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The Graduate School of Health Sciences

Upcoming PhD Defences

Cand.med. Gitte Bruun Lauridsen

Title: "Cancer symptoms, healthcare seeking and timely diagnosis of cancer in Denmark"

Date and time: 05-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Auditorium O-100, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M

Committee of Examiners:

MD, Professor of Cancer Epidemiology Georgios Lyratzopoulos, Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare & Outcomes (ECHO), University College London

MHSc, Ph.d., Senior researcher Linda Aagaard Rasmussen, Forskningsenheden for Almen Praksis, Institut for Folkesundhed, Aarhus Universitet,  Forskningsenheden for Almen

Praksis

MD, PhD, Professor  Mikkel Brabrand, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Dorte Ejg Jarbøl, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.med. Karin Jeppesen

Title: "Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Adherence, Follow-up, and Phenotypes"

Date and time: 06-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Den Røde Mødeboks (Red-room 2), SDU Sønderborg, Alsion 2, 6400 Sønderborg

Committee of Examiners:

Associate Professor Harald Hrubos-Strøm, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Akershus University Hospital and Universityof Oslo

Clinical Associate Professor Jannik Bertelsen, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University

Clinical Associate Professor Knud Larsen, Department of Regional Health Research (IRS) and Otorhinolaryngology Department in Esbjerg, University of Southern Denmark (SDU) (chair)

Main supervisor:

Assoc. Professor Helene Skjoet-Arkil, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark

MHH Marie Nedergaard Jeppesen

Title: "Home Visits for Children with Type 1 Diabetes Living in Families in Vulnerable Positions – A qualitative study"

Date and time: 06-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Auditorium U300, SUND, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Senior Researcher, ph.d. MA Dan Grabowski, Steno Diabetes Centre Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark

Prof., ph.d., RN Lisbeth Porskrog Kristiansen, Institutionen för hälsovetenskaper (HOV), Mid Sweden University

Prof. ph.d., RN Dorthe S. Nielsen, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Mette Juel Rothmann, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.med. Sven Hoedt Karstensen

Title: "Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors: Exploring New Primary Cancers"

Date and time: 06-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Forsknings og Læringshusets auditorium, Kresten Philipsens Vej 15 F, 6200 Aabenraa

Committee of Examiners:

PhD, senior consultant Mikkel Rosenberg, Gynecology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Senior Consultant Ulla-Maija Haltia, Gynocology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

Professor, PhD Senior Consultant Lone Kjeld Petersen, Gynecolog, Odense Universitetshospital (chair)

Main supervisor:

Assoc. Professor Finn Friis Lauszus, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.mag. Cecilie Karen Ljungmann

Title: "Exploring Sport Participation Among Girls in Low Socioeconomic Status Neighbourhoods and the Role of a Community Sports Programme"

Date and time: 12-03-2026 at 11:00

Venue: Det store auditorium, Herlev Hospital, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 1, 2730 Herlev

Committee of Examiners:

Professor Louise Mansfield , College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University of London

Associate Professor Laila Ottesen, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Sport, Individual & Society, University of Copenhagen

Lektor Tina Dalager , Institut for Idræt og Biomekanik, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Assoc. Professor Charlotte Skau Pawlowski, Department of Sports Science and Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.manu. Johanne Brinch Filtenborg

Title: "Diagnostic and prognostic value of two quantitative clinical tests in patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation with radiculopathy: A 4-year multicenter prospective cohort study"

Date and time: 13-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: The Auditorium, Entrance 2, Kolding Hospital, Sygehusvej 24, 6000 Kolding

Committee of Examiners:

PhD, PGCert, MChiro, BSc, Senior Lecturer Alister Du Rose, Clinical Sciences, Health Sciences University

M.Sc. Ph.D., Lektor Carsten Dahl Mørch, Institut for Medicin og Sundhedsteknologi, Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet, Aalborg Universitet

MD, PhD, Forskningsleder Ane Simony, Forskningsenhed for Ortopædkirurgi, Institut for Regional Sundhedsforskning, Syddansk Universitet samt Sygehus Lillebælt (chair)

Main supervisor:

Klinisk lektor Søren O'Neill, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

Cand.scient.san. Lene Nygaard

Title: "The FAMKO project - Early intervention to support wellbeing of vulnerable women and their children"

