Research

I am conducting research on physiology and metabolism with particular focus on regenerative medicine and biology. By the use of truly regenerative research animal models and appropriate methods, I seek to unravel whether true tissue regeneration without scar formation is possible in vital and critical organs like the heart or the central nervous system in highly metabolically active organisms like the human. My research has the potential to contribute to the development of regenerative therapies.

Profile

I am Associate Professor at the Department for Clinical Medicine. Here I especially focus on the field of regenerative medicine. How do we increase tissue regeneration after injuries caused by disease or accidents, e.g. injuries to the heart following cardiac disease or to the spinal cord after contusion trauma? Rather than just relying on clinical observations and experiments, I apply the strategy of the comparative physiologist i.e. understanding how special adaptations in regenerative animal models allow for tissue regeneration. In my work, I am particularly interested in using imaging techniques such as ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET imaging to assess the regenerative process. My training is within biology, and besides my dedication to the regenerative field I take part in a range of national and international collaborations using imaging technologies to understand basic phenomena in human and animal physiology.

Cooperation and dissemination

I collaborate with national and international partners at universities and natural and cultural heritage institutions. Both within my own field of regenerative medicine and biology as well on projects within imaging of specimens/samples with great natural/cultural importance.

Teaching

I teach comparative (evolutionary) medicine for master’s students in medicine with the purpose of providing future medical doctors with a better fundamental understanding of the mechanisms that shaped human anatomy, physiology and pathologies. I also teach zoological imaging – the use of modern medical imaging techniques on non-traditional research animal models – for master’s student in biology. In addition, I teach responsible conduct of research for first year PhD students.

Job responsibilities

My primary area of ​​responsibility is animal research including surgical interventions in small research animals. I also contribute to clinical research with high resolution imaging techniques such as high frequency ultrasound and micro-CT imaging and advanced image analysis. In addition, I sometimes engage in research projects with collaborators within the fields of natural history and cultural heritage research aiding with scanning an analysis tasks of specimens with great biological, historical and/or national importance.