Helena Mejer

Helena Mejer serves as a Senior Advisor at the University of Copenhagen's Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Her work is centered in the Parasitology and Aquatic Pathobiology section, where she focuses on parasite transmission, population dynamics, and alternative control measures for organic livestock production.

Dr. Mejer's research interests span parasitology with particular emphasis on swine and sheep parasites. Her primary focus includes studying Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, and Oesophagostomum dentatum in pigs, along with strongyle infections in sheep. She explores natural methods for parasite control in organic farming systems, with significant work on dietary interventions using plants like chicory and seaweed.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating parasitology with nutrition and immunology. The research shows increasing focus on how dietary components modulate host-parasite interactions, particularly examining gut microbiota changes, immunomodulatory effects, and natural compounds as alternatives to conventional anthelmintics. International collaboration is evident in her work, particularly with projects extending to Tanzania and Mozambique.

Dr. Mejer actively participates in teaching the parasitology course within the veterinary curriculum and has delivered numerous lectures on parasite control in organic pig production. Her technical coordination of the cysticercosis project in East Africa highlights her international research engagement. With 124 documented research outputs including 61 journal articles, her scholarly contributions span parasitology, veterinary science, and animal health.

Her laboratory work focuses on parasite-host interactions in livestock systems, particularly examining how natural compounds affect parasite establishment and host immune responses. The research team appears to integrate molecular techniques, in vitro parasite culture, and field studies to develop sustainable parasite control strategies for organic farming systems.