Michala Cecilie Burstein Prause

Michala Cecilie Burstein Prause is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on endocrinology and metabolism, particularly in the area of pancreatic beta cell function and diabetes pathogenesis. She maintains an active research profile with 17 documented research outputs including journal articles, book chapters, and reviews.

Dr. Prause's research interests span several interconnected fields in diabetes research. She investigates how gut microbial metabolites, particularly butyrate, protect pancreatic beta cells from inflammatory damage and dysfunction. Her work explores the molecular mechanisms by which butyrate functions as a histone deacetylase inhibitor to modulate gene expression in beta cells. She also studies the role of bone morphogenetic proteins in beta cell dysfunction and examines genetic factors like SKAP2 in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis. Her research integrates molecular biology, epigenetics, and immunology to understand diabetes development and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Analysis of Dr. Prause's publication record reveals a strong focus on the protective effects of butyrate against inflammatory damage to pancreatic beta cells. Her research demonstrates that butyrate alleviates IL-1β-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, suppresses NF-κB activity, and protects against cytokine-induced apoptosis. She has also investigated targeted delivery methods for butyrate to improve glucose homeostasis and reduce hepatic inflammation. Her work bridges basic molecular mechanisms with potential therapeutic applications for diabetes treatment.

Dr. Prause is an active member of the Billestrup research group at the University of Copenhagen, as indicated by her website affiliation. She collaborates extensively with researchers including S.S. Pedersen, N. Billestrup, and others across multiple institutions. Her work has garnered significant attention in the scientific community, with several publications receiving numerous citations and mentions in peer review sites and social media.