Health donations totaling DKK 15 million awarded to Health researchers
The health insurance company "danmark" has awarded grants from the "Health Donations" fund to three research projects at the Department of Clinical Medicine. The projects cover topics ranging from circulating tumor DNA to anti-hormonal treatments and inflammatory agents in the skin.
Grants totaling DKK 15 million have just been awarded to three researchers at the Department of Clinical Medicine. The funding comes from "danmark" health insurance and aims to help researchers optimize treatment processes, reduce unnecessary treatments, and improve patients' quality of life.
Can circulating tumor DNA target chemotherapy use?
Approximately 4,000 Danes are diagnosed annually with colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers in the nation.
With a new grant of DKK 5.271.000, Professor Karen-Lise Garm Spindler will investigate whether measuring ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) in the blood can determine if patients who have undergone surgery for metastatic colorectal cancer should receive chemotherapy to prevent recurrence.
The goal is also to detect relapses early and reduce unnecessary chemotherapy use for colorectal cancer patients, potentially leading to fewer side effects and improved survival rates. If successful, this method could transform the treatment of multiple cancer types.
Why do breast cancer patients discontinue treatment?
Most women with breast cancer receive anti-hormonal therapy for at least five years, as it is known to reduce the risk of recurrence, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. Unfortunately, anti-hormonal treatments often have many side effects, which can diminish patients' quality of life and make it difficult to continue treatment.
With a new grant of DKK 5.312.000, Professor Deirdre Cronin Fenton will investigate why women with breast cancer stop their anti-hormonal treatment and how this affects their survival chances.
Deirdre Cronin Fenton will, among other things, identify the most vulnerable patient groups and help tailor support for those at greatest risk of discontinuing treatment.
How can we improve the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin diseases?
Chronic inflammatory skin diseases are often associated with various comorbidities. In many cases, they can have severe psychological effects on patients, and these skin conditions pose a significant burden on the Danish healthcare system.
Previous studies have shown that the so-called cytokines IL17A and IL17F play a central role in inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis.
With a new grant of DKK 5.279.000, Professor Claus Johansen will investigate the specific functions of these two cytokines and their interaction with skin cells. The goal is to achieve a deeper understanding that can lead to new and significantly improved treatment options for patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
Contact
Clinical Professor Karen-Lise Garm Spindler
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Oncology
Phone: +45 91 16 72 44
Email: k.g.spindler@oncology.au.dk
Professor Deirdre Cronin Fenton
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine – Department of Clinical Epidemiology
Phone: +45 87 16 82 09
Email: dc@clin.au.dk
Professor Claus Johansen
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Dermatology and Venereology
Phone: +45 28 15 60 65
Email: claus.johansen@clin.au.dk