Personale

Berit Lilienthal Heitmann
Professor, PhD, Director of Research

Tel.: (+45) 3816 3070
e-mail: berit.lilienthal.heitmann@regionh.dk

 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0838-9378

Professor Berit L. Heitmann, Forskningsenheden for Koststudier, Parker Instituttet, Bispebjerg og Frederiksberg Hospital, Region Hovedstaden, Danmark

Professor Heitmann blev uddannet som tandlæge i 1987 fra Tandlægeskolen i København. Hun forsvarede sin ph.d.-afhandling ved Institut for Human Ernæring, Det Biovidenskabelige Fakultet, Københavns Universitet, i februar 1993. Mellem 1996-98 og igen mellem 1998-00 var hun formand for Dansk Selskab for Adipositas Forskning og i 2024 blev hun udnævnt til æresmedlem af selskabet.
I 1999 grundlagde hun, på basis af en stor bevilling fra Det Danske Medicinske Forskningsråds særprogram FREJA (Female Researchers in Joint Action), sammen med Marianne Schroll, Merete Osler, Lilian Mørck Jørgensen og Agnes Pedersen Enheden for Epidemiologisk Kostforskning (EEK), som hun efter bevillingens udløb har videreført via forskningsbevillinger til idag at være en forskningsenhed der huser 15-20 yngre og seniore forskere.
Mellem 2001 og 2015 var hun forskningschef (og i 2011-2012 fungerende institutleder) ved Institut for Forebyggelse, og fra april 2015 har hun været forskningschef ved på Parker Instituttet, Bispebjerg og Frederiksberg Hospital, Region Hovedstaden, København.
Siden 2001 har Berit Heitmann været professor i ernæringsepidemiologi ved Institut for Folkesundhed, Syddansk Universitet, og siden 2011 tillige æresprofessor ved Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australien. Siden 2016 har hun desuden været klinisk professor ved Institut for Folkesundhed, Københavns Universitet, Danmark.
Fra 2003-2008 var hun medlem af bestyrelsen for Det Danske Medicinske Forskningsråd, og mellem 2004 og 2008 også medlem af forretningsudvalget. I 2004-2007 blev hun udnævnt til næstformand for bestyrelsen af Dansk Institut for Fødevare- og Veterinærforskning. Mellem 2007 og 2014 var hun rådgivende medlem af forskningsrådet i Norge, og siden 2012 har hun været rådgivende bestyrelsesmedlem for Forskningsudvalget i Diabetesforeningen. Senest i 2019 blev hun udnævnt til medlem af den internationale rådgivende bestyrelse for forskningsstrategien for mad og sundhed ved Universitetet i Örebro, Sverige. In 2022 blev hun medlem af det Nantionale Vidensråd for Forebyggelse, og fra 2025 er hun tillige blevet valgt som formand for rådet. Siden 2024 har hun været medlem af Sund Vægt Ekspertpanel i Erhvervsfyrtårn Life Science,  som skal understøtte og kvalificere udmøntningen af midler fra erhvervsfyrtårnet til projekter inden for sund vægt.
Berit Heitmann’s hovedekspertiseområder omfatter kost og årsager og konsekvenser af fedme. Indenfor disse områder har hun vejledt næsten 50 ph.d.-studerende og omkring 100 bachelor- og kandidatstuderende.
Berit Heitmann fungerer som reviewer for mere end 30 videnskabelige tidsskrifter og er i øjeblikket medlem af redaktionsudvalget for 4 internationale videnskabelige tidsskrifter. Hun har modtaget mere end 300 mio. DKK i bevillinger de sidste 15 år (ca. 40 mio. €) og har publiceret + 430 videnskabelige peer-reviewede artikler, cirka 25 oversigtsartikler og et tilsvarende antal bogkapitler/rapporterer. Hendes H-index er: 65 (Scopus), og: 75 (Google Scholar). D-index: Medicine 81.

Sofus Christian Larsen
MSc Health Science, PhD, Senior researcher

Tel: (+45) 3816 3064
e-mail: sofus.larsen@regionh.dk

 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0838-9378

Sofus C. Larsen har en kandidatgrad i sundhedsvidenskab. I 2014 modtog han en ph.d. i folkesundhed og epidemiologi. Hans forskning har indtil videre primært fokuseret på forskellige aspekter af kropsvægtregulering, fedme og relaterede lidelser. Fra 2011 til 2015 arbejdede Sofus hovedsageligt med forskning om gen-kost-interaktioner i relation til udvikling eller forebyggelse af fedme. Denne forskning blev udført under ansættelser i GENDINOB-projektet, hvor han først arbejdede som ph.d.-studerende og senere som postdoc og videnskabelig koordinator. Mellem 2015 og 2020 var Sofus ansat som forsøgsleder for den danske del af NoHoW-projektet, et stort europæisk RCT, der undersøgte effekten af et evidensbaseret digitalt værktøj på vedligeholdelse af vægttab. Siden 2021 har Sofus arbejdet som seniorforsker ved Forskningsenheden for Koststudier, hvor han er involveret i flere forskellige projekter, primært, men ikke udelukkende, inden for fedmeforskning.

