Biering-Sørensen Group - Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials
CTCPR is a collaboration between the Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Cardiology at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital. The center was created by Tor Biering-Sørensen with the purpose of using the Danish registers to identify, invite, and monitor participants in clinical trials.
The collaboration between the Department and Herlev and Gentofte Hospital means that novel basic research discoveries at BMI can quickly be tested in the form of mechanistic phase II randomized controlled trials in the clinic at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital.
The aim of CTCPR is to test and merge new research methods that provide rapid responses to potential effect for the benefit of the patients. The vision for the research is to develop treatments which in the long term will make the distance between the research and implementation of new treatments in hospital wards shorter than it is today.
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Heart failure
- Infections effect on cardiovascular outcomes
- Randomized clinical trials
About the research center
Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials (CTCPR) includes the Cardiovascular Non-Invasive Imaging Research Laboratory (CIRL). The research center uses CIRL to carry out research projects in echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart) to identify risk groups for heart disease, as well to conduct smaller mechanical randomized trials testing new pharmaceuticals to prevent heart disease.
With the research center, we can carry out large randomized trials (testing of different treatments versus placebo/control groups) by using the national registries to identify candidates and follow them for years. By combining scientific research methods, we can establish a unique research platform that fulfills our goal of reducing the time between making new discoveries and improving patient care.
The research center was started in 2017 by doctor and professor, Tor Biering-Sørensen. Since medical school, Tor's passion been to conduct research in the causes of heart disease in order to ultimately prevent or delay its onset. Since 2019, Tor has been employed as an associate professor at BMI and since June 1 June 2022 as professor.
A unique research platform
The research center provides a unique research platform where it is possible to realize our ultimate research goal of combining large epidemiological studies with large randomized trials and the Danish patient registries. This type of study is called a Randomized controlled trial (RCT), which examine the effect of a new treatment in relation to placebo or standard treatment. The trials have the potential to change patient care, as well as streamline the way we conduct RCT's today.
Vision – faster response for the benefit of patients
The goal of the Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials and the Cardiovascular Non-Invasive Imaging Research Laboratory (CIRL) is to test and merge new research methods that provide quick answers to improve patient care. The vision for all research in the research center is to develop treatments using methods that in the long run will make the time between research and implementation of new treatments in hospital wards shorter than it is today.
About CIRL
At CIRL, we primarily conduct research using ultrasound of the heart – echocardiography. The research consists of large epidemiological studies as well as smaller mechanistic randomized studies (RCTs). This involves imaging of the heart's structure and function, and looking for early markers that identify increased risk of future heart disease. CIRL is part of the Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials (CTCPR).
Ultrasound scanning with the latest technology
Using the latest technology in ultrasound machines, it is possible to observe and identify risk markers for the development of heart disease such as heart failure, blood clots and dangerous forms of heart rhythm disturbances.
Part of a growing research environment
Cardiovascular Non-Invasive Imaging Research Laboratory (CIRL) is located physically at Gentofte Hospital. We are part of Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials (CTCPR). CTCPR is a collaboration between the Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMI), University of Copenhagen, and the Department of Heart Disease, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital.
CIRL is part of a rapidly growing research environment. CIRL is already world-renowned for its innovative research using cardiac imaging, and we are currently among the world leaders in cardiac ultrasound.
We carry out a wide range of research projects. Below is an overview of our projects.
- ARTCADIA: Arthritis & Cardiovascular Disease
- COCOE: COPD & Cardiovascular Disease
- PSORIASES ECHO STUDY: Psoriasis & Cardiovascular Disease
- DIAHEART: Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease
- ED-CARD: Erectile Dysfunction & Cardiovascular Disease
- FLUEHEART: Influenza & Cardiovascular Disease
- The LOOP study: Atrial fibrillation screening and stroke (1500 pts)
- The LOOP study follow-up: Atrial fibrillation and stroke (600 pts)
- COCOMO: HIV & Cardiovascular Disease. about 1200 pts with HIV
- CPH-CKD: Kidney & Cardiovascular Disease. about 1000 pts with impaired kidney function
- CPH-CKD- follow-up: Kidney & Cardiovascular Disease. About 600 pts
- The Østerbro Studies: Population Surveys. The 4th (about 3500 healthy people) and 5th (approx. 4500 healthy people).
