Leila Lo Leggio

Leila Lo Leggio is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science. She has been a professor since March 2018, previously serving as an Associate Professor from August 2003 to February 2018. She leads research in structural biology and enzymology, with a focus on carbohydrate-active enzymes and protein structure-function relationships. She is a member of the ISBUC Structural Biology and Medicinal Chemistry clusters at the University of Copenhagen and has authored 186 PDB entries.

Her educational background includes:

• First class Honours Degree from the University of Bath, UK (1993), with professional placements at Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK and Max-Planck Institute, Martinsried, München, Germany
• PhD obtained at Institute of Food Research, Reading, UK/Birkbeck College, London (1997)

Professor Lo Leggio's research focuses on the structure-function relationship in proteins, with recent emphasis on carbohydrate-active proteins, DNA-binding transcription factors, and protein engineering/design. Her work primarily employs X-ray crystallography and small angle scattering techniques to investigate enzyme mechanisms, particularly lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) and other biomass-degrading enzymes. Her research has significant implications for biomass conversion, sustainable chemistry, and industrial biotechnology applications.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms of carbohydrate-active enzymes, particularly lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases and glucuronoyl esterases. Her work spans structural characterization, enzyme engineering, and applications in biomass conversion and sustainable technologies. A notable trend is the increasing interdisciplinary nature of her research, combining structural biology with quantum chemistry calculations and practical biotechnology applications, particularly in sustainable textile dyeing and biomass utilization.

Professor Lo Leggio has secured significant research funding, including multiple grants from the Danish Independent Research Fund and Novo Nordisk Foundation. Her current projects include:

• DFF FTP grant 'HIPPO' (2025-2030, 6.2 million DKK)
• DFF FTP grant 'Prodrug production through enzymatic glycosylation' (2025-2029, 3.2 million DKK)
• Novo Nordisk Foundation project grant on time-resolved LPMO studies (2025-2027, 3 million DKK)
• HALRIC pilot project on time-resolved LPMO studies (2024, ~150K DKK)
• Radical Innovation Sprint project 'FRESHEN' (2024, ~300K DKK)

She currently supervises 1 Postdoc, 1 PhD student, 1 guest PhD student, 1 Research assistant, 3 MSc students, and 2 BSc students. Previously, she has supervised 9 Postdocs, 10 PhD students, 28 M.Sc. students, 14 B.Sc. students, and numerous other research students and assistants.

Professor Lo Leggio leads research within the ISBUC Structural Biology cluster and the Medicinal Chemistry cluster at the University of Copenhagen. Her laboratory combines structural biology techniques with biochemical and biophysical approaches to investigate enzyme mechanisms. Her team collaborates internationally on projects related to biomass conversion, enzyme engineering, and sustainable biotechnology applications.