Ina Olmer Specht
MSc Health Science, PhD, Senior researcher

Tel.: (+45) 3816 3083
e-mail: ina.olmer.specht@regionh.dk

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3114-4715

Ina Olmer Specht har en kandidatgrad i sundhedsvidenskab og en ph.d. i folkesundhed og epidemiologi. Inas hovedforskningsområde er risikovurdering af miljøfaktorer i barndommens tidlige år.

Hendes forskningsinteresse begyndte med tidlige risikofaktorer forbundet med infertilitet, hvor hun samtidig med sin ph.d. var en af de tre engagerede forskere, der udviklede og startede den første fertilitetsrådgivningsklinik på Rigshospitalet.

Som postdoc var Inas fokus på graviditet og fosterudvikling. Især forskningen omkring nattearbejde under graviditet og børns sundhed har haft stor indflydelse på nattearbejde under graviditet.

Ina har ledet eller co-ledet flere projekter indenfor fosterprogrammering, både observationsstudier og et RCT, der undersøgte et resiliensopbygningsprogram under graviditet (OBEAT).

Som seniorforsker er hendes fokus børns sundhed og adfærd, hvor hun blandt andet tog initiativ til og modtog midler til ODIN-projektet, der undersøger forskelle i sundhed, målt fysisk aktivitet med accelerometer og søvndata blandt børn fra ude- og konventionelle børnehaver. Hun har også modtaget midler og engageret et stort RCT (Sweet Dreams), der undersøger effekten af vægtede tæpper på søvn blandt børn i alderen 5-12 år med ADHD/ADD. Forsøget er i gang. I øjeblikket er Ina ansat på LightCOM-projektet som seniorforsker og programkoordinator.

Nanna Julie Olsen
MSc Public Health, PhD, Senior researcher

Tel.: (+45) 3816 3104
e-mail: nanna.julie.olsen@regionh.dk

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5765-3000

Nanna Julie Olsen har en Master of Public Health (MPH) og en ph.d. i folkesundhed og epidemiologi. Nannas første år i forskningen fokuserede på indtag af læskedrikke i relation til sundhedsresultater. Hendes ph.d.-projekt var baseret på Healthy Start-interventionen og fokuserede på primær forebyggelse af børnefedme samt søvn og stress som determinanter for børnefedme. Nanna er hovedforsker for PANDORA-kohorten og undersøger i øjeblikket effekten af eksponering for antibiotika før undfangelsen og under graviditeten i relation til moderens svangerskabsdiabetes og børns type 1-diabetes. Projektet er støttet af Diabetesforeningen og Kong Christian IX og Dronning Louises Jubilæumslegat. Nanna koordinerer også forskningsaktiviteter relateret til Healthy Start-interventionen.

Nanna er ansat som postdoc i OBEAT feasibility trial og er også den daglige koordinator for Healthy Start-interventionen.

Mina Nicole Holmgaard Händel
MSc Human Nutrition, PhD, Associate professor

Tel.: (+45) 3816 3053
e-mail: Mina.Nicole.HolmgaardHandel@regionh.dk

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8256-8756

Mina N. Händel has a Master degree in Human Nutrition and a PhD degree in Health Science and epidemiology. Mina has research experience in nutritional epidemiology, which has involved primary interventions among young obesity-prone children in a randomized controlled setting, as well as observational studies, examining the influence of maternal nutrient status during pregnancy and offspring bone health in childhood using Danish national registries, biobanks, as well as comprehensive longitudinal birth cohorts. Currently, Mina is principle investigator and daily coordinator of the fourth data collection of the Svendborg project (CHAMPS IV). The aim of the Svendborg project is to evaluate the long-term effects of increased physical education in primary school in order to examine the risk of lifestyle diseases among young adults. The Svendborg project is unique worldwide and is one of the largest and longest-standing research projects in Denmark that investigates the importance of physical activity for future health among children and young adults. Given the substantial increase in lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis, both in Denmark and the rest of the Western world, it would be of great value if a reduction in the risk of lifestyle diseases can be induced by introducing just a few extra hours of physical education. Thus, the results from the Svendborg project can provide the necessary evidence-based knowledge that can be used as a basis for a health-promoting mass strategy in the education sector. Therefore, the expected research results not only have the potential to be anchored in all Danish primary schools but can also be crucial focus points in health professionals’ contact with citizens. The project is supported by Novo Nordisk Fonden, Interfond, Hjerteforeningen, Ethel Merete og Christian Pontoppidans Fond, Helsefonden, Danske Regioner, Snedkermester Sophus Jacobsen and hustru Astrid Jacobsen’s fund, Læge Sofus Carl Emil Friis og Hustru Olga Doris Friis’ Legat and Familien Hede Nielsen Fond.

