Research

Via the research themes below you can find an overview of research projects with participation from researchers at the Section of Epidemiology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The BIO-EPI research group is focused on bridging wet- and dry- lab data for the improved understanding of the underlying biology in non-communicable diseases. Our primary research activities are:

  1. Identification and evaluation of biomarkers for chronic aging-related diseases (fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular, cognitive impairment, dementia) and disease progression;
  2. Investigations of high-dimensional data (genome-wide association studies, metabolomics and proteomics) in observational epidemiology;
  3. Advancement of methodological approaches for the epidemiological investigation of biomarkers in chronic diseases (Mendelian Randomization, multi-omics).


Close collaborations with the Data Science Lab, Statistics Denmark and the Department of pathology, Region Zealand University Hospital – with the aim to combine data repositories and tissue biobank from millions of Danes to estimate prognosis and reclassify (biopsy-proven) diseases (PATHOLIFE).

Partly funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Grant “Harnessing the Power of Big Data to Address the Societal Challenge of Ageing” (NNF17OC0027812). https://www.dataforgood.science.

Contact: Majken K. Jensen

 

 

The Nutrition, -Omics, and Cardiometabolic Diseases Group focuses on investigating the role of dietary and lifestyle factors in cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Our goal is to incorporate high-throughput –omics techniques into traditional epidemiological analysis to gain insights into underlying mechanisms.

Research focus

Our research group focuses on integrating nutrition and lifestyle factors with –omics data to advance in the prevention of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

One of our major research focuses is to study the interplay between diet and lifestyle, metabolomics, and cardiometabolic diseases by identifying metabolite profiles and networks associated with cardiometabolic diseases and how diet and lifestyle may modulate these associations.

Another central research focus is nutritional epidemiology. We evaluate the association between several dietary factors, dietary patterns, and their relationship with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and mortality in the context of large prospective cohort studies and clinical trials. We have a particular interest in sustainable diets and their impact on health.

Finally, by leveraging large cohort studies and clinical trials with dietary data and metabolomics, we aim to advance in the field of precision nutrition by improving objective dietary biomarkers through the integration of -omics data and evaluate their association with cardiovascular diseases.

Read more about the project at CBMR (Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research).

Picture of Marta Guasch

 

 

The Clinical Epidemiology and Public Engagement (CE↔PEA or PEACE) research group focuses on developing and applying robust methods for causation and prediction addressing the translational complexity of real-world evidence, practice, and teaching of clinical medicine. The research is articulated around:

1)      Developing and applying innovative and robust causal inference and prediction modelling methods to generate real-world evidence for comparative treatment effectiveness and precision medicine: target trial emulation, individualised treatment rules, clinical prediction models;

2)      Bridging the translational gap between the technicality of advanced clinical epidemiology methods and the need for compassionate action in the practice of clinical medicine and public health;

3)      Nurturing and sustaining the practice of compassion and kindness in research, teaching, and societal engagement in public health and clinical epidemiology.
 
The CE↔PEA (or PEACE) research group endorses the Excellence and Kindness in Research Training initiative (ELIS):Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS)

 

Cohort studies and databases

 

The ECHO project (Social Equity and Child Health Outcomes: addressing drivers of child health inequalities to improve life-course health and reduce social inequalities)

The ECHO project explores the causes and consequences of social inequalities in child and young adult health, focusing on how early-life factors shape health and development over the life course. Health disparities that emerge in childhood often persist into adulthood, significantly influencing morbidity and mortality. By identifying the underlying mechanisms driving these inequalities, the project aims to explain why children from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to experience poorer health outcomes.
ECHO is part of a larger research collaboration with Liverpool University, bringing together expertise to deepen our understanding of health inequalities. The project is based on linked register data covering all children born in Denmark over the past four decades, enabling comprehensive analyses of the relationship between early-life conditions and health outcomes in childhood and young adulthood. It further examines the causal pathways through which early health and social inequalities contribute to later disparities. To support evidence-based policy decisions, ECHO also quantifies the potential impact of targeted interventions by simulating the effects of policies addressing these pathways.
Contact: Assistant Professor Stine Kjær Urhøj

 

 

The IMPROVE PRETERM database is based on Danish register data, forming part of a broader Nordic register-research collaboration. These data provide comprehensive information on all newborns, including individuals born very preterm (before 32 weeks of gestation). These data will be used alongside birth registers from other Nordic countries to enable cross-country research.
IMPROVE PRETERM is an EU-funded collaboration involving experts from 13 countries, combining register-based research with data from clinical trials, cohort studies, and neonatal networks. The project aims to improve lifelong health outcomes for individuals born very preterm by applying advanced causal inference methods to key areas such as optimizing antenatal and postnatal corticosteroid treatments and refining vaccine strategies. A central goal is to develop a generalizable framework for life-course comparative effectiveness research (CER), including standardized core outcomes and economic evaluations.
By combining high-quality Danish register data with Nordic and international research, the project aims to improve health and quality of life for individuals born very preterm.
Contact: Assistant Professor Stine Kjær Urhøj