Collaboration and Innovation

​​Professor Henrik Kehlet from Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet​ recei​ves a new, prestigious award ​in surgery for his lifelong work on patient care and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery(ERAS).

​The hitherto largest study to investigate the effect of vegetarian and vegan diets shows that it is possible to reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol levels by up to 14 per cent by eating plant-based foods. A plant-based diet throughout life can reduce the risk of blood clots in the heart considerably.

​A paradigm shift is on the way in the treatment of chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL). From now on, targeted treatment could replace chemotherapy for most of the patients, according to new research.

​Researchers have found the world’s cheapest method of screening large groups of people for rare genetic diseases. The method is now being tested in a large research project with support totalling DKK 36.7 mill. from Innovation Fund Denmark, Børnecancerfonden and the Novo Nordisk Foundation​

Many people with cancer suffer damage to their salivary glands as a side effect of radiation therapy. Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet now hope to be able to restore patients’ saliva function with a promising stem cell treatment.

​Serious brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are usually diagnosed too late for optimal benefit from available drug and non-drug treatments. A new research project will develop and test a scalable home health care technology that could have a major impact on early detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of both diseases.

​Far fewer died or experienced a deterioration in their endometrial cancer after receiving a new immunotherapy treatment as well as chemotherapy in an extensive trial. The researchers assess that the treatment could mean a full recovery for some patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.

A new screening process for newborns has found the first children with the disabling disease: spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Early treatment can mean that many infants will never develop symptoms.

​Many children and young people sleep less than recommended. With a donation from the Novo Nordisk Research Foundation, researchers from University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet will study the effect of sleep extension on weight, metabolism and learning in 6–9-year-old children.

This year, the international KFJ Award goes to Professor Mark Febbraio, who has been working with Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet on research into the effect of physical activity on the immune system for more than two decades.