Maria Skytthe

Maria Skytthe is a Scientific Manager at the Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, where she works within the Cancer and Inflammation Research Unit and the Monoclonal Antibody Center Danmark. Her research focuses on inflammation biomarkers and their clinical applications in liver disease diagnosis and monitoring.

Education:

• Pharmacist (Cand. Pharm), University of Southern Denmark (2014-2019)

Maria Skytthe's research primarily centers on CD163, haptoglobin, and TREM2 as biomarkers for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). She investigates how these molecular markers correlate with disease progression and can serve as non-invasive diagnostic tools. Her work bridges pharmacology, immunology, and molecular medicine to address critical challenges in liver disease management, with particular focus on macrophage biology and inflammation pathways. The research demonstrates strong translational potential from basic science to clinical applications.

Her publication record shows consistent output in high-impact journals with increasing clinical relevance, progressing from fundamental biomarker characterization to validation in patient populations. Recent work has expanded into mitochondrial membrane dynamics and their relationship to metabolic liver diseases.

Scientific Awards:

• Max Th Harding Larsen Fund (2022)
• Master Thesis Award at Pharmacy (June 2019)

Maria Skytthe has taught 'BMB514: Immunological techniques' (2019-2021) and currently instructs 'SU518 Physiology and pharmacology for Pharmacists' and 'BMB541: Principles of Drug Development' (starting September 2024). She was a PhD student in the Center for Functional Genomics and Tissue Plasticity project from 2017 to 2023, contributing to research on stem cells and hepatic stellate cells. Her research has been featured in multiple news outlets and widely shared on social media platforms including X and Bluesky.

As Scientific Manager of the Cancer and Inflammation Research Unit, Maria leads initiatives that translate basic discoveries into clinical applications, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to advance understanding of inflammation biomarkers in liver disease.