David Paul Drucker Woldbye

David Paul Drucker Woldbye is an Associate Professor at the Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, where he leads the Laboratory of Neural Plasticity at the Mærsk Tower. His research focuses on neuropeptides, particularly neuropeptide Y (NPY), and their therapeutic potential in epilepsy, addiction, and neuropsychiatric disorders through gene therapy approaches.

His primary research interests include neuropsychiatry, neuropeptides, animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders, addiction, gene therapy, viral vectors, epilepsy, affective disorders, and electroconvulsive treatment. Woldbye's work combines molecular neuroscience with translational approaches, utilizing viral vector-mediated gene therapy, chemogenetics (DREADDs), behavioral rodent models, and advanced neuroanatomical techniques.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on neuropeptide systems (particularly NPY and somatostatin) in seizure modulation, anxiety, pain, and addiction. His research spans molecular mechanisms to behavioral outcomes, with significant contributions to understanding how neuropeptide-based therapies can modulate neural circuits involved in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Recent work has expanded into Alzheimer's disease modeling, collagen VI in epilepsy, and dopamine transporter mechanisms.

• Grethe and Hans Lundbeck Scholarship (1990-1991)
• Gold medal in Essay Competition of University of Copenhagen in Medicine (1991)
• The Ole Rafaelsen Award in Biological Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology (2000)
• Dana Glue annual prize for ADHD research (2018)
• Communicator of the month at the Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology (2013)

Woldbye has supervised 17 PhD students (9 as main supervisor) and has served as evaluator for 17 PhD theses. His research is currently funded by the Lundbeck Foundation, NOVO Foundation, and Innovation Foundation. He has co-founded three biotech companies (CombiGene, Panion, and RetiPharma) translating his research into clinical applications. His laboratory includes 2 post-docs, 5 PhD students, 2 research assistants, and 5 master students.

The Laboratory of Neural Plasticity focuses on gene therapeutic regulation of neuropeptides in experimental models of epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders. The lab has expertise in viral vector delivery, behavioral phenotyping, in situ hybridization, receptor autoradiography, and functional binding assays. Woldbye's translational work has led to multiple patent applications and collaborations with industry partners.