Christine Stabell Benn

Christine Stabell Benn is Professor in Global Health at the University of Southern Denmark, affiliated with the Department of Clinical Research and the Faculty of Health Sciences. She is also Chair at the Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) and maintains strong ties with Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Odense University Hospital (OUH). She has led research at the Bandim Health Project in Guinea-Bissau since 1993 and is a leading authority on the non-specific effects of vaccines and vitamin A supplementation.

Her research interests span global health, vaccinology, immunology, and epidemiology, with a focus on how vaccines impact overall health beyond their targeted diseases. She has pioneered randomized controlled trials on BCG, oral polio, and measles vaccines, and their sex-differential and non-specific effects. Her recent work includes investigating BCG and oral polio vaccines for partial protection against COVID-19. These studies often integrate immunological mechanisms and have implications for vaccine scheduling and public health policy.

The recent articles reflect her ongoing work on non-specific vaccine effects, influenza vaccine efficacy in cancer patients, and malaria vaccine policy. They highlight her expertise in clinical trials, global health interventions, and immunological research, particularly in both low- and high-income settings.

• Member of Academia Europaea (MAE)

Dr. Benn actively supervises research projects and contributes to teaching, including guest lectures and courses such as the Master of Vaccinology at the University of Siena. She has been principal investigator (PI) on multiple international research projects, including trials on BCG in elderly populations and healthcare workers. She is a frequent participant in global health forums, including the World Vaccine Congress and EDCTP, and serves on international committees. Her public engagement is significant, with extensive media appearances and recognition as one of Denmark’s most influential health researchers on social media.

She leads the Research Unit of Open - Bandim VIP and has been involved in establishing long-term research infrastructure, such as the twin cohort in Guinea-Bissau. Despite recent media reports (April 2025) about the closure of her research center following criticism, her scientific output and leadership remain active and impactful.