Research news

Below is a selection of the latest news from the research at the University of Copenhagen. You can find all news from the University on the main news site.

Large-scale DNA study maps 37,000 years of disease history

A new study maps infectious diseases across millennia and offers new insight into how human-animal interactions permanently transformed our health landscape.

zoonotic diseases

Dangerous Variant of Salmonella Still Not Eradicated

The infectious and multi-resistant cattle disease Salmonella Dublin can be fatal to both humans and animals and causes significant losses for farmers. Although Denmark has attempted to eradicate the disease since 2008,…

Researchers find serious flaws in trials with adult ADHD patients

Millions of adults around the world are diagnosed with ADHD every year, and there is a great need for research in the field. However, much clinical research on adult ADHD suffers from serious methodological shortcomings…

Mental health problems may spill over in mother groups

In mother groups, mental health challenges can spread among new parents. New research from the University of Copenhagen and VIVE shows that the risk of experiencing postnatal reactions, such as depression, increases if…

Protein research

New Danish research centre to make designed proteins with vast potential

Designed proteins are anticipated to have groundbreaking impact on a range of issues from treating disease to tackling environmental problems. With a DKK 700 million grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and headed by…

Vaccine disguised as a virus tricks the body into stronger immunity

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn’t just face masks that became part of everyday conversation - so did a new vaccine technology: the mRNA vaccine. As the first of its kind, the COVID-19 vaccine was developed using…

More women can now get answers about their hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer due to new genetic method

A new gene-editing method enables researchers to more easily determine whether a patient has inherited an increased risk of developing cancer—before any symptoms appear. Researchers at Rigshospitalet have tested the…

Newly discovered ‘molecular fingerprints’ could transform diabetes treatment and diagnosis

Unprecedented insights into insulin resistance could pave the way for better treatments and earlier detection of type 2 diabetes.

Scientific breakthrough: We can now halve the price of costly cancer drug

The demand for the widely used cancer drug Taxol is increasing, but it’s difficult and expensive to produce because it hasn’t been possible to do it biosynthetically. Until now, that is. Researchers from the University…

Researchers map 7,000-year-old genetic mutation that protects against HIV

Modern HIV medicine is based on a common genetic mutation. Now, researchers have traced where and when the mutation arose.

Eske Willerslev and team link Native American community to their ancestors through ancient DNA

Researchers help the Native American Picuris Pueblo people uncovering their history using ancient DNA. Their research connects the Picuris Pueblo not only to their ancestors but also to the UNESCO World Heritage site of…

Bacteria Use Ancient War Trick to Outsmart Viruses – and It Could Help Us Fight Superbugs

Scientists have discovered a new type of immune defense in E. coli bacteria that turns viral infection machinery against the virus itself. Named after the Chinese military strategist Kongming—who famously used enemy…