An experienced and well-known person will be taking over at the Department of Animal Science (ANISE) from the autumn. Professor Charlotte Lauridsen began her career at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences in 2001, and since the Danish university merger in 2007, she has been affiliated with the AU department as a senior researcher: since 2012 as the head of section for Immunology and Microbiology.

At the beginning of 2020, the professor combined her previous work with a touch of health-science when she took up a professorship in experimental nutrition at the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aalborg University. She also played a key role here in the establishment and management of the Danish Nutrition Science Center, which was established across Aalborg University Hospital and Aalborg University with focus on strengthening research into nutrition and diet in the treatment of patients, and their importance in preventing disease.

In other words, a research director with hands-on experience and significant professional and personal qualification will be returning to give her full attention to Aarhus University. She is a research leader who has also worked within the entire value chain in agricultural technologies and animal husbandry on the nutritional aspects within public health.

This unique combination is one of the many reasons Dean Eskild Holm Nielsen highlights for the new appointment:

"Society's need for new knowledge and know-how has never been greater than in recent years. There are major tasks ahead for all of us in the green transition and these require not only strong academic skills, but also an understanding of the complexity that underlies the challenges. In this context, Charlotte Lauridsen has the unique profile, broad outlook, and deep understanding of the elements in the entire value chain that can support further work at the Department of Animal Science. I'm very much looking forward to working with her.

I’d also like to thank the outgoing head of department, Klaus Lønne Ingvartsen, who has headed ANISE since the department became part of Aarhus University. His impressive hard work has helped to shape Danish animal research both at home and abroad. Thank you for your assiduous work for the department, the faculty and for Danish animal research in general," says Dean Eskild Holm Nielsen.

This attitude is clearly shared by the day’s central person, because she is stepping into large shoes and taking over an important legacy, as she explains:

"I'm delighted to have been given the opportunity to take over as the head of the Department of Animal Science. It's a department and a field of research that is very close to my heart, and I'm looking forward to being able to contribute to its continued development. I’d also like to thank Klaus, who has been my boss and colleague for many years, and who has brought the department and its reputation to the high standing it has today. It is based on a solid foundation and it houses a great many ongoing opportunities within research, education and public sector consultancy," says Charlotte Lauridsen.

From farm to fork and onwards
Professor Charlotte Lauridsen's research activities at AU have particularly centred on animal nutrition and physiology, with focus on the composition of feed and the importance of micronutrients and fatty acids for the wellbeing, health, nutrient utilisation and product quality of mono-gastric animals, and in recent years with strong focus on intestinal health and nutrition-related immunology.

Among other things, her work has also addressed studies of the significance of organic diets for human health, and the relationship between diet and therapies for patients whose health has been compromised by infectious diseases.

This work has also been a focal point for the Danish Nutrition Center at Aalborg University Hospital, where Charlotte Lauridsen has headed the centre.

"I see great potential in ANISE being included in even more interdisciplinary projects. For example, engineers can contribute to the bio-refining by-products after extracting protein from grass, and there are good opportunities to take a more cross-disciplinary approach to issues involving both humans and animals in more health-oriented fields. Crossing over to a plant-based diet is no easy matter, but there is an increasing awareness of the need to move towards more balance between animal-based and plant-based diets. Here, ANISE can offer knowledge, extensive experimental expertise and experimental facilities.

I thank you for your trust, and I'm looking forward to helping to strengthen our collaboration across the Faculty of Technical Sciences. It is a faculty with strong synergy potentials with the rest of the university and the outside world. I look forward to doing all I can in this context," says Professor Charlotte Lauridsen, who will start as the head of department on 1 September 2021.

Contact:

Professor Charlotte Lauridsen,
Department of Animal Science,
Aarhus University,
Email: charlotte.lauridsen@anis.au.dk