Short presentation

ABOUT ME

Academic affiliations: DVM, PhD, National Specialist, Professor Veterinary Neurology

Honours: Member of Honour, European College of Veterinary Neurology

Scientific stay abroad: Cornell University, New York, USA (1994-1995), Norges Veterinærhøgskole, Oslo, Norge (2003-2004)

Administration: Head of Section for Surgery, Neurology & Cardiology (since 2013). Head of Graduate PhD Programme in Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (since 2007) www.phd-veterinary-animal-sciences.ku.dk

ABOUT RESEARCH

Research Focus: I have since 2004  been heading the Danish Veterinary Neurology Research Group. We have a very strong focus on investigating CNS diseases such as dementia, ischaemic stroke and epilepsy, which occur spontaneously in family dogs and people. We also study the patophysiology of neuropathic pain.

Research impact: First, our results can support novel preventive initiatives and better treatment and quality of life for animals with CNS disease. We are, however, equally enganged in comparative studies where our results are of interest as translational spontaneous animal models for similar diseases in humans. Together with clinical and basic neuroscientists from University of Copenhagen, University of Southern Denmark, Aarhus University, University of Lund, University of Oxford and industrial partners (amomg others), we work to uncover the fascinating association between the clinical phenotype and the underlying molecular and neuropathological disease mechanisms. Thus the results coming from our group also hold the potential to benefit people with CNS disease.

Research strength: We have the unique opportunity to study disease mechanisms as they occur naturally in family dogs (as opposed to experimental animal models) - and to study brain tissue from diseased dogs which due to severe disabilities and a poor quality of life must be euthanized. These dogs are donated to our research by dedicated owners for post mortem molecular and neuropathological studies - for which we are very grateful. 

ABOUT TEACHING

Pre and postgraduate education: In the veterinary curriculum, I am responsible for teaching basic and advanced neurology at the Bachelor and Master levels. I also teach communication skills. 

I am responsible for postgraduate teaching of veterinary neurology at the University of Copenhagen "Master of Companian Animal Clinical Science" www.cacs.ku.dk 

I am world-wide recognized as a state-of the-art lecturer at international congresses and courses