Ole Petter Ottersen is a Professor at the University of Oslo’s Faculty of Medicine, affiliated with the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences. He previously served as Rector of the University of Oslo (2009–2017) and President of Karolinska Institutet (2017–2023). Ottersen holds dual roles as a Visiting Professor at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin’s Global Health Institute and an affiliated member of Karolinska’s Department of Neuroscience and Department of Global Public Health. He is also Vice President of the Virchow Foundation and chairs the Lancet Commission on Global Governance for Health 2.0. His career spans academic leadership, research coordination, and international health policy advocacy. Education: He earned an M.D. (1980) and Ph.D. in Neuroscience (1982) from the University of Oslo. Ottersen has held academic positions including Research Fellow (1978–1983), Associate Professor (1983–1992), and has coordinated prestigious EU and Nordic grants. His research priorities include academic quality, internationalization, innovation, and dissemination. Research interests focus on molecular neuroscience (e.g., aquaporin-4 channels in brain water dynamics) and global health governance. His work bridges basic science and policy, addressing health inequity, pandemic preparedness, and sustainable healthcare. Recent publications emphasize systemic approaches to global crises, vaccine equity, and interdisciplinary solutions for health challenges. Ottersen has received the Anders Jahre Medical Prize (twice), the Lundbeck Nordic Research Prize, and honorary doctorates from multiple institutions. His awards include France’s Ordre national du Mérite (2019) and Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun (2023). He has led prize committees, including the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience. He has coordinated major national and international grants, such as Norway’s Functional Genomics Program (FUGE) and the EU’s Biomed and NeuroImage projects. His advisory roles include the European Research Council (ERC), WHO-related initiatives, and boards like Oslo University Hospital and NordForsk. Ottersen’s teaching spans medical students since 1976, covering neurobiology, histology, and anatomy. Key initiatives include founding the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities and leading the Lancet Commission on Global Governance for Health. He collaborates with institutions like EMBL-Norway, Africa CDC, and the Global Virus Network, emphasizing intersectoral action and equitable global health systems.
/georgkav/georg.jpg)
.jpg)
