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Clinicians granted research opportunities with support from Independent Research Fund Denmark
Independent Research Fund Denmark has awarded grants to seven exceptional clinicians, providing them with the opportunity to delve into innovative ideas and strengthen research in the Danish healthcare sector. Alongside their research, these seven clinicians will maintain their roles and positions in hospitals across the country.
A total of DKK 8.3 million has been granted by Independent Research Fund Denmark to these clinicians under the initiative of "Clinician Scientist Positions." Over a period of up to three years, the grant recipients will conduct research concurrently with their practical medical work in their current clinical appointments. The aim is to promote established clinicians while nurturing new talents in the field of health and disease.
Shared Positions are distributed by the Danish Council for Independent Research | Health and Disease and are primarily awarded to doctors, dentists, and veterinarians who have obtained a Ph.D. degree or equivalent qualifications through their research. The seven clinicians who have received the grant are employed at Odense University Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, and Aarhus University Hospital.
View all grant recipients for the Clinician Scientist Positions here.
Genetics in cardiovascular diseases
One of the grant recipients is Alex Hørby Christensen from Copenhagen University Hospital, who will be researching genetics in cardiovascular diseases. In recent decades, cardiovascular diseases have undergone significant development and represent a cornerstone in personalized medicine. Genetic variations have a fluctuating effect, ranging from a single lethal genetic mutation to multiple small contributions that together create a complex disease state. Alex Hørby Christensen explains the project as follows:
"With this project, we aim to generate new knowledge about clinical and genetic aspects of hereditary cardiac arrhythmias, electrocardiograms, and cardiac muscle diseases."
The research may yield new insights directly applicable to the diagnosis and treatment of the growing population of patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Gender-affirming treatment and mental health
Dorte Glintborg from Odense University Hospital is leading a project to investigate the effectiveness of gender-affirming hormone treatment. The number of annual referrals for individuals seeking gender-affirming treatment is rapidly increasing. The primary purpose of the treatment is to improve mental health, which is significantly compromised in transgender individuals. However, the treatment does not always lead to the desired improvement and may be associated with side effects. The project aims to examine the short- and long-term effects of hormone treatment on the health of transgender individuals, with a particular focus on mental health and cardiovascular well-being.