- THE Malaria Heart Disease Study: Malaria & Cardiovascular Disease. About 1200 pts with malaria
- The ECHOVID study: COVID-19 & Cardiovascular Disease. About 320 people with COVID-19
- CODEX-P: COPD (lung disease) & Cardiovascular Disease. about 220 pts with COPD
- COHERENT: Randomized medical study. RCT w. 150 pts with HT, colchicine (vascular stiffness and blood pressure)
- DECODE-CKD: Randomized Medicine Study. RCT w. 220 pts with CKD, SGLT2i (kidney disease)
- KetoCOVID: Cross-over RCT w. 12 post-COVID pts, ketones
- The Østerbro study: Population survey. 6: Østerbro (approx. 4500 healthy persons) study
- ECHOVID Long-term study: COVID-19 & Cardiovascular Disease. about 2500 people after COVID-19
- COLFIB: RCT w. 200 pts with atrial fibrillation, colchicine (Colchicines potentiel preventive effect on AF)
- ECHO-PREVENT: Randomized medicine study. Increased blood pressure and diabetes. RCT w. approx. 8500 pts with HT/DM u. known heart disease, echo -> treatment
- The FIBCAG Study: Randomized Medicine Study. RCT w. ca. 1200 pts for ablation for AF u. known IHS, Cardiac CT -> treatment
- DANFLU-1: Randomized medicine study influenza vaccine. 12500 pts.
The funding for our research comes from a wide range of companies, foundations and organizations.
Thanks to
- A.P. Møller Fonden
- Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond
- DCAcademy
- DFF
- Emil C. Hertz og Hustru Inger Hertz's Fond
- Gangstedfonden
- Hjerteforeningen
- Karen Elise Jensens Fond
- Kong Christian den X's Fond
- Lundbeckfonden
- Novo Nordisk Fonden
- Skibsreder Per Henriksen, R. og Hustrus Fond
Dr. Biering-Sørensen holds a distinguished academic background, having obtained his medical degree in 2011 and his Ph.D. degree in 2015 from the University of Copenhagen. He furthered his education with a Master of Public Health from Harvard University in 2018 and a Master of Science in Clinical Trials from the University of Oxford in 2023.
He is the Founding Head of the Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials (CTCPR), a collaboration between Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev-Gentofte and the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. Furthermore, he is the Founding Head of the Cardiovascular Non-Invasive Imaging Research Laboratory (CIRL), which is world-renowned for its innovative research in cardiac imaging.
Together with his research group at CTCPR and CIRL which consists of more than 50 affiliated researchers, Dr. Biering-Sørensen conducts extensive investigations into the efficacy of cardiovascular imaging techniques to enhance individualized risk prediction. Moreover, he has initiated several large-scale pragmatic randomized trials utilizing the resources of the nationwide Danish registries, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of pragmatic trial methodologies.
Additionally, in his capacity as an academic leader, he has been awarded some of the most prestigious research awards in Denmark but also internationally, he has published more than 350 scientific publications and he provides mentorship to numerous medical students, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers, offering guidance in various aspects of clinical research, with a particular focus on cardiovascular imaging, randomized trials, heart failure, and the effects of infections on cardiovascular outcomes.
Staff
| Name | Title | Phone | |
| Bettina Lerche Kildegaard | Project Assistant | See website for contact info | |
| Charlotte Tine Hansen | Secretary for Research | See website for contact info |
For an updated list of staff including PhD students, postdocs, and other affiliates, please visit CTCPR's website at gentoftehospital.dk.
Contact info
The research center is a collaboration between the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen and the Department of Cardiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital.
Visit CTCPR's website at Gentofte Hospital
Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials (CTCPR) (including CIRL)
Gentofte Hospital
Gentofte Hospitalsvej 8, 3rd floor, right (Hjertesygdomme, Forskning 2)
Phone: +45 38 67 33 18
Phone hours: All weekdays 08:00-15:00