland University Centre is part of the University of Southern Denmark, which also comprises Southern Denmark School of Business and Engineering and Odense University. Professor in Thrombosis Research at Odense University since 1994 and since 1999 at the University of Southern Denmark.
Shared "Limprisen 1987" (thrombosis research), Valsemølleprisen 1989 (diet and thrombosis), Rudolf Jürgens Medal 1992 (thrombosis research) and “Fellow of the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology” 1997, and Fellow of the American Heart Association 2001 (F.A.H.A.).

Research and research management
I performed my first two scientific projects as a young intern at the Department of Medicine, Ribe County Hospital in Esbjerg (Consultant Gunnar Gregersen MD). The studies quickly led to an interest in researching thrombosis diseases, and during the period 1980 1987, my own research efforts and schooling were the most important work. The aim from the start was to combine basic research with patient related research, among other things to reduce implementation time to clinical practice. Efforts were concentrated on laboratory and clinical aspects of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Among other things, studies on the influence of contraceptive pills were used as an in vivo model for conditions with increased risk of thrombosis. The result of this research was 60 70 original works, published in international biochemical, clinical chemical and chemical periodicals; my thesis was another result.
During the period, I was employed in a research position at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital in Esbjerg (Consultant Ove Korsgaard), under the guidance of Tage Astrup Dr.Phil. (South Jutland University Centre) and as registrar (educational position) under Prof. Rud. Keiding MD, in Clinical Biochemistry (Århus Kommunehospital and Århus University). In addition, during a longer period of study at the Gaubius Institute, Holland, collaboration was initiated with Professor Pieter Brakman and his colleagues. Similarly, my leadership of the Fibrinolysis section of the EU project "European Concerted Action against Thrombosis (ECAT) from 1983 1993 lead to the establishment of a wide international network.

In particular, since 1987 I have built up a research group based in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital, and rooted in the Department for Thrombosis Research at Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark. Research efforts are still directed towards tracing patients with a high risk of developing thrombosis diseases in order to be able to offer a more rational and at best preventive treatment.

The basis for this research is the establishment of clinical biochemical methods, including molecular biological techniques, and is linked to the core areas:

• clinical experimental research laying weight on the risk stratification of patients with previous coronary thrombosis (ischaemic heart disease), patients with diabetes, pregnant women and women being treated with oestrogen

• experimental studies to increase understanding for the basic biochemical conditions which are important in regulating coagulation and fibrinolysis, and their inter relation with the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids

• methodological and theoretical research on the standardisation of analysis techniques and treatment strategies

• research into primary and secondary intervention strategies with an aim to reduce the risks in exposed groups and individuals ("gene environmental interaction")

In the research activities described, I am Head, adviser to younger researchers and an active researcher in the planning, performance and publication of projects. This has resulted in 30 40 scientific publications a year, lectures, discourses, treatises, ph.d.-theses and doctoral dissertations (a total of 16 since 1987) by the department, and research at a high international level. This statement is documented in the international evaluation of Danish research, initiated by the Ministry of Education in 1992 (SOFIE International Evaluation of Danish Health Research, Copenhagen: Ministry for Research Publications, 1993).

In establishing a research environment, local council and county council funds have been used in particular, as well as grants from both local and national private foundations. Among other things, in 1996 around 4 million DKK were contributed from a private foundation for the building and manning (over a 5 year period) of a molecular biological laboratory. In 2002 the department received a grant of 15 mio. DKK from EU for the programme ”Cost-effectiveness of Computer-Assisted Anticoagulant Dosage” under European Action on Anticoagulation (EAA) (2002-2007) – Programme no. QLG4-CT-2001-02175 (40 European centres and 16,000 patient years). In 2007 the Department received a grant of 4 mio. DDK from Esbjerg Fonden and the Strategic Research Council’s programme commission on Health, Food and Welfare to the project: “How to individualise vitamin K-antagonist treatment? A study on the influence of gene-environment interactions on inter- and intra individual variations in dose-response”.

