Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Our vision is to help promote health. We focus our efforts on developing healthcare in a broad sense.

Education
We offer a wide range of education programmes within health sciences.
News
New SUND
04.09.2023
The keys to New SUND have officially been handed over to SDU
On Friday 1 September, the University of Southern Denmark signed an agreement signalling that the new building housing the Faculty of Health Sciences has now been formally handed over to SDU.
Grant
16.08.2023
Who Receives Help Following Sexual Assault?
A new study will investigate access to services at Danish centers for sexual assault. The study will shed light on what happens to survivors who are not offered treatment at these centers.
Harmful substances
15.08.2023
Researchers find link between PFAS and children's IQ
A new study from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and Odense Child Cohort shows a correlation between exposure to PFAS as a fetus and lower intelligence quotient (IQ) at the age of 7.
Healthcare system
07.07.2023
How psychology can contribute to a strained healthcare system
Researchers present three suggestions on how health psychology and specially trained psychologists can contribute to both prevention and treatment in a challenged healthcare system.
News about names
05.07.2023
New Professor in Implementation Science and Active Living
Thomas Skovgaard, MSc, PhD, has been appointed as a professor in implementation research with a special focus on children, youth, and physical activity.
News about names
03.07.2023
Lars P. Schødt Riber has been appointed as a clinical professor in cardiac surgery at OUH and SDU.
Lars Riber, 49 years old, completed his specialization in thoracic surgery at Aarhus University Hospital in 2012. Following his specialization, he was employed at the cardiac surgery department at OUH. After five years as a senior resident, he became a consultant and later took on a functional responsibility in the field. As the leading consultant in the specialized field, Lars Riber handles all types of cardiac surgeries performed at OUH.
News about names
29.06.2023
Professor of Translational Pharmacology at University of Southern Denmark
Tore B. Stage assumes the position of Professor of Pharmacology at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy, and Environmental Medicine at the Institute of Health Services Research at University of Southern Denmark (SDU), where he also serves as a research leader.
15.06.2023
Are you exercise-dependent? A new test provides you with answers!
Has exercising taken over to such an extent that you might be "addicted" to it? With a relatively simple questionnaire, you can find out.
Grant
07.06.2023
DKK 10 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for a research project on mechanical circulatory support for patients after heart attacks
The grant will be used to initiate several experiments. Both experimental, register-based, patient- and relative-centred - and randomised clinical studies across OUH and Rigshospitalet will form the basis for the study of how heart patients can get help for weak hearts.
24.05.2023
Back pain is a rapidly increasing problem - especially among the elderly
New data shows that back pain is a rapidly increasing problem. The forecast says that in 2050 there will be 10% more Danes with serious back problems than today. Professor Jan Hartvigsen from the University of Southern Denmark is concerned about the development.
15.05.2023
Researchers criticize exposure limits for PFAS
Danish researchers have shown that the EU’s limits for PFAS are erroneous. This may well have serious consequences for estimating the costs for the anticipated clean-up.
New names
11.05.2023
New leader appointed for the Department of Psychology at SDU
The University of Southern Denmark has found a new department head for the Department of Psychology. Rikke Holm Bramsen, who previously served as the head of Børnehus Midt in the Central Denmark Region, has been appointed to the position and will start on June 1st.
Cycling Knowledge
10.05.2023
How do we get more Danes to choose the bicycle over the car?
We love the story of Denmark as one of the world's leading cycling nations. But in reality, an increasing number of Danes have abandoned cycling in favor of their car in the last 10 years. How can we encourage Danes to cycle again?? A new digital map of Denmark shows where in Denmark there is potential for more cycling.
Meet our researchers
01.05.2023
Meet our researchers: Maria Peleli-Pedersen
Maria Peleli-Pedersen is an assistant professor at the Department of Molecular Medicine. With a grant of 10 million kroner from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, she is working on a research project on fatty liver and a certain molecule which seems to play a central role in the development of the disease.
Farewell symposium
24.04.2023
Invitation to Kim Brøsen's farewell symposium
We celebrate Professor Kim Brøsen's career with a public symposium after more than 40 years as a clinical pharmacologist and more than 20 years as editor-in-chief of the journal Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology.
20.04.2023
Carrots as a superfood - Three things you (maybe) didn't know
Researchers at SDU have collaborated across disciplines for 15 years to uncover the preventive and healing properties of carrots.
PFAS
19.04.2023
Researchers find connection between PFAS exposure and overweight
A new study finds that an increased PFAS content in blood promotes increases body weight and especially added difficulty in maintaining a lower body weight after weight loss.
