UCPH Recruits New Director for International Skin Research Center
Liv Eidsmo from Karolinska Institutet is appointed Professor at the University of Copenhagen and recruited as new Executive Director at the LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center. Her ambition is to tackle the big challenges in skin immunology by strengthening the collaboration between the basic and clinical research and thus creating a leading international center for skin research.
Skin immunology research requires a strong connection between basic research and clinical dermatology. To meet this demand, Liv Eidsmo from Karolinska Institutet has been recruited as Executive Director at the LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center (SIC) and appointed Professor at UCPH.
‘SIC offers an impressive combination of basic research, clinical insights and cutting-edge knowledge and techniques that can be used to achieve groundbreaking results and thus contribute to a deeper understanding of the immunological mechanisms that drive human diseases in the skin. SIC brings together a critical mass of scientists tackling the same topic with a range of approaches and perspectives. My first priority will be to recruit new talent that complement the existing expertise and add synergy to the already strong faculty at SIC’, Liv Eidsmo says.
Facilities and close collaborations
Liv Eidsmo brings extensive experience as a researcher, clinician and leader to SIC. Coming to Copenhagen, Liv Eidsmo highlights the excellent scientific environment and high-end technological facilities at UCPH, which provide an optimal platform to develop a center of excellence in skin immunology. She also underlines the possibility and importance of seamless collaboration with established dermatology clinics in the Greater Copenhagen area.
Liv Eidsmo’s own research group will focus on how T cells residing in the skin drive local recurrence of diseases such as psoriasis and vitiligo. In this regard, Liv Eidsmo finds the close academic connection between SIC and the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research particularly exciting.
‘I am very curious about the proteomics platform, which can help us address ways to remove localized disease memories in resolved lesions. What proteomic profile does the resolved psoriasis lesion have? And what survival factors do we find in the microcellular environmental surrounding the disease-driving T-cells?’, she says.
Significant impact on quality of life
One in four people suffer from one of the more than 3,000 recognized skin diseases, but many mechanisms driving these diseases are still undiscovered. Historically, skin diseases have not been prioritized on the research agenda since they typically do not lead to increased mortality. However, reduced quality of life still have major consequences to patients, their families and society at large. Therefore, it is vital to strengthen research within skin diseases, which is exactly what SIC aims to do.
With the rapid development and accessibility of technology and knowhow, SIC engages in unravelling the secrets of the skin by bringing together the knowledge of highly specialized laboratories, scientists and clinical practices. The center was established in 2019 with a grant of more than EUR 50 million from the LEO Foundation.
‘In the LEO Foundation we strive to improve the understanding and treatment of skin diseases. Our grant to SIC is fully in line with this vision, and with Liv Eidsmo on board I am certain that SIC will develop towards becoming a global beacon for skin immunology research. Liv is a determined and internationally recognized researcher, who has demonstrated visionary leadership. We look very much forward to working with Liv Eidsmo in her new role’, says Jesper Mailind, CEO of the LEO Foundation.
Ulla Wewer, Dean and Professor, is delighted that Liv Eidsmo wants to come to Copenhagen as the center’s Executive Director. She points to Eidsmo’s translational research profile, which fits well into the visions of SIC.
‘Liv Eidsmo has the ideal background for the center to thrive. Her international network within skin immunology and dermatology will benefit both the center and the faculty. And as a leader she operates with an inclusive approach to her colleagues and students. We are excited to welcome her as Professor and Executive Director of SIC’, says Ulla Wewer.
Liv Eidsmo transitions into her professorship in 2021 and takes over responsibilities as Executive Director in September 2021. She looks very much forward to the unique opportunity of delivering research at a highly international competitive level at SIC and UCPH:
‘For me this position is a unique possibility to bring together scientists from different backgrounds to tackle the big challenges in skin immunology. I cannot imagine a more interesting place to work!’, she ends.
Liv Eidsmo began her career as a MD-PhD student at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital. After that, she moved to a postdoc position at the University of Melbourne in Australia. She returned to Sweden to start up her own lab at Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) at Karolinska Institutet in parallel to clinical training in dermatology at Karolinska University Hospital.
Read more about the skin – the body's largest organ and defence system
Contact:
Liv Eidsmo
liv.eidsmo@ki.se
+46 76-812 50 04
Communications Consultant Maria Bødtcher
maria.bodtcher@sund.ku.dk
+45 2990 4602