Lars Allan Larsen

Lars Allan Larsen is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. His research focuses on the genetic and functional aspects of human embryonic development, with particular emphasis on cardiac development and congenital heart disease (CHD). He leads research investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying birth defects and collaborates extensively with clinical departments and research groups across Copenhagen.

His primary research interests include molecular genetics, genomics, heart development, congenital heart disease, cardiomyogenesis, stem cells, and primary cilium biology. Lars explores how cellular signaling networks like Hedgehog, WNT, and TGF-beta pathways coordinate heart development, with special attention to how disruptions in these pathways lead to congenital malformations. His work spans from basic molecular mechanisms to potential clinical applications for early diagnosis and prevention of CHD.

Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2024) reveals a strong focus on genetic variants associated with congenital heart disease, cilia-related disorders, and developmental pathways. His research increasingly integrates genomic strategies with functional assays in cell models and zebrafish to understand disease mechanisms. A notable trend is the exploration of primary cilium function in embryonic development across multiple organ systems.

• Member of Research Council, Danish Heart Association (2014-2019)

Lars Allan Larsen maintains active collaborations with Prof. Vibeke Hjortdal and Prof. Henning Bundgaard at Copenhagen University Hospital for congenital heart disease research, with the Cilia Group at the Department of Biology for primary cilium studies, and with Dr. Karen Grønskov for eye development and disease research. His laboratory investigates genetic factors in families with multiple CHD cases using genomic sequencing and functional validation approaches. Current projects include studying the role of primary cilia in cardiac development and investigating genetic causes of structural heart defects across diverse populations.