Date and time: 13-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Room U301, SUND, SDU, Campusvej 55 5230 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Professor, RN, RM, PhD Tine Schauer Eri, Research Group Midwifery Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University

Professor, RM, PhD Hanne Kristine Hegaard, Department of Gynecology, Fertility and Obstetrics, , The Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen

Professor, MD, PhD Dorte Ejg Jarbøl, Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Ellen Aagaard Nøhr, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

Cand.med. Frederik Novak Stenstad

Title: "Anti-CD20 therapy in multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: extended interval dosing with ocrelizumab and immune responses to SARS‑CoV‑2 mRNA

vaccination"

Date and time: 17-03-2026 at 15:00

Venue: The Auditorium, Bygning D (ground floor), Esbjerg Hospital, Finsensgade 35, 6700 Esbjerg

Committee of Examiners:

Consultant, Ass. Professor Marianne Kragh Thomsen, Department of MicrobiologyMedicin, Aarhus University Hospital (AU)

Consultant, Dr. med., Ass. Prof Robert Hoepner, Neurology, Inselspital, Bern, Schweiz (University of Bern)

Consultant, Ass. Professor, Head of Research Mette Enok Munk Lauridsen, Gastromedicine, Esbjerg University Hospital (SDU) (chair)

Main supervisor:

Assoc. Professor Tobias Sejbæk Mathiesen, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.med. Thomas Delvin

Title: "A Pharmacoepidemiologic Framework for Active Pharmacovigilance in Dermatology: Real-World Data Screening for Aberrant Drug Utilization Patterns and Adverse Drug Reactions"

Date and time: 19-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: U231, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M

Committee of Examiners:

Associate professor, PhD Rob Heerdink, Clinical Pharmacoepidemiology, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences

Associate Professor, MD PhD Kasper Fjellhaugen Hjuler, Afdeling for Hud- og Kønssygdomme, Klinisk Institut Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet Aalborg Universitetshospital

Associate Professor, DMV PhD Kim Oren Gradel, Forskningsenhed for Klinisk Epidemiologi, KIinisk Institut, OUH (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Jesper Hallas, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

M.Sc. Andrietta Sofie Grentzmann

Title: "The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase/Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Axis in Cardiovascular Diseases: from Cellular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Implications"

Date and time: 20-03-2026 at 13:15

Venue: U301, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M

Committee of Examiners:

Prof., Ph.D. Maria Johansson, Department of Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Assoc. Prof., Ph.D. Joanna Kalucka, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University

Assoc. Prof., Ph.D. Åsa Fex Svenningsen, Department of Neurobiology, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Daniel Ketelhuth, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

Cand.med. Egle Kavaliunaite

Title: "Targeting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Therapeutic Insights from Animal Studies"

Date and time: 20-03-2026 at 12:00

Venue: Room U240, SUND, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Prof. Anne Lejay, Department of Vascular Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Strasbourg, France, the Hospital University Center in Strasbourg

Dr. Med. Chalotte Winther Nicolajsen, Vascular Surgery, Viborg Regionshospital

Prof. Muscha Steckelings, Institut for Molekylær Medicin, SDU (chair)

Main supervisor:

Assoc. Professor Jane Stubbe, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark

 

Cand.scient. Emil Birch Christensen

Title: "Off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR NK cells for the treatment of haematological malignancies"

Date and time: 20-03-2026 at 12:30

Venue: DIAS Auditorie (V24-501a-0), SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M

Committee of Examiners:

Senior researcher Arnika Kathleen Wagner, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Professor, dr.med. Per thor Straten, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark

Professor, dr.med.,ph.d. Henrik Jørn Ditzel, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Torben Barington, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.scient.san.publ. Sofie Smedegaard Skov

Title: "Demensomsorgens dilemmaer – et etnografisk studie af etiske dilemmaer, omsorgsfulde løgne og litteraturens potentiale i en hverdag med demens"

Date and time: 20-03-2026 at 12:00

Venue: Room 'Luftskibet', The National Institute of Public Health, SDU, Studiestræde 6, 1455 Copenhagen

Committee of Examiners:

Assoc. Prof., PhD Nina Jøranson, Institute for Nursing, VID Specialized Universit

Prof., PhD Mette Terp Høybye, Institut for Klinisk Medicin - Interacting Minds Centre (IMC, Aarhus Universitet)

