Pia Rengtved Lundegaard appointed Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences

Pia Rengtved Lundegaard’s research focuses on how genetic and molecular mechanisms influence cardiac development and function, with particular emphasis on the atria and the interplay between cardiomyocytes and other cell types in the heart.

Using zebrafish as a model organism, Pia’s group applies a translational approach to identify links between arrhythmias and structural defects.

Current focus on cardiac fibrosis and endocrine organs

The Lundegaard Group is currently working on a project investigating cardiac fibrosis and atrial fibrillation, examining the molecular mechanisms underlying the heart’s response to different types of stress. The group studies how mechanical load and structural defects - often caused by mutations in arrhythmia-associated genes - affect cardiac function and remodeling. Zebrafish models combined with genetic data from patients with atrial fibrillation are expected to help identify new disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. The project is carried out in collaboration with Didier Stainier at the Max Planck Institute in Bad Nauheim.

The Lundegaard Group also collaborates with Jonas Ghouse from Aarhus University Hospital on a project integrating imaging and genetic data from the UK Biobank to investigate whether the size of endocrine organs can predict the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The Lundegaard Group is part of the BMI division Integrative Circulation.

Pia on her permanent appointment at BMI:

“I have been part of BMI for several years, and I am incredibly grateful for the trust that Birgitte and the hiring committee have shown me with this permanent Associate Professor position at BMI. I truly enjoy the scientific freedom and the strong collaborative environment that BMI offers. I look forward to continuing collaborations within the department as well as internationally, while also contributing to teaching at BMI.”

Pia Rengtved Lundegaard holds a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology and an MSc in Genetics from the University of Edinburgh, and a PhD in Genetics from the University of Edinburgh, supervised by Professor E. Elizabeth Patton.