International recognition
12.04.2023
International recognition for football fitness and football professor Peter Krustrup
UEFA has awarded a Gold Award for "Best Social Initiative" to the Football Fitness U90 Training Camp, a project developed by SDU and DBU Bornholm.
New Education
29.03.2023
Psychology – West Jutland style: SDU and Education Esbjerg in groundbreaking collaboration on new psychology programme in Esbjerg
SDU wants to open a new bachelor's and master's degree in psychology at SDU Esbjerg. The aim is to create 75 new student places from 2025. There will be a total of 350 students when the program is at full swing.
News about names
24.03.2023
Marie Curie grant for research into identity changes in people adapting to a life with pain
Canadian pain researcher Peter Stilwell receives prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship to be held at University of Southern Denmark.
Spirituality
13.03.2023
New study aims to break the taboo surrounding spirituality
SDU researchers have conducted the world's largest study on spiritual and existential needs, revealing a significant need among Danes that could be beneficially integrated into the healthcare system.
02.03.2023
New focus on spiritual care in healthcare
With the first clinical guideline for existential and spiritual care, healthcare professionals receive concrete recommendations on how to support and care for patients' needs.
Research
09.02.2023
Simulator to assess driving ability of traffic accident victims
Researchers from SDU will develop a method to help doctors assess when accident victims can get back behind the wheel.
Grant
08.02.2023
On the trail of depression
With a grant from the Lundbeck Foundation, Maria Semkovska, associate professor, Department of Psychology, will map factors that lead to depression. The hope is to find ways of better prevention.
Media coverage
05.02.2023
9 SDU researchers among the top cited in 2022
The journal ‘DM Akademikerbladet’, in collaboration with Infomedia, has calculated experts’ appearances in the press last year. On 2022's top 50 list, we find nine researchers from SDU.
Noise
03.02.2023
Researchers find a link between traffic noise and tinnitus
There is a correlation between traffic noise and risk of developing tinnitus, researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have found. They point to a vicious cycle involving stress reactions and sleep disturbance as a potential cause.
Finance
01.02.2023
The Controlled Slowdown, KOP-23, at SDU and at SUND
Financial imbalance at SDU and SUND
Finance
01.02.2023
The Controlled Slowdown, KOP-23, at SDU and at SUND
Financial imbalance at SDU and SUND
Research
26.01.2023
Research in gene regulatory mechanisms crucial to brain development granted Chair award by Danish National Research Foundation
Vijay Tiwari, MSc Phd., newly appointed Professor of neurobiology at the Department of Molecular Medicine has received a DNRF Chair grant to work on revealing gene regulatory mechanisms crucial to the development of cerebral cortex and its disruption in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Prevention
10.01.2023
Can carrots prevent bowel cancer?
We asked associate professor Morten Kobæk Larsen to explain what it is about carrots that is so great in connection with bowel cancer specifically.
Prevention
10.01.2023
Can carrots prevent bowel cancer?
We asked associate professor Morten Kobæk Larsen to explain what it is about carrots that is so great in connection with bowel cancer specifically.
New Year
04.01.2023
How to keep your New Year’s resolutions
Goals and motivation are among the most important factors for achieving what you set out to do.
New Names
22.12.2022
Vijay Tiwari is appointed full professor of neurobiology at University of Southern Denmark
Vijay Tiwari, PhD and dr.med is appointed full professor of neurobiology at the Department of Molecular Medicine at SDU as of 1 January 2023.
New Names
22.12.2022
Vijay Tiwari is appointed full professor of neurobiology at University of Southern Denmark
Vijay Tiwari, PhD and dr.med is appointed full professor of neurobiology at the Department of Molecular Medicine at SDU as of 1 January 2023.
psychiatric
15.12.2022
Danish children, adolescents and young adults are using more psychotropic drugs after the COVID-19 pandemic
Compared to before the pandemic, there has been an increase in psychotropic drug use and psychiatric disorders in Danish children, adolescents and young adults. This is shown by a large Danish study including all 5-24-year-old in Denmark with data until June 2022.
psychiatric
15.12.2022
Danish children, adolescents and young adults are using more psychotropic drugs after the COVID-19 pandemic
Compared to before the pandemic, there has been an increase in psychotropic drug use and psychiatric disorders in Danish children, adolescents and young adults. This is shown by a large Danish study including all 5-24-year-old in Denmark with data until June 2022.
health
08.12.2022
A few minutes of intense activity during daily tasks can prolong your life
Researchers from Australia with an SDU researcher on the team have examined the benefits of short-term intense physical activity as part of everyday life.
health
08.12.2022
A few minutes of intense activity during daily tasks can prolong your life
Researchers from Australia with an SDU researcher on the team have examined the benefits of short-term intense physical activity as part of everyday life.
