Peter Lawætz Andersen is joining the Novo Nordisk Foundation as Senior Project Director to head up the Foundation’s initiative within infection medicine.

The 59-year-old professor has worked at Statens Serum Institut for more than 30 years and is renowned for his research on developing new vaccines and diagnostic methods that are widely used internationally, states NNF in a press release.

“Denmark has considerable expertise in infection medicine and immunology, and I am very much looking forward to leading this new initiative. A strong research community in Denmark can provide new knowledge, which can pave the way for effective medicine, vaccines and diagnostics and thus benefit people in both Denmark and the rest of the world,” says Peter Lawætz Andersen.

Infection medicine

Lawætz Andersen will head a newly established unit that will lead the Foundation’s expanding initiatives in infection medicine, vaccine research, viral infections and microbial diseases. One goal is to contribute to establishing a new major research centre for infectious diseases, virology and immunology and thereby contribute to society becoming even better at preventing and responding to future epidemics.

Read more: Strong foundation for Danish life sciences

Prize-winning research

Peter Lawætz Andersen has received several awards for his research, including the Novo Nordisk Prize in 2011, and he is one of the most frequently cited infectious disease researchers in Denmark. In addition to his research work at Statens Serum Institut, he is Professor of Infectious Disease Immunology at the University of Copenhagen.

Peter Lawætz Andersen received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in 1988 and a Doctor of Medical Science degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1996.

Photo: NNF