Fredrik Bäckhed

Fredrik Bäckhed is a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine at the University of Gothenburg. He holds a PhD in infectious biology from Karolinska Institutet and completed postdoctoral training under Jeffrey Gordon at Washington University, where he pioneered research on gut microbiota’s role in energy metabolism and obesity. Currently, he directs the Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and will lead the Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded Microbiome and Health Initiative (MHI) starting November 2024.

His research focuses on understanding how the gut microbiota influences metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, including diabetes and atherosclerosis. Key contributions include identifying microbial metabolites as regulators of cardiometabolic health and developing next-generation probiotics. He has secured major grants, such as the ERC Advanced Grant, and publishes regularly in top journals like Nature and Cell.

Dr. Bäckhed’s work emphasizes translational applications, aiming to translate microbiome discoveries into clinical therapies. His team explores microbial metabolites (e.g., imidazole propionate, deoxycholic acid) as disease mediators and biomarkers. Collaborations span global institutions, and he advocates for multidisciplinary approaches to tackle complex diseases.

Notable awards include the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science Gold Medal (2020). His lab’s success stems from fostering diverse, collaborative environments and integrating clinical, preclinical, and omics-based research methodologies.