Anne Loft

Project title

The secrets of epicardial adipose tissue in diabetes-associated coronary artery disease

What is your project about?

In my project, we investigate the fat tissue surrounding the coronary arteries of the heart to understand how it may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis - one of the leading causes of death worldwide. This cardiac fat is particularly interesting because, in healthy individuals, it is thought to have a protective effect on the heart. However, in people with type 2 diabetes, it appears to change and instead promote coronary artery disease. The aim of my project is to explore how this fat tissue changes in diabetes, how it communicates with the surrounding vascular tissue, and whether it secretes signaling molecules that may worsen disease progression.

How did you become interested in your particular field of research?

Since primary school, I’ve been fascinated by how the body works, but it wasn’t until university - and especially through inspiring encounters with dedicated researchers - that I became truly captivated by the potential of functional genomics to understand human metabolism. When I had the opportunity to pursue a PhD project on fat cells and the role of adipose tissue in regulating physiological processes, I knew I had found my scientific passion and that was the real beginning of my research journey.

What are the scientific challenges and perspectives in your project?

My project focuses on understanding complex tissue compositions and cell-to-cell communication, and how these are altered during disease progression, where distinguishing cause from effect is often a major challenge. The project relies on advanced technologies such as single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, as well as biological models to functionally test emerging hypotheses. A key challenge is to uncover how local signals from fat tissue affect the surrounding coronary vasculature in people with type 2 diabetes, with the long-term goal of identifying new disease-driving mechanisms that could lead to more targeted treatments.

What is your estimate of the impact, which your project may have to society in the long term?

The growing obesity epidemic and its related conditions - such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease - place a massive burden on society, both economically and in terms of human health. I hope my research can contribute new insights into the role of fat tissue in the development of these diseases and help pave the way for more targeted treatment strategies. In the long term, this could have a significant impact on prevention and care, ultimately improving public health and quality of life.

Which impact do you expect the Sapere Aude programme will have on your career as a researcher?

Being part of the Sapere Aude program is a great recognition and a unique opportunity to strengthen my national and international research network. It will allow me to consolidate an internationally competitive research group at SDU and accelerate the development of both experimental and computational workflows in my team. The program will be instrumental in further advancing my research profile and positioning me strongly within the field.

Background and personal life

I live in Højby, just outside Odense, with my husband Søren, who is also a researcher, and our two children aged 6 and 10. In our free time, we spend most hours in the local sports club, where I coach the handball teams my children play on. I truly value the Danish tradition of community sports and find it rewarding to give back as a volunteer in an environment that has meant a lot to me throughout my life.