Breaking boundaries: How collaboration shapes the future of pig health
"Collaboration is always an essential component of any research project," says Andrew Williams. He is originally from Australia and now a professor at University of Copenhagen, and he has spent over a decade in Denmark leading a research group dedicated to understanding how diet composition regulates the host response to infectious disease in the intestine.
At first glance, his work might seem highly specialized—nutrition, immunity, pathogens—but the story behind the Pig Paradigm project reveals something much broader: the transformative power of collaboration.
Williams recalls the origins of the partnership: "Over the last few years, we've been involved in a number of collaborations together with people at Foulum—Charlotte Lauridsen, of course, but also Knud Erik Bach Knudsen and Nuria Canibe. So, it was only natural that when the Pig Paradigm project was being planned, we discussed with Charlotte Lauridsen whether we could contribute to that."
His enthusiasm is palpable: "Yes, I was very happy, of course, to be included in the project." Together with Merete Fredholm, Williams leads a work package investigating oxidative stress and its modulation through dietary interventions. But his role extends beyond experiments: "My role is also to provide scientific leadership and advice as part of the senior faculty involved in the project and to co-supervise PhD students working in the area of oxidative stress and inflammation."
Collaboration as a catalyst for innovation
When asked about the impact of collaboration, Williams doesn’t hesitate: "I think Pig Paradigm has been a really good example of how bringing in different partners can maximize synergy. Not just within Denmark—of course we have both Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen—but also internationally, with partners from the US and Holland."
He reflects on the personal dimension: "I have personally learned a lot from interacting with all these different people. That’s what’s really great about interdisciplinary collaborations—it makes you get out of your own little bubble and comfort zone."
This cross-pollination of ideas has been fertile ground for innovation: "One of the great things about the project is the amount of new ideas stimulated by collaborative discussions. Pig Paradigm has been a very fertile seeding ground for lots of new ideas, which have manifested in new research projects."
Practical impact for farmers
The project’s ambitions extend far beyond academic curiosity. "At the end of the project, there will be a number of new tools that can be directly translated to the pig industry to promote pig health and reduce the use of antimicrobial drugs, which was the original objective," Williams explains.
Industry engagement has been key: "We have an industry advisory board who are very engaged in the project. So, I think there’s potential for rapid translation of research findings into interventions that farmers can use."
Would you change anything if given the chance to start over?
Williams pauses before answering: "There are always things you could do differently in terms of experiments or practical aspects. But in terms of how the consortium is structured and how the project has been developed, I think it’s been really great. I’m not sure there’s anything obvious I would do differently."