Oluf Pedersen – also known as Oluf Borbye Pedersen, is a Danish physician and researcher in endocrinology, genomics, molecular biology and microbiology. He is a specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology and professor at University of Copenhagen in the field of medicine and genomics. Dr Pedersen is primarily recognized for undertaking the Steno-2 trial, showing the life-saving effects of intensive multifactorial treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and for gaining new knowledge about the role of genome and intestinal microbiome variations for human health and risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.

Early life and education

Oluf Pedersen
Oluf Pedersen
Born	September 12, 1945 (age 79); Randers, Denmark
Nationality	Dane
Alma mater	University of Aarhus
	Medical career
Profession	Physician and specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology, researcher in clinical diabetology and molecular biology, microbiology and genomics.
Field	Endocrinology
Institutions	University of Aarhus
Research	Clinical diabetology and molecular biology, microbiology and genomics
Awards	Knighted by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Recipient of international and national awards.

Oluf Pedersen was born in Randers, Denmark in 1945. In 1972 he graduated as a medical doctor at University of Aarhus, Denmark. The same year he received the University gold thesis award and in 1983 he earned his medical science doctorate on studies of insulin receptor binding and molecular insulin action in humans. In his postgraduate training he has spent two years at Harvard University, Boston and 1, 5 years at Beijing Genomics Institute and Peking Union Medical College, China.

Personal life

Oluf Pedersen is married to Eva Borbye Pedersen, a minister of the Danish Lutheran Church. They have 3 sons, Bo, Bjørn and Nis Borbye Pedersen.

Career

From 1989 until 2010 he was appointed Chief Physician and Research Director at Steno Diabetes Center and Hagedorn Research Institute in Copenhagen - a leading European WHO-collaborating diabetes hospital.

Since 2008, he has been Professor of Molecular Metabolism and Molecular Genetics at University of Copenhagen and in 2010 he co-founded the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, where he is currently Principal Investigator and Group Leader.

Pedersen has held varies scientific roles. In 1995 until 2000 he served as Professor of Molecular Diabetology at the Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen. In 2001-2012 he was Professor of Diabetology at Faculty of Health, University of Aarhus.

In 2007 he founded the international Lundbeck Foundation Center of Excellence in Medical Genomics – LuCamp, where he is the Director.

Research contributions

Oluf Pedersen’s research focus is both in clinical diabetology and basic human research in metabolism, genomics and microbiomics. Within clinical medicine, Pedersen and his team conceptualized and conducted the Steno-2 study. This was the first multifactorial trial addressing simultaneous intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes against elevated blood glucose, elevated blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids and tendency to platelet aggregation including unhealthy behaviour (smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet) The trial demonstrated a 50% reduction in risk of complications in eyes, kidneys, heart and brain and an extension of life of 7.8 years. The outcome of this endeavour has been integrated into the current international diabetes treatment guidelines.

His research in basic metabolism includes the first evidence that during physical activity, glucose is transported into muscles through a molecular mechanism distinct from that of insulin action. His group has provided numerous discoveries in the genomics control of human metabolism. Currently Pedersen is among the leading scientists globally exploring the role of the intestinal microbial communities for health and disease risk.

Recognition

In 2006 Oluf Pedersen was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II. He has received awards including the Claud Bernard Medal Award and Lectureship^[1], the Morgagni Gold Medal Award^[2], the Dr Mohan Gold Medal Award^[3], the Kroc Award, the Knud Lundbæk Award, the Alumni Award from University of Aarhus, the Codan Award, The Grand Mason Award, the Hagedorn Award^[4] and the Marie and August Krogh Award^[5] . He was President of the Danish Diabetes Association between 1995 and 2000.

References

External Links

Oluf Pedersen - Google Scholar Citations

[1] ttps://www.easd.org/prizes/claude-bernard.html

[2] ttps://www.morgagni-prizes.com/morgagni-prizes-2010-winners/

[3] ttp://drmohans.com/25th-dmdsc-gold-medal-oration-award

[4] ttp://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/content/oluf-borbye-pedersen-awarded-hagedorn-prize

[5] ttp://novonordiskfonden.dk/da/content/marie-og-august-krogh-prisen

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