Strong profile to spearhead the Lundbeck Foundation’s new grant strategy

The Lundbeck Foundation grants almost half a billion Danish kroner every year to research in biomedical sciences. Up to now, around half of these funds have been allocated to research related to the brain. This focus will be further strengthened in the new strategy, whose focal point is the brain.

“We expect to be able to increase our grants over the coming years. We’ve therefore prepared a new strategy, focusing even more intently on the great need for new knowledge about the brain. Brain disorders cost society billions, and the human cost paid by both patients and their relatives is massive. We want to play a part in making Denmark one of the world’s leading brain research nations,” says Lene Skole, the Lundbeck Foundation’s CEO.

Thomas Sinkjær comes from a position as Director of Research at Villum Fonden and, from 2007 to 2015, he was director of the Danish National Research Foundation. Thomas Sinkjær has an MSc in Engineering (1983) and a PhD (1988) from Aalborg University. He qualified as a doctor from the University of Copenhagen (1998) and was Professor and Head of the Centre for Sensory-Motor Interaction at Aalborg University from 1993 to 2006.

“I’ve spent some incredibly inspiring years at Villum Fonden and, among other things, have gained extensive experience in developing new research strategy. I’m certainly going to need this experience in my new job where I’ll be heading the launch and implementation of the Lundbeck Foundation’s new strategy. I’m very much looking forward to it,” says Thomas Sinkjær.

“In his recent role as Director of Research at Villum Fonden, Thomas Sinkjær proved that he can deliver great results. He’s the perfect choice to spearhead our ambitious grant strategy, and I’m very much looking forward to welcoming him on board,” says Lene Skole.