Other research and development experience
Initiator, together with Professor Sven O. Skouby MD, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Frederiksberg Hospital, of the institution "The European Esbjerg Meeting on Oral Contraceptives" in Esbjerg, 1989, and Amsterdam, 1995, and Monte Carlo 2002, and the related prepared "Consensus development Reports", and the establishment of the "Scandinavian Menopause Society" in 1990.

For many years, member of the scientific committee at specialist meetings of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Scientific and Standardiza¬tion Committee (SSC), International Society for Fibrinolysis and Thrombolysis, and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry.

Regularly consulted as a referee by The Lancet, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, Gut, Thrombosis Research, Biochemical and Biophysical Methods, Contraception, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Annals of Hematology, Biochemical Pharmacology, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (American Heart Association), Fibrinolysis and Proteolysis, Circulation, and Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

1988-2001 member of the "Editorial "Board" of Journal of Fibrinolysis and Proteolysis.

1999-2002 member of the Editorial Board of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and 2004-2005 Journal Thrombosis and Haemostasis, i.e the official journal of ISTH.

Member of a number of specialist steering committees under the EU's framework programmes, among others the Steering Group (chairman) within EU’s ”Standardi-zation, Measure, and Testing Programme” – Normalisation and Standardi-zation of Home Prothrombin Time Monitors (1999-2002) – Programme no. SMT4-CT98-2269 and the Steering Group (chairman) within EU’s ”Cost-effectiveness of Computer-Assisted Anticoagulant Dosage” under European Action on Anticoagulation (EAA) (2002- ) – Programme no. QLG4-CT-2001-02175.


Administrative and specialist development work, etc.

Internationally:
1992 1996 General secretary for International Society for Fibrinolysis and Thrombolysis.

Since 1992 Chief Editor of EU's manual on the harmonisation of haemostatic analysis methods.

Since 1993, member of SSC's standardisation committee on analysis methods.

From 1994-2009 Danish representative of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC).

1986 1995 Danish representative at the committee of "European Thrombosis Research Organization" (ETRO) under the European Council.

Member of the Working Group on Thrombosis of the European Cardiology Society (ECS).

Scandinavia and nationally:
1991 1995 Chairman for NORDKEM's follow up group on MTV of anti¬coagulant treatment in Scandinavia.

Since 1 January 2000 member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the ECAT Foundation (International Thrombophilia External Quality Assessment Scheme).

1995-1999 member of the board of the Danish Society for Clinical Biochemistry.

From 1995-2006 attached to the Danish National Board of Health specialist tribunal.

Member of a number of specialist committees at University of Southern Denmark, Århus and Copenhagen Universities: specialist judging committees for ph.d.-theses and dissertations etc.

From 2000-2004 member of the Council of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark.

From 2004-2010 member of the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation’s Strategic Research Council’s programme commission on Health, Food and Welfare and the ad hoc commission on Health, Security and Environmental factors.

From 2010 member of the Steering Group for telemedicine in anticoagulant treatment in the Region of Southern Denmark.

From 2010 member of the Biomedical Research Committee of the Danish Heart Association.

From 2010 adviser at the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation’s Council for Strategic Research.

Publications
341 peer-reviewed scientific articles besides a number of reviews, books, and chapters in books – H-factor 44.

Research areas

In particular, since 1987 I have built up a research group based in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital, and rooted in the Department for Thrombosis Research at Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark. Research efforts are still directed towards tracing patients with a high risk of developing thrombosis diseases in order to be able to offer a more rational and at best preventive treatment.

The basis for this research is the establishment of clinical biochemical methods, including molecular biological techniques, and is linked to the core areas:

• clinical experimental research laying weight on the risk stratification of patients with previous coronary thrombosis (ischaemic heart disease), patients with diabetes, pregnant women and women being treated with oestrogen 
• experimental studies to increase understanding for the basic biochemical conditions which are important in regulating coagulation and fibrinolysis, and their inter relation with the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids 
• methodological and theoretical research on the standardisation of analysis techniques and treatment strategies 
• research into primary and secondary intervention strategies with an aim to reduce the risks in exposed groups and individuals ("gene environmental interaction")