Andreas Mæchel Fritzen receives DFF-grant to explore his best idea
Associate Professor Andreas Mæchel Fritzen receives more than DKK 6 million for exploring some of his best ideas.
A total of 336 researchers have applied for a Sapere Aude: DFF Research Leader grant, but only 38 have received funding. Two of them are from SUND: Associate Professor Andreas Mæchel Fritzen from Endocrinology and Metabolism and Assistant Professor and Team Leader Peter C. Petersen from the Department of Neuroscience.
Their research projects have undergone extensive assessment starting with a preliminary review by an international panel.
This was followed by a more detailed assessment by the Fund’s scientific research council and finally an interview conducted by a Fund committee. Subsequently, 38 new Sapere Aude: DFF Research Leaders were selected, and they have each received around DKK 6 million for their research projects.
Heart Failure and coconut oil
Associate Professor Andreas Mæchel Fritzen has received almost DKK 6.2 million for the research project “Cardiovascular and metabolic effects of medium-chain fatty acids in heart failure”.
He will be exploring heart failure, which is a chronic, life-threatening condition. More than 60,000 Danes suffer from heart failure.
Infusion of ketone bodies can improve heart function in heart failure patients, but regular infusion of ketone bodies in hospital is not a viable solution.
“Pilot studies have shown that ingestion of a particular type of fat, so-called medium-chain fatty acids, present in coconut oil and to a lesser extent in milk naturally increases the blood’s ketone body level. Some of these fatty acids enter the blood and constitute an optimal fat source for the heart and can prompt the liver to release positive signalling molecules,” Andreas Mæchel Fritzen says.
His project will therefore investigate whether the intake of medium-chain fatty acids improves heart function in heart failure patients and analyse the underlying mechanisms.
You can read more about the Sapere Aude: DFF Research Leader from the Independent Research Fund Denmark here.
Contact
Associate Professor Andreas Mæchel Fritzen
amfritzen@sund.ku.dk
+45 35 32 17 56