Opening of Center for Bacterial Stress Response and Persistence (BASP) with center leader Kenn Gerdes

2. September 2015

On Thursday, August 27, 2015, the opening of the new research center – The Danish National Research Foundation and Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Center for Bacterial Stress Response and Persistence (BASP) was celebrated.

Professor Kenn Gerdes will head the center, which will give us new knowledge and enhance our understanding of how bacteria survive. All bacteria form cells called ‘persister cells’ that can survive antibiotic treatment. In healthy individuals, the immune system kills these relatively rare variants. However, in people with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, the surviving bacteria cause chronic and recurrent infections, which are very difficult to cure. The center is supported by grants from the Danish National Research Foundation and from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The interest in this new research center was widespread and among the many attendees were researchers from home and abroad.

The center opening featured a series of speeches, including one from the chair of the Danish National Research Foundation, Professor Liselotte Højgaard, who congratulated Kenn Gerdes and his research team on the new center.

Read professor and DNRF chair Liselotte Højgaard’s speach from the opening

Speeches were also given by Scientific Officer at the Novo Nordisk Foundation John Peter Wittschieben, dean Johan Rener Hansen, and head of department Niels Kroer.

Speakers at the opening