New Health professor explores the interaction between cancer and the immune system

Starting 1 October 2024, Nicolai Juul Birkbak has been appointed new professor of Cancer Evolution and Bioinformatics at Department of Clinical Medicine. He will leverage large-scale data to explore how cancer develops and evolves, with the ultimate aim of advancing cancer treatment.

Portrait photo of Nicolai Juul Birkbak
Nicolai Juul Birkbak starts his professorship on 1 October 2024. Photo: Torsten Christensen

Nicolai Juul Birkbak research is based on application of advanced techniques to complex datasets, including RNA/DNA sequencing and image analysis, to uncover how cancer originates and develops before treatment, and how it progresses during and after treatment.

His work particularly focuses on the critical interaction between cancer and the immune system, with a special interest in how the immune system can inhibit the growth of the cancer and how we can use this knowledge within the field of precision medicine, where the goal is to predict which patients will respond most effectively to specific treatments.

"While much of what we uncover through our research cannot be transferred directly to the clinic, it provides insights that often open up new opportunities for further research. Although the path from research to patient care can be long, our efforts ultimately contribute to better patient care and improved outcomes" says Nicolai Juul Birkbak, who is also affiliated with the Department of Molecular Medicine at Aarhus University Hospital.

As a new professor, Nicolai Juul Birkbak will also be teaching several students, and he is currently working on establishing a course in cancer bioinformatics.

"The professorship not only elevates the visibility of our research, but also helps attract talented students and collaborators, secure additional funding for our research, and bring more professional capital that may enhance institutional partnerships," says Nicolai Juul Birkbak.

Contact

Professor Nicolai Juul Birkbak
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Molecular Medicine
Phone: 78 45 53 47
Email: nbirkbak@clin.au.dk

This text is based on machine translation.