Ph.D.-projects
Charlotte Grønset
Title: Counteracting Sarcopenia in Patients with Malignant Lymphoma undergoing Chemotherapy Treatment
The overall aim of the Ph.D.-study is to increase our knowledge about how chemotherapy affects skeletal muscle during chemotherapy. More specifically, we will address the challenge of physical deconditioning in patients with malignant lymphoma by investigating the prevalence and the prognostic role of muscle dysfunction in patients with malignant lymphoma undergoing 1St. line treatment (WP1), and the effect of a progressive resistance training program in patients diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma undergoing anthracycline-containing combination chemotherapy regimen with support from a “exercise ambassador” - The Stay-Strong RCT (WP2a). Furthermore, we will investigate the approach of the support persons role as an ‘exercise ambassador’ from the perspective of the patient and exercise ambassador (WP2b).
Partner organizations: Models of Cancer Care Research Program (MCC) and Precision Symptom Care Research Program (PROSPER) University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet.
Pernille Hansen
Title: Biomarkers of sarcopenia and frailty in geriatric patients
This Ph.D.-project investigates the potential association between clinical, physiological, and biological biomarkers of sarcopenia in a large cohort of home-dwelling geriatric patients referred to an out-patient clinic for fall-assessment. Hopefully this will aid in the future identification of patients at risk of developing sarcopenia and frailty. This will provide the opportunity for developing individual treatments and thereby increase life expectancy, independence, and quality of life in older patients (and potentially result in significant savings in the health care sector).
Sofie Krarup Hansen
Title: The impact of bed rest and aging on muscle mass muscle function: Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation
The PhD project is based on a bed rest study conducted with healthy young and old men and women. The participants are submitted to 5 days of strict bed rest and receives neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) three times/day. The purpose of the study is to elucidate muscular molecular regulators while examining the effects of NMES across age and gender measured on muscle mass, including myofibrillar protein synthesis, and muscle function.
Hanne Nygaard
Title: Frailty - a clinical tool for predicting adverse outcomes
Frailty is a clinical syndrome caused by age-related functional decline, disease, malnutrition, and lifestyle. The syndrome leads to increased vulnerability, decline in physiological reserve, and is associated with adverse outcomes including increased mortality. The aim of this project is to identify biomarkers of frailty and clarify the multifactorial composition of the syndrome. Additionally, the aim is to develop new models for predicting mortality and length of stay for acutely admitted older medical patients
Katrine Piper
Title: The SaVe Project: Sarcopenia and Vertigo in Ageing Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Older adults with cancer can suffer from adverse effects from chemotherapy such as sarcopenia, vertigo, dizziness, and peripheral neuropathy leading to balance and walking impairments causing increased risk of falls. In this PhD-project we aim to investigate the development of sarcopenia, dizziness, and decline in walking ability during chemotherapy, and to investigate the cause of and interaction between vertigo, postural stability and walking performance, and neuropathy. We also aim to investigate the effect of a comprehensive geriatric assessment and three months’ targeted specialized physical group-based exercise including progressive resistance training, balance training, and vestibular rehabilitation. We hypothesize that this intervention will result in a reduction in vertigo, dizziness, walking balance, and fear of falling and increase muscle strength and health related quality of life along with changes in peripheral nerve function and autonomic function and severity of neuropathy in older adults ≥65 years during chemotherapy.
Sebastian Venge Skovlund
Title: Prevention, handling, and rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis at the workplace
Knee osteoarthritis is among the most common musculoskeletal pain disorders both in Denmark and globally, with great consequences both for the affected individual and socioeconomically. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis is expected to rise due to the increase in elderly and overweight citizens, thus, evidence-based solutions are clearly needed. The aim of this Ph.D.-project is to investigate risk factors for knee osteoarthritis in the workplace and to investigate the benefits of workplace activities in the prevention, handling, and rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis.
Brian Sørensen
Title: The effect of low-intensity occlusion exercise on pain, function, muscle mass, and muscle mechanical function
The purpose of this PhD project is to investigate the effect of low-intensity occlusion exercise on pain, function, muscle mass, and muscle mechanical function compared with standard rehabilitation in adults with knee osteoarthritis. 90 patients with verified knee osteoarthritis will train either occlusion exercise or participate in a standard rehabilitation program twice weekly over 12 weeks. Patients will be assessed in multiple outcomes before, during, and after the training intervention including pain, function, muscle mass, and muscle strength.