NT-6 – TClock4AD Network Preparing for AD/PD

Katrine Qvortrup is a Professor at DTU Chemistry (Technical University of Denmark), where she leads a research group focused on chemical biology and medicinal chemistry. She earned her PhD from the University of Copenhagen in 2012.
Her research is dedicated to developing novel (bio)chemical methods to understand disease mechanisms and create improved treatment strategies. Key areas of her work include:
• Brain-Specific Drug Delivery: Developing linker strategies and antibody activation for targeted delivery to the central nervous system.
• Sustainable Chemistry: Utilizing light-driven processes, such as low-impact denim dyeing.
• Targeted Therapies: Researching treatments for hard-to-treat brain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.

Kristian Strømgaard obtained an MSc degree in Chemical Research from University College London, and a PhD degree in medicinal chemistry, part-time at H. Lundbeck. He did a post doc at Columbia University (New York). In 2006, he was appointed H. Lundbeck Professor at the age of 36 to establish research in Chemical Biology. He won the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science (Univ. Cph.) in 2009. From 2014-18, he was founding Director of Center for Biopharmaceuticals, where he headed a research center on peptide and protein engineering. From 2016-17 he was visiting professor at Harvard Medical School (Boston) to explore medical research and innovation. A particular focus has been on research management, including studies at Harvard Business School and he is a speaker on research management, including lecturing at Copenhagen Business School Executive program. In 2021 he was awarded the University of Copenhagen Innovation Award and appointed Novo Nordisk Foundation Distinguished Innovator. In 2023 he was awarded the Danish Academy of Natural Sciences Industrial Prize. In 2012, he co-founded Avilex Pharma, and as CEO/CSO he drove the lead compound successfully through Phase 1 clinical studies and secured a regional license deal worth $175M. He has filed 19 patent applications, several of which have been outlicensed and provided the foundation for three start-up companies (incl. Avilex Pharma). In 2025, he was appointed a BioInnovation Institute (BII) Investigator, and he is currently leading Neurophase, a Biostudio (3-year spin-out) program at the BII.