Projects OPEN ODIN Research projects IMPACT

"IMproving the Pig biomedical model for ACcelerating Translational research in anti-infection drugs and prophylaxes"

Thomas Emil Andersen

Professor

University of Southern Denmark

Head of the IMPACT project

 

M: thandersen@health.sdu.dk

T: +45 2126 1634

 

The IMPACT project (2025-2028) aims to improve the outcome of preclinical trials in pigs by establishing an assay platform for monitoring disease and immunogenicity status in the pig.

Based on input from expert scientists from industry and academia, the IMPACT team will identify relevant pig biomarkers of infection and inflammation that translates to humans. This knowledge will form the basis for establishing antibody-based immunoassays and immunogenicity assays. An integral part of the project is to improve infection protocols to better mimic human infection onset and pathogenesis. The team will also establish histopathology protocols for pig bladder and kidney tissue to enhance interpretation of tissue inflammation and invasive infection.

On this page you can read an introductory article about the IMPACT project, and you can also find a list of project participants in the IMPACT team.

THE IMPACT TEAM

Academic team members

  • Thomas Emil Andersen, Professor, University of Sourthern Denmark
  • Louise Kruse Jensen, Professor, University of Copenhagen
  • Yaseelan Palarasah, Assoc. Professor, University of Southern Denmark
  • Kristian Stærk, Medical Doctor, Odense University Hospital

Industrial team member

  • Lene Feldskov Nielsen, Coloplast
  • Anders Boysen, GlyProVac
  • Luuk Hilgers, Litevax
  • Peter Olofsson-Sahl, Inicure

“The pig model we developed in 2017 has shown remarkable potential. With this open project, we aim to develop an asssay platform for pigs to support development of drugs and vaccines. The openness will help us clearly to demonstrate - to a a wider community - how we can benefit from the strengths of the pig model.”

 

Thomas Email Andersen, Head of the IMPACT project

ARTICLE

Find out more about the IMPACT project and its team members

INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN IMPACT

Inicure is a Swedish-based company developing small molecule agonist for a range of infectious diseases.

Litevax is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on development vaccine adjuvants.

GlyProVac focuses on glycosylation and developing vaccination for bacterial infections. The company is based in Denmark. 

Coloplast develops and markets products and services within healthcare within, among other areas, interventional urology.

”We have seen promising results for our pipeline immune-stimulating drugs against urinary tract infections in mice, but the key to truly effective drugs also in humans goes through the pig model. We are excited to contribute to the IMPACT project and strengthen the effort to realize also non-antibiotic approaches against urinary tract infections.”

 

Peter Olofson-Sahl, Inicure, Sweden

Company partner in the IMPACT project

“We’ve worked with SDU for years to understand urinary tract infection pathogenesis, in particular urinary tract infections related to the use of catheters. This project is an exciting next step. It aligns closely with our mission to keep on improve our intermittent catheters to reduce complications for catheter users where urinary tract infections are common.”

 

Lene Feldskov Nielsen, Coloplast

Company partner in the IMPACT project

“In 2019 we decided to base our urinary tract infection vaccine development on the pig urinary tract infection model. Collaborating with SDU and OUH on this model platform provided a unique chance for optimizing the vaccine composition that was not possible in traditional small-animals. With the analysis toolbox developed for pigs in IMPACT, preclinical research and development in this animal will be further strengthened, ultimately leading to drugs and vaccines that simply work better in humans”.   

 

Anders Boyesen, GlyProVac

Company partner in the IMPACT project

“Our goal is to identify how we can use the pig model as a reliable human-relevant model to evaluate vaccine success. This kind of insight are very valuable prior to clinical trials.” 

 

Kristian Stærk, Odense University Hospital

Academic partner in the IMPACT project

“I’m thrilled to bring in our assay development expertise and infrastructure for the IMPACT project. This kind of openness is essential for real innovation.” 

 

Yaseelan Palarasah, co-coordinator of Denmark’s Monoclonal Antibody Center (MADE)

Academic partner in the IMPACT project

ABOUT ODIN

We unite bright minds from industry and academia to jointly create need-driven clinical research projects - and pave the way for innovative new treatments and diagnostics. We fund the best project ideas through competitive funding calls. Although companies cannot receive funding, it is free of charge to join.

The platform is sponsored by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with 180 million DKK from 2024-2029.

CONTACT ODIN

You are welcome to contact us if you have questions or comments. Reach out to odin@au.dk or find the Secretariat's direct email addresses under contacts.

Although the platform spans five Danish universities, we're based in Aarhus. Our office is located at Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, blg 1521-214.

Revised 16.06.2025
-
Ditte Høyer Engholm