Peter Vilmann

Peter Vilmann is a Clinical Professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, where he has been a Full Professor of Endoscopy at Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev since 2010. He leads an Excellence Center for EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound) and CLE (Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy) in Europe, which became operational in September 2012. His academic journey includes training at various Danish hospitals (1982-1993), positions at Herlev Hospital and Rigshospitalet, and a long tenure at Gentofte Hospital where he served as Overlæge (1995-2009) and Scientific Lecturer (2005-2010).

• MD (cand.med), University of Copenhagen (1981)
• Specialization in Gastroenterology (1994) and Surgery (1993), University of Copenhagen
• MD.Sc (dr.med A-disputats), University of Copenhagen (1998)
• Honoris Causa, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Romania (2011)

Professor Vilmann pioneered EUS with linear transducers and was the first in the world to perform EUS-guided fine needle biopsy (1991). His research focuses on advanced endoscopic techniques including EUS, EBUS, NOTES, CLE, and EUS-guided therapeutic interventions. He has made significant contributions to EUS-FNA procedures, EUS-guided pseudocyst drainage, bile duct drainage, and non-anesthesiologist propofol sedation (NAPS) programs. His work bridges diagnostic and therapeutic applications in gastrointestinal endoscopy with particular emphasis on pancreatic and biliary interventions.

His recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate continued innovation in pancreatic tumor ablation, virtual reality for colonoscopy training, advanced sedation techniques, and the integration of EUS with novel imaging technologies. The research consistently focuses on improving diagnostic accuracy, procedural safety, and developing minimally invasive alternatives to surgery for gastrointestinal conditions.

Scientific Recognition:

• The Swedish Society of Medicine Jubileumspriset (1999)
• Copenhagen county employee Idea Prize (2005)
• Doctor Honoris Causa from University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Romania (2009)
• Primary Doctors at Gentofte Hospital Honorary award (2011)
• Visiting Professorship in Chandigarh, India (2011)
• Herlev Hospitals High Impact prize (2011)

Professor Vilmann has secured substantial research funding including grants from The A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation ($387,045), Arvid Nilssons Foundation ($324,875), Toyota Foundation ($63,170), The Jochum Foundation ($90,243), and Aase and Ejnar Danielsen Foundation ($27,073). He serves on editorial boards for several prestigious journals including Endoscopy and Endoscopic Ultrasound, and has been instrumental in developing guidelines through the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline Committee.

His endoscopy center at Herlev Hospital functions as a clinical and translational research environment with state-of-the-art equipment for EUS and CLE. The center supports numerous international multicentric studies including research on EUS-guided gallbladder drainage, needle-based CLE for pancreatic masses, and characterization of Crohn's disease using CLE technology.