PhD defence: Katrine Berg Okholm
New research provides insight into cardiac energy metabolism after transplantation
Info about event
Time
Location
Auditorium J116-113, Entrance J, Aarhus University Hospital
On Tueday 14 April 2026 at 13:00, Katrine Berg Okholm defends her PhD dissertation entitled “Cardiac Mitochondrial Function and Bioenergetics Following Heart Transplantation”.
How does the heart continue to function in another person? A new PhD project from Aarhus University, Health, demonstrates impaired energy metabolism following heart transplantation.
Heart transplantation is the most effective treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure. However, the transplanted heart does not always function optimally after surgery. In her PhD thesis, medical doctor Katrine Berg Okholm from Aarhus University Hospital investigated how cardiac energy metabolism and function are affected during and after transplantation.
By combining experimental animal models with clinical studies in patients, the research shows that cardiac energy metabolism is impaired during the transplantation procedure. This impairment does not appear to recover in the months following transplantation, despite improvements in cardiac pump function and overall patient condition.
These findings highlight the importance of protecting the heart during the transplantation process. In the long term, this may contribute to improved treatment strategies and increased survival for patients undergoing heart transplantation.
The summary is written by the PhD student.
The defence is public and takes place in Auditorium J116-113, Entrance J, Aarhus University Hospital. Please see the press release for more information.
Contact
PhD student Katrine Berg Okholm
Mail: kberg@clin.au.dk
Phone: +45 28897429