CURRICULUM VITAE

 Gunnar C. Hansson

Address work:

                      University of Gothenburg

                         Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology

                         Box 440/Medicinaregatan 9

                        S-405 30 Gothenburg, SWEDEN

Social:          Married, 3 children (1979, 1982, 1990)

Basic education:

                      Studentexamen (Gymnasium) Växjö (natural sciences) 1970

Medical education and licence:

                      Medical School, University of Gothenburg 1970‑1976

                      M.D. (läkarexamen) 1976

                      Licence to practice medicine in Sweden (legitimerad läkare) 1989

Physician for about 3 years in chronic illnesses clinic, ear-nose-throat clinic, paediatrics, blood bank, psychiatry, surgery, internal medicine. and emergency room at out-patient.

Scientific training:

                      -Part time        1972‑1976, Full time                         1976‑1981

                         -PhD. (medicine doktorsexamen) 1981

                         -Docent in Medical and Physiological Chemistry (Medical Biochemistry) 1983

Abroad:

1983-1984 Post-doc, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD.

1998- 1999 Sabbatical with John R. Riordan (discoverer of CFTR) and Sandra J. Gendlet, Mayo Foundation; Scottsdale, AZ,.

Scientific positions:

                      -Post-doc. position (forskarassistent) 1984-1987 at the Department of Medical                          Biochemistry

-Associate professor (Senior Lecturer) of Molecular Biology at the Medical Faculty of Göteborg University, 1987-1996. Permanent-tenured position (universitetslektor).

Professorships

                      -Appointed as Associate Professor (‘Biträdande professor’) in Molecular Biology                          University of Gothenburg, 1996-1998

                         -Full professor of Medical Biochemistry (medicinsk och fysiologisk kemi),                          Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Gothenburg, 1998 - present.

Teaching:

Long experience of teaching at undergraduate (Medical school, Dental school, Pharmacy).

 

Member of:

·      The Royal Academy of Sciences (medicine) (KVA) corresponding to National Academy of Sciences USA 2015 –

·      Honorary Chemist in Royal Academy of Sciences (chemistry) for Nobel Price Evaluation

·      The Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg (KVVS) 2012 –

 

Prices-Awards:

·       Axel Hirsch price, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 2018

·       The Royal Swedish King Medal 8th size with Serafimer ordens ribbon for meritorious achievements in Medical Research, especially Cystic Fibrosis, 2021

 

Scientific accomplishments, for Bibliography, see separate list:

2022, 2023, and 2024 among 1% most cited scientist in cross-field area according to Clarivate.

Published >310 scientific publications.

From Clarivate, h-index 78 (Oct 2024).

Most cited publication: The inner of the two Muc2 mucin dependent mucus layers in colon is devoid of bacteria. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 105, 15064-15069 Cited 1447 times today and stadily >100/year.

Founder of the Consortia of Mucin Biology Groups (MBG), presently with 9 independent PIs and groups. Totally about 30 scientists from 3 different Departments Biochemistry-Cell Biology, Physiology, and Medicine.

 

Scientific Focus

Since late 1980ies focus on mucins and mucus including glycans and protein with a focus on normal function and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and for the last 7-8 years focus on the respiratory tract. Today a leading scientist in understanding biosynthesis, structure, and function of mucins and related proteins found in mucus.

 

Organisation of international meetings, selected:

                      -Mucus and mucins, Gothenburg 1995. About 150 participants.

                         -Mass spectrometry in biology, Hindås 1997. About 50 participants.

-XIIIth Interantional Cystic Fibrosis Congress, Stockholm 2000, About 1500 participants

                         -Innate immunity in the gastrointestinal tract, October 2003, About 90 participants

                         -CFTR in the gastrointestinal tract, November 2005, About 90 participants

-Vice-chairman for FEBS 2010, joint meeting organized by Sweden-Norway in Gothenburg

-Vice-chairman for European Cystic Fibrosis Conference 2014, Gothenburg

-Nordic Glycobiology meeting, 2017 Gothenburg. 100 participants

-Royal Academy of Sciences “Next challenge-Impact of Glycosylation”, Nov. 11, 2019, Lund. 150 participants

Science Policy

Article on funding of medical research in Dagens Nyheter, main Swedish newspaper, 2001

On Cystic Fibrosis, Svenska Dagbladet 2018 and