Invitation to Professor Henrik Wegener’s inaugural lecture

Join Professor Henrik Wegener’s inaugural lecture and get insights on how genomic surveillance and bioinformatics tools can help detect and control infectious diseases earlier - and ultimately prevent future pandemics.

For decades, Henrik Wegener has worked on developing molecular methods and digital analysis tools to understand how bacterial pathogens and other microorganisms spread between animals and humans. Today, these approaches play a central role in identifying outbreaks, tracing transmission pathways, and supporting more effective disease control.

To mark Henrik Wegener’s appointment as a professor at the DTU National Food Institute, he will give his inaugural lecture. In this, Henrik Wegener will reflect on the development of molecular epidemiology since the late 1980s and discuss how advances in genome sequencing and data analysis have transformed our ability to monitor and understand infectious diseases.

He will also present the vision behind a major new international initiative: the Global Pathogen Analysis Platform (GPAP). Through a generous grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, researchers will, over the next six years, develop an AI-powered bioinformatics platform designed to strengthen global pathogen surveillance.

The platform will provide scientists and public health authorities worldwide - particularly in low- and middle-income countries - with access to advanced analytical tools that can help detect and respond to emerging disease threats more rapidly.

The lecture will be held in English.

Title

Preventing the Next Pandemic: Genomic Surveillance and Informatics Tools for Infectious Disease Control in Resource-Limited Settings

Time

Friday, 10 April 2026, 3:00-4:00 PM, followed by a reception at4:00-6:00 PM.

Venue

DTU Lyngby Campus
Anker Engelunds Vej 101,
Building 101A, 1st floor
Meeting room M1
2800 Kgs. Lyngby

Registration

Due to limited seating and catering, registration is required no later than 7 April 2026. Go to registration. 

Contact

For questions, contact DTU National Food Institute: food@food.dtu.dk