معرفی
Birger Brodin Larsen serves as a full professor and head of the research group "CNS Drug Delivery and Barrier Modelling" at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen. He holds leadership positions as workpackage leader in both the Danish research network RIBBDD and the European IM2PACT network under Horizon 2020. With expertise spanning cellular physiology, drug transport mechanisms, and blood-brain barrier modeling, Professor Larsen has established himself as a leading researcher in pharmaceutical sciences focused on central nervous system drug delivery.
His academic foundation includes:
- Lic. Scient. (PhD) in Cellular Physiology from the Department of Biological Chemistry A (the Ussing-lab) at the August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen (1995)
Professor Larsen's research primarily investigates how membrane transport proteins regulate drug entry into the brain and other organs. His work centers on the blood-brain barrier's impermeability, caused by tight junctions and energy-dependent transport proteins that actively pump out xenobiotic compounds including therapeutic drugs. By understanding these mechanisms, his group develops novel drug constructs for improved brain delivery. The research team has created some of the tightest blood-brain barrier cell culture models documented in scientific literature, utilizing endothelial cells isolated from calf brain and astrocytes from rat brains.
Analysis of Professor Larsen's recent publications reveals consistent focus on blood-brain barrier transport mechanisms, particularly examining ABCG2, P-glycoprotein, and solute carriers. His research bridges fundamental science with pharmaceutical applications, increasingly emphasizing stem cell models and advanced in vitro systems. The work demonstrates significant translational potential for improving CNS drug delivery across therapeutic areas including cancer therapy and neurological disorders.
Professor Larsen's research program has secured substantial funding from prestigious organizations including the Carlsberg Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Lundbeck Foundation, Danish Strategic Research Council, Oticon Foundation, and Horizon 2020. His editorial roles include membership on the Editorial Board of Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism and the Editorial Advisory Board of Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Delivery Letters.
As an academic leader, Professor Larsen has supervised numerous students throughout his career and serves as an ad hoc referee for over 25 scientific journals. His research group maintains extensive collaborations with academic institutions across Denmark and internationally, as well as with pharmaceutical companies including H. Lundbeck A/S, Novo Nordisk A/S, and Bioneer A/S (which has embedded two employees within his research team).
The CNS Drug Delivery and Barrier Modelling group operates specialized facilities for creating and analyzing blood-brain barrier models. Their methodology involves isolating living endothelial cells from calf brain endothelium and astrocytes from rat brains to develop highly accurate in vitro models. Through participation in the Danish RIBBDD research network and European IM2PACT consortium, the group contributes to broader initiatives addressing brain barrier and drug delivery challenges.
