Paul Robert Hansen

Paul Robert Hansen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. He has been with the university since February 2012, heading the Natural Products and Peptides Research Group. Prior to this, he was at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL) where he became an Associate Professor in 2000.

His educational background includes:

• MS (Chemistry) from the University of Copenhagen in 1990
• Ph.D. (bioorganic chemistry) from the Department of Chemistry, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL) in 1996

Dr. Hansen has extensive experience in peptide medicinal chemistry with research efforts primarily focused on (i) peptide-based antibiotics, (ii) peptides as probes in immunology, and (iii) Calcitonin gene-related peptide analogues for treatment of glaucoma. His work has resulted in over 125 scientific publications in the field of peptide chemistry and bioorganic chemistry. He is the editor of "Methods in Molecular Biology: Antimicrobial Peptides" published in 2017 and serves on the Editorial Board for the journal "Antibiotics".

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on antimicrobial peptides, particularly examining structure-activity relationships, modifications to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity, and applications against specific pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. His work bridges biochemistry, pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry with practical applications in developing new antibiotic therapies.

Scientific awards and recognition:

• Recipient of "Den Gyldne Tyr (Årets Underviser)" in 2007
• Editorial Board Member for Antibiotics
• Reviewer for Innovation Fund Denmark, AAC, and Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Dr. Hansen has been actively involved in research management and collaboration, serving as Work package leader and member of steering committees for projects including EPI-EXPOSE, DANCARD, and TRAIN-ASAP. He regularly examines PhD theses and serves on PhD committees. His laboratory, part of the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, focuses on peptide synthesis, modification, and testing for therapeutic applications, particularly in the areas of antibiotics and peptide-based treatments for glaucoma.