Professor Nissen has been the Director of DANDRITE since the Centre’s inauguration in 2013, when it became the fourth node to join the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine. Poul Nissen also holds the role of Professor of Protein Biochemistry at Aarhus University. He takes over the role from Bernt Eric Uhlin, who was appointed as Speaker in September 2017. 

Professor Uhlin to step down

The Speaker role usually rotates every three years, however Bernt Eric Uhlin will retire from his role as Director of MIMS in October 2018, meaning a new Speaker is now required. The decision was made by the Steering Committee of the Nordic EMBL Partnership on 12 September during the annual Steering Committee meeting. 

Speaker gives the Partnership a voice in strategic and official matters

The Speaker of the Nordic EMBL Partnership is responsible for representing all four of the Nordic nodes in any general matters, and also for speaking on behalf of the Partnership where relevant. 

The Speaker position also helps to promote international visibility of the Partnership. Prior to Professor Uhlin, Professor Kjetil Taskén, former Director of NCMM, held the role between 2013-2017.

Poul Nissen comments:

- I am very much looking forward to taking over this important task as Speaker of the Nordic EMBL Partnership, and following in the tradition of our previous speakers, Kjetil Taskén and Bernt Eric Uhlin. Our partnership has exceptional possibilities ahead and now a relatively new profile with recently appointed directors at MIMS, NCMM and FIMM. These new directors will bring some fresh perspectives and ideas, and I am really excited to see what the future holds for the Nordic EMBL Partnership.