Better treatment
27.09.2022
New artificial blood vessel to prevent occlusion and infection
Researchers from SDU and Odense University Hospital aim to develop a revolutionary artificial blood vessel. The EU has backed the project with DKK 40 million.
Better treatment
27.09.2022
New artificial blood vessel to prevent occlusion and infection
Researchers from SDU and Odense University Hospital aim to develop a revolutionary artificial blood vessel. The EU has backed the project with DKK 40 million.
Better treatment
27.09.2022
New artificial blood vessel to prevent occlusion and infection
Researchers from SDU and Odense University Hospital aim to develop a revolutionary artificial blood vessel. The EU has backed the project with DKK 40 million.
Research
07.07.2022
ATLAS researchers discover new biomarker for NASH
ATLAS researchers have found that the protein TREM2 in blood is a plausible and accurate individual biomarker of NASH. Thus the new discovery has the potential to reduce the need for liver biopsy in the future
Name news
07.04.2022
Professor of User Perspectives at SDU and OUH
The newly appointed Professor, Astrid Janssens, will focus her research on the partnership between patients, relatives, health care practitioners and researchers in collaborative health research activities. The professorship is a collaboration between the Department of Public Health, SDU and Odense University Hospital, OUH.
Obituary
04.04.2022
Obituary for Professor James W. Vaupel
On Sunday 27 March 2022, Jim Vaupel died following an unexpected and brief illness. Thus, our university and Denmark, indeed the whole world, lost a leading demographer and researcher on ageing.
Fertility
29.03.2022
Men’s use of diabetes medicine may cause malformations in children
The diabetic preparation metformin may be associated with a risk of malformations if consumed while the sperm for a pregnancy is produced.
08.03.2022
Professor of genetic epidemiology at University of Southern Denmark
Qihua Tan MD, MSc (Medical Statistics), PhD, has been appointed as a full professor of genetics epidemiology at Unit of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark.
08.03.2022
Professor of genetic epidemiology at University of Southern Denmark
Qihua Tan MD, MSc (Medical Statistics), PhD, has been appointed as a full professor of genetics epidemiology at Unit of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark.
31.01.2022
For young people with meniscal tears, surgery and exercise are equally effective
The first study in the world comparing surgical and non-surgical treatment of meniscal tears in young people shows that exercise and patient education provide similar results as surgery.
02.06.2021
Adjunct Professor in Biostatistics at EBB, SDU Health
Christian Bressen Pipper, Senior Statistical Advisor, Biostatistics and Pharmacoepidemiology, LEO Pharma A/S
08.07.2020
Cleveland Clinic and The University of Southern Denmark Join Global Virus Network to Combat Viral Diseases
GVN’s latest additions further bolster its 55 Centers for Excellence, expanding knowledge of viruses and treatment
09.03.2020
Music intervention and mindfulness reduces the effect of mental fatigue
A new study shows that an on-the-spot music-intervention (binaural beats) and 4 weeks of daily mindfulness training delivered through the HEADSPACE mindfulness app reduces the effect of mental fatigue
07.05.2018
Invitation to presentation ‘Community Assessment, Intervention and Empowerment Model’ by Pedro Melo
Invitation to presentation ‘Community Assessment, Intervention and Empowerment Model’ by Pedro Melo.
01.01.0001
The SDU eScience Center offers new platform for research data analysis
The SDU eScience Center is offering a wider selection of services for researchers at all faculties. Together with traditional HPC facilities, the new services include a unique and innovative digital research environment, called UCloud, which is now the recommended platform at SDU for research data analysis.
01.01.0001
Mindfulness makes it easier to forget your fears
A new study shows that brief daily mindfulness training delivered through the HEADSPACE mindfulness app makes it easier to achieve lasting extinction of fear reactions.
New names
01.01.0001
New Professor of Epidemiology
Katrine Hass Rubin is the new professor of epidemiology at the research unit OPEN at Odense University Hospital and the Department of Clinical Research, SDU.
01.01.0001
SDU-SUND develops education for the digital reality
How should the health science programs at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) be developed to ensure that future healthcare professionals are equipped to participate in continuous digital and technological advancements?
Back pain
01.01.0001
A new treatment gives hope to back patients
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have helped test a treatment that is effective for back pain patients who cannot be helped otherwise.