Prof. PhD Birgitte Nørgaard, Institut for Sundhedstjenesteforskning, Syddansk Universitet (chair)

Main supervisor:

Senior Researcher Sigurd Mørk Rønbøl Lauridsen, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

Cand.scient. Marie Lykke Bach

Title: "Contribution of plasmin to lectin-pathway amplification of complement activity in kidney injury in a DOCA-salt murine model"

Date and time: 23-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Auditorium U301, SUND, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Professor, MD, PhD Sophie de Seigneux, Médecin cheffe de Service de Néphrologie et Hypertension, Hôpitaux Universitaires Genève

Professor, MD, PhD Niels Henrik Buus, Nyresygdomme, AUH, Aarhus University

Associate Professor, MD, PhD Karoline Schousboe, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Boye L. Jensen, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

Cand.med. Lasse Møllegaard Obel

Title: "Novel epidemiological and genetic insight in ascending thoracic aortic disease"

Date and time: 25-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Emil Aarestrup auditorium, Odense University Hospital, Klinikbygningen, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C

Committee of Examiners:

Professor, MD, PhD, FEBVS Kevin Mani, Department of Surgery / Department of Surgical Sciences; Vascular Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital / Uppsala University

Professor, MD, PhD Timothy Andrew Resch, Department of Vascular Surgery/ Department of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet / University of Copenhagen

Professor, MD, PhD, DMSci Lars Lund, Department of Urology / Department of Clinical Research , Odense University Hospital / The University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Jes Sanddal Lindholt, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.psych. Esben Kjems Jensen

Title: "Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression: Effect and prediction in routine care"

Date and time: 27-03-2026 at 13:00

Venue: Dialogen (M-0.60), SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M

Committee of Examiners:

Professor, PhD Heather Hadjistavropoulos, Department of Psychology, University of Regina

Professor, PhD Lisbeth Frostholm, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University

Associate Professor, PhD Stine Bjerrum Møller, Department for Psychology, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Mia Beck Lichtenstein, Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.med. Thomas Leth Fink

Title: "Patient-centered use of stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung cancer"

Date and time: 27-03-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Auditorium "På Bjerget", Building S, Beriderbakken 28, Vejle Hospital, 7100 Vejle

Committee of Examiners:

Professor, PhD Marianne Aznar, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, UK

Clinical professor, consultant, PhD Jesper Grau Eriksen, Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital

Clinical associate professor, consultant, PhD Rikke Hedegaard Dahlrot, Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor, Dr. Med., PhD Torben Frøstrup Hansen, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark

 

Cand.scient. Vicki Rytoft Lillegaard Kristensen

Title: "Population Heterogeneity in the Medieval Town of Viborg, Denmark"

Date and time: 09-04-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Auditorium U301, SUND, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Professor  Torbjörn Ahlström, Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lunds Universitet

Phd, Senior Researcher  Marie Louise Schjellerup Jørkov, Globe, Copenhagen University

Assoc. Professor, PhD Birgitte Schmidt Astrup, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Jesper Lier Boldsen, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark

 

Cand.med. Birgitte Møller Luef

Title: "From Pregnancy to Adolescence: Longitudinal Insights into Maternal Metabolism, Lifestyle Intervention in Pregnancy, and Offspring Health."

Date and time: 10-04-2026 at 14:30

Venue: Auditorium U300, SUND, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Associate Professor, M.D, PhD Emilia Huvinen, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki, Finland

 Professor, PhD Berit Heitmann, Research Unit for Diet and Health at The Parker Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Associate Professor, M.D, PhD Sanne Rasmussen, The Research Unit for General Practice, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Christina Anne Vinter, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

Cand.med. Kristian Als Nielsen

Title: "Open versus Robotic-Assisted Ventral Hernia Repair: Clinical and Economic Perspectives"

Date and time: 21-04-2026 at 14:00

Venue: The Auditorium, Lærings- og forskningshuset, Hospital Sønderjylland, Kresten Philipsens Vej 15F, 6200 Aabenraa

Committee of Examiners:

Adjunct Professor Jaana Vironen, Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Hospital

Associate professor Nadia Henriksen, Digestive Disease Center, Bispebjerg Hospital

Professor Torben Knudsen, IRS, Esbjerg og Grindsted Hospital, SDU (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Michael Festersen Nielsen, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark


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  • Phone: 6550 4949

Last Updated 25.02.2026