Lykke Sylow

Lykke Sylow is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. She leads the research group "Molecular Metabolism in Cancer and Ageing" and has been enrolled in the UCPH professor promotion program since 2022.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Molecular Physiology (2014), University of Copenhagen
• MSc Human Physiology (2010), University of Copenhagen
• BSc Exercise Biology (2007), University of Copenhagen
• BSc Psychology (2006), University of Copenhagen and University of Canterbury, NZ

Dr. Sylow's primary research focuses on molecular physiology, particularly examining the intersection of metabolism, cancer, and ageing processes. Her work investigates how skeletal muscle metabolism adapts to various stressors including exercise, temperature changes, and disease states. She employs molecular techniques to understand cellular signaling pathways that regulate metabolic homeostasis, with particular emphasis on AMPK signaling, Rac1-mediated adaptations, and mitochondrial function in both healthy and pathological conditions.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on understanding how environmental factors like temperature and diet impact metabolic responses in cancer and obesity models. Her research bridges basic molecular mechanisms with physiological outcomes, often using mouse models to investigate tissue-specific adaptations. The work spans multiple disciplines including endocrinology, exercise physiology, cancer biology, and metabolic disorders.

Dr. Sylow has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing her contributions to medical research:

• Anders Jahre Award for young medical researchers (2022)
• Erhoff Talent Prize (2021)
• Bagger-Sørensen Fondens Ung Forskerpris (2021)
• Danish Diabetes Academy Young Investigator Award (2020)
• Sapere Aude Research Talent grant (2014)
• UCPH's Gold medal for Prize essay (2011)

She serves on the International Research Group on Biochemistry of Exercise, which organizes the International Biochemistry of Exercise Conference (IBEC), and is a member of the Danish Young Academy under the Royal Academy (2021-2026). Her editorial experience includes a Fellowship on the Journal of Physiology Editorial Board (2020-2022). Dr. Sylow has also been actively involved in promoting gender equality in science through her representation at the UCPH SCIENCE council.

As leader of the "Molecular Metabolism in Cancer and Ageing" research group, Dr. Sylow oversees a team investigating the molecular mechanisms connecting metabolism with cancer progression and age-related physiological decline. Her laboratory employs a range of techniques from molecular biology to whole-animal physiology to address fundamental questions about metabolic regulation in health and disease.