Jeanett Friis Rohde
MSc Public Health, PhD, Postdoc

Tel.: (+45) 3816 3021
e-mail: jeanett.friis.rohde@regionh.dk

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9300-9009

Jeanett Friis Rohde holds a Master degree in Public Health and a bachelor´s degree in Nutrition and Health. In 2017 she received a PhD degree in Health Science. Her research has mainly been within prevention of childhood obesity and focusing on early nutrition, eating environment and physical activity. She has also been teaching about nutrition and quantitative method to Nurses and physiotherapist students. Jeanett is currently employed as Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Furthermore, she is working as a method consultant at The Danish Health Authority developing National Clinical Guidelines and has expertise within the GRADE process (The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation).

Karoline Winckler
MSc Human Nutritin, Postdoc

Tel.: (+45) 3816 3016
e-mail: karoline.winckler@regionh.dk

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0079-8238

Karoline Winckler has a Master degree in Human Nutrition and a PhD degree in Cardiovascu-lar Research from University of Copenhagen. Currently Karoline is employed as a Postdoc-toral Research Fellow and daily coordinator on the PROBE study – The prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes by periodontal treatment. The project will generate crucial new insights into the potential broader benefits of providing targeted periodontal treatment to pregnant women. The findings will inform public policies and guide priority-setting to enhance more ef-ficient and equitable allocation of healthcare resources. The study is funded by Steno Diabe-tes Center Zealand and Sundhedsdonationer.

Fanney Thorsteinsdottir
MSc Public Health, Postdoc

Tel.: (+45) 3816 3103
e-mail: fanney.thorsteinsdottir@regionh.dk

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3070-782X

Fanney Thorsteinsdottir holds a Master of Science degree in Public Health from Malmö University, Malmö, Swede, and a PhD degree in Health Science and epidemiology.

Fanney is passionate about using data-driven insights to drive meaningful change in public health. With expertise in statistical analysis, data management, and advanced research methodologies, Fanney specializes in transforming complex data into actionable knowledge. Proficient in R, STATA, SAS, and SPSS, Fanney brings extensive experience in managing large databases, ensuring data accuracy, and applying sophisticated analytical techniques to support research and strategic decision-making. Fanney’s goal is to leverage these skills to contribute to impactful public health initiatives and foster evidence-based solutions.

Karen Christina Walker
MSc Public Health, PhD, Postdoc

Tel.: (+45) 3816 3028
e-mail: karen.christina.walker@regionh.dk

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3070-782X

Karen Christina Walker holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of Copenhagen and a PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology.

Christina has extensive experience managing and analyzing large datasets, including birth cohorts and national registers and is proficient in R and SAS. She is passionate about using diverse study designs to investigate early-life exposures and their impact on health outcomes across the lifespan, with a particular interest in populations living with congenital heart disease.

Elisabeth Marie Ginnerup-nielsen
PT, PhD, Postdoc

Tel.: (+45) 3816 4182
e-mail: elisabeth.marie.ginnerup-nielsen@regionh.dk

 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0838-9378

Elisabeth Ginnerup is educated as a physiotherapist in Copenhagen in 2007 and worked actively as such for around four years before she earned her master’s degree in health science at the University of Copenhagen in 2014. She has been engaged as a project coordinator and research assistant in different research projects on pain at The Parker Institute and defended her PhD on illness perception and chronic pain in 2023.

Elisabeth currently works as a postdoctoral researcher and trial manager on the ‘Sweet Dreams trial’ ‘Impact of weighted blankets on sleep disturbance among children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders: A pragmatic randomised trial’ in collaboration with the Children- and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Alongside her work at the Parker Institute, she has been working as a methods consultant for the Danish Health Authority in the development of National Clinical Guidelines and similar evidence-based reports. She also runs courses on evidence based practice at the school for physiotherapy in Copenhagen and Hillerød.

Hanyue Zhang
MSc in Nutrition and Food science, PhD Student

e-mail: hanyue.zhang@regionh.dk

 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0838-9378

Hanyue Zhang holds a Master of Public Health degree from Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Hanyue is a Ph.D. student at the Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, and Copenhagen University, where she is looking at the role of the protein leverage hypothesis (PLH) on the development of obesity in children, adolescents, pregnant women and the offspring.

Kathrine Hansen Bukkehave
MSc in Odontology, PhD-student

e-mail: kathrine.hansen.bukkehave@regionh.dk

 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0838-9378

Kathrine Bukkehave holds a Master of Odontology from the University of Copenhagen from 2016 and has been practicing dentistry since. Kathrine has been affiliated with EEK since 2021, collecting data for the PROBE-study – Prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes by periodontal treatment). Kathrine is now a PhD-student at the Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, and the University of Copenhagen, where she investigates the effects of periodontal treatment during pregnancy on periodontal health, inflammatory and glycemic markers and the risk of GDM in pregnant women.

Gitte Kingo Vesterlund
MSc Health Science, PhD

e-mail: gitte.kingo@sund.ku.dk

 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0838-9378

Gitte Kingo Vesterlund has a Masters degree in Health Science and a PhD degree in Public Health and Epidemiology from the University of Copenhagen.

With a background as an intensive care nurse, Gitte has worked as a project manager in the intensive care unit at Rigshospitalet, performing tasks of design, initiation and daily operation and quality control of clinical trials in the ICU setting from 2020 to 2023.

Pervious research fields have been observational studies on associations between occupational stress and weight changes as well as risk of cancer. Her PhD thesis referred to magnesium, phosphate and zinc treatment and measurements in ICU patients.

Gitte is employed at the Research Unit for General Practice at University of Copenhagen as hub-manager in the LightCOM project. As a close collaborator with EEK colleagues on the project, Gitte is primarily present at EEK.

Mette Kildevæld Simonsen
Nurse, Research fellow

Tel.: (+45) 2489 2149
e-mail: mette.kildevaeld.simonsen@regionh.dk

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3070-782X

Mette Kildevæld Simonsen graduated as a nurse in 1993, MPH in 2005 and completed her PhD. in 2009.  Since 2003, Mette has worked with data from the Danish Nurses Cohort and from 2013 she is the research leader for the Danish Nurses’ Cohort (chair of the steering group).

Annette Mollerup
MScHealth, RN, Postdoc

Tel.: (+45) 3816 3102
e-mail: annette.mollerup@regionh.dk

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3070-782X

Annette Mollerup was educated as a nurse in 1988. She is specialized in intensive care and has worked in various clinical positions. She has a master’s degree in Health Science and a PhD degree in Health Science, both from the University of Copenhagen. Annette’s main research has been related to self-management within hand eczema. She has conducted a large-scale randomized clinical trial of patient counselling involving an innovative eHealth-intervention. At present, she is project manager of a randomized clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a PEP-flute, a respiratory device, among COVID-19 patients.

Sarah Naeem Butt
PhD-student // cand.scient.san.publ

Tel.: (+45)
e-mail: sarah.naeem.butt@regionh.dk

Sarah Naeem Butt holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of Southern Denmark. Sarah is a Ph.D. student at the Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, and the University of Copenhagen, where she investigates whether maternal periodontitis and inflammation during pregnancy influence offspring weight development and infection risk, and if treatment for periodontitis attenuate these adverse outcomes.   

Nikolaj Aagaard Nøhr
Pre-PhD-student //  Research Assistant 

Tel.: (+45)
e-mail: nikolaj.aagaard.noehr@regionh.dk

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3070-782X

Nikolaj Aagaard Nøhr is a research assistant and pre-PhD student, currently working with the LightCOM study, a large randomized controlled trial investigating intensive weight-loss interventions for individuals with obesity. As part of this study, he is preparing his PhD project, which aims to investigate whether physical activity can mitigate the risk of bone mineral density loss during intensive weight-loss interventions in individuals with severe obesity.

Nikolaj’s research has focused on quantitative methods and public health, including a lead role in examining the associations between physiological health parameters and heat exposure in Denmark. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy and a Master’s degree in Sports and Health from the University of Southern Denmark, with a thesis on digital health solutions for promoting physical activity among people with chronic conditions.

Freya Mayland
Research Assistant 

Tel.: (+45)
e-mail: freja.mayland.elleby@regionh.dk 

Freja Mayland is a research assistant involved in the ‘Sweet Dreams’ project, an RCT studying the effects of weighted blankets on sleep disturbances in children with ADHD. Currently, Freja is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Copenhagen. As a research assistant at The Parker Institute, she will prepare her Master’s thesis and collect qualitative data in collaboration with the Sweet Dreams project.

Eva Siig Pallesen
Student Assistant, MSc Student 

Tel.: (+45)
e-mail: eva.siig.pallesen@regionh.dk 

Assisting with data collection in the LightCARE-project, including participant testing.

Sirui (Lexi) Zhang
Second-year MSc Student in Global Health at University of Copenhagen 

Tel.: (+45)
e-mail: sirui.zhang@regionh.dk 

Under Berit’s supervision, I am using data from the Danish Nurse Cohort Registry to write my master’s thesis. The thesis examines the association between obesity and life satisfaction and factors affecting the association.

Amalie Cardel Bonnesen
Student Assistant, BSc Student 

Amalie assists with administrative tasks in research projects.