Sigurd Lauridsen appointed Professor of Mental Health Ethics at SDU

About the professorship

Sigurd Lauridsen has been appointed Professor of Mental Health Ethics at the National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark.

The professorship will strengthen research into the ethical challenges associated with living with dementia and mental illness, while contributing to the development of new knowledge about how treatment, support and care can be organised with respect for people's autonomy, dignity and quality of life. The research is carried out in close collaboration with practice partners and is based on interdisciplinary research projects involving healthcare professionals, municipalities, civil society organisations and international collaborators.

A key objective is to translate research-based knowledge into tangible improvements for people living with mental illness, their families and the professionals working in the field.

Institutional affiliation

The professorship is based at the National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark.

Sigurd Lauridsen has been employed at the institute since 2017, initially as an Associate Professor and subsequently as Head of Research for the Mental Health research group. He will continue in this role, leading a number of national and international research projects.

The appointment takes effect on 1 August.

Academic profile

Sigurd Lauridsen holds an MA in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Copenhagen and, as part of his studies, studied philosophy at Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. He later completed an Industrial PhD in collaboration between the University of Copenhagen and AstraZeneca, focusing on the prioritisation of healthcare resources within the healthcare system. During his PhD, he was a visiting researcher at Harvard University.

Following positions at, among others, DEA, the Danish Evaluation Institute, University College Metropol and COWI, he returned to academia in 2017 when he joined the University of Southern Denmark.

For many years, his research has focused on ethical issues relating to dementia. Among other projects, he has led the major research initiatives DemensID and Ethics in Dementia (EDEM). He currently leads the EMPOWER project, funded by the Tryg Foundation, and the NEEDS project, funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark. He also heads an international mapping study of user involvement in psychiatric research funded by Danish Regions.

A consistent feature of his research is the ambition to develop knowledge that makes a tangible difference to people living with dementia and mental illness. At the same time, he explores how concepts such as autonomy, free will, dignity and authenticity should be understood and applied in treatment, nursing and care.

The research projects are carried out in close collaboration with practice partners, including municipalities, regions and organisations such as the Danish Alzheimer's Association, DaneAge Association, Bedre Psykiatri, Peer Network Denmark and the Healthy Cities Network.