Merete Markvart

Merete Markvart serves as Associate Professor and Head of Section of Clinical Oral Microbiology at the Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on improving population-level oral and general health through clinical trials, registry studies, and laboratory experiments spanning endodontology, oral microbiology, and public health dentistry.

Education

• Higher Education Teaching, Department of Science Education (2016)
• PhD in Health and Medical Sciences: Biomechanical root canal preparation, morphological and microbiological challenges (2011)
• Cand. Odont, University of Copenhagen (2005)

Research Interests

Dr. Markvart's work centers on Oral-Systemic Disease Links, particularly how childhood dental conditions (caries, gingivitis) predispose to adult metabolic diseases. Her Endodontology research examines root canal infection mechanisms and treatment efficacy, while Oral Microbiology studies investigate microbial pathogenesis in severe infections. Methodologically, she integrates randomized clinical trials, registry epidemiology, and in vitro biomaterial testing to address public health challenges in dentistry.

Publication Trends

Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal three dominant themes: (1) Oral-systemic connections demonstrated through nationwide cohort studies linking childhood dental disease to diabetes; (2) Technical endodontic research optimizing irrigation protocols and fracture resistance; (3) Clinical studies characterizing severe odontogenic infections and treatment decision-making patterns. These works consistently employ interdisciplinary approaches bridging microbiology, epidemiology, and clinical dentistry.

Scientific Awards

• ESE Young Investigator Research Grant (2014, 5000 €)

Advising and Grants

Dr. Markvart leads the COHERE project (with active PhD supervision) and co-directs the ORION registry study funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Her grant portfolio includes the ESE-funded Young Investigator project and DTU-collaborative PolyNeedle research. Through the Scandinavian Endodontic Research Group (EndoReCo), she coordinates multicenter studies across Copenhagen, Malmö, and Gothenburg institutions.

Labs and Teams

She directs the Clinical Oral Microbiology Section at UCPH, collaborating with the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research and Danish Cancer Society. The EndoReCo consortium forms her primary research network, while clinical partnerships with maxillofacial surgeons and dental emergency clinics enable her population health studies on infection spread and treatment outcomes.