News from Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Vaccine:

2025.06.20

Vaccine disguised as a virus tricks the body into stronger immunity

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn’t just face masks that became part of everyday conversation - so did a new vaccine technology: the mRNA vaccine. As the first of its kind, the COVID-19 vaccine was developed using…

2025.06.20

Clinical and preclinical research recognised with prestigious awards

The Kirsten and Freddy Johansen Foundation will present its two annual prizes for preclinical and clinical research at the Ceremonial Hall today.

Cancer:

2025.06.18

More women can now get answers about their hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer due to new genetic method

A new gene-editing method enables researchers to more easily determine whether a patient has inherited an increased risk of developing cancer—before any symptoms appear. Researchers at Rigshospitalet have tested the…

SUND Basic Research

2025.06.12

Safety becomes more important than foraging when a specific neuronal circuit in the brain is activated

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have identified a neural circuit in the mouse’s brain which ensures that it prioritises safety over other needs, e.g. food seeking, and that this happens automatically when…

CLIMATE

2025.06.04

Climate crisis pressures the ‘Arctic giant’: Habitats risk disappearing completely

Climate change poses a serious threat to the habitats of the bowhead whale, which may shrink by up to 75 percent by the end of the century.

New Danish-led research initiative:

2025.06.04

One step closer to the world’s first hepatitis C vaccine

A Grand Solutions Grant worth DKK 15.7 million from Innovation Fund Denmark will help bring groundbreaking Danish vaccine candidate to clinical trials.

DIABETES

2025.05.28

Newly discovered ‘molecular fingerprints’ could transform diabetes treatment and diagnosis

Unprecedented insights into insulin resistance could pave the way for better treatments and earlier detection of type 2 diabetes.

GENETICS

2025.05.09

Researchers map 7,000-year-old genetic mutation that protects against HIV

Modern HIV medicine is based on a common genetic mutation. Now, researchers have traced where and when the mutation arose.

Ancient DNA:

2025.05.05

Eske Willerslev and team link Native American community to their ancestors through ancient DNA

Researchers help the Native American Picuris Pueblo people uncovering their history using ancient DNA. Their research connects the Picuris Pueblo not only to their ancestors but also to the UNESCO World Heritage site of…

Funding

2025.05.01

Chronic headache, ADHD, Alzheimer’s and psychosis: Young researchers at SUND receive large grants

10 young researchers conducting brain research at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences have received funding from the Lundbeck Foundation LF Postdocs and Early-Career Clinician Scientists programmes.

STEM CELLS

2025.04.25

Researchers create ‘super stem cells’, seeing potential for improved fertility treatment

The ‘super stem cells’ perform better than regular stem cells, being able to develop into many different cell types, researchers from the University of Copenhagen find.

Proteomics

2025.04.23

New research reveals how cancer drugs impact cells at the molecular level

A University of Copenhagen study uncovers intricate details about protein function at the molecular level. The discovery could transform disease diagnostics and treatment.

HEALTHY AGING

2025.03.25

Eat healthy in midlife to increase your chances of a healthy old age

Particularly, a plant-based diet with a low to moderate intake of healthy animal proteins is associated with healthy aging.

antibiotic resistance

2025.02.05

Researchers raise the alarm: Antibiotic resistance can spread unpredictably into the environment

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have learned that antibiotic resistant DNA can survive on the surface of minerals such as sand or clay, and this may increase the spread of antibiotic resistance from animal…

GRANTS

2025.02.04

University of Copenhagen awarded major grant to strengthen health professions education and reduce inequality in health

The Department of Public Health and the Centre for Online and Blended Learning have been awarded a DKK 52.9 million grant by the Novo Nordisk Foundation to develop health capacity in India and Kenya.

SEXUAL HEALTH

2025.02.03

Danes find it hard to talk about sex: How to boost the conversation through science

A quarter of the Danish population find it difficult to talk about sex. Our inability to talk about it is bad for our sexual health and enjoyment of life in general – but all’s not lost, says a researcher.

Medicine

2025.01.31

Paracetamol’s mystery unfolded as researchers identify blood vessel metabolism

A study in rats discovers a new way paracetamol is metabolized in the body, providing crucial insights to safer use of the drug in hospital.

GRANTS

2025.01.31

Ancient pollen may be a key to protecting nature in the future

The Villum Foundation funds a SUND project investigating the impact of climate change on a vital natural phenomenon known as mass flowering.

Prize

2025.01.30

SUND researcher receives major prize for his innovative cancer research and use of AI

Professor and Senior Consultant Ismail Gögenur receives the 2025 Marie and August Krogh Prize for his innovative approach and enormous contribution to cancer research.

GRANTS

2025.01.23

AI, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s: Brain research at SUND receives major grants

Two neuroscience research projects at SUND receive grants from the Lundbeck Foundation. A total of nine researchers are a part of four supported projects.

Award

2025.01.23

Eske Willerslev found the past in two grams of soil. His finding gives us a window into the future

As a student, Professor Eske Willerslev had an idea: He wanted to extract DNA directly from the soil. This has led to major scientific breakthroughs and an entire new research field, eDNA, for which he now receives one…