I am a cardiologist and Associate Professor at Aarhus University, with an adjunct appointment at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. My research focuses on atherosclerosis: how it develops without symptoms, how blood lipids affect cardiovascular risk, and how it can be prevented or made to regress with treatment. I have received several international research awards, including honours from the American Heart Association and European Atherosclerosis Society.
My research examines how subclinical atherosclerosis develops, predicts atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) and responds to treatment. I combine coronary CT imaging, population studies and randomised clinical trials with advanced analysis of LDL cholesterol, non-HDL and apoB. Our clinical trial research shows that intensive lipid-lowering can reduce coronary plaque volume, demonstrating that atherosclerosis can regress. The goal is more precise, personalised prevention.
I teach medical students, doctors and PhD students about atherosclerosis, lipid metabolism, cardiovascular risk and prevention. Using clinical cases and current research, I explain how the disease develops and how evidence can guide individual treatment. I supervise PhD research and have contributed to textbooks and Danish national clinical guidelines.
I collaborate with researchers across Denmark, Europe and the United States, including Johns Hopkins, Mount Sinai and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Our studies combine advanced cardiac imaging, lipid research, large patient cohorts and clinical trials to improve detection of subclinical atherosclerosis, cardiovascular risk prediction and personalised prevention.
My research informs clinical guidance on cholesterol management, coronary atherosclerosis imaging and cardiovascular prevention. I have contributed to Danish Society of Cardiology guidelines on dyslipidaemia and prevention for many years. I have chaired the Society's Preventive Cardiology Group and served on the board of its Cardiovascular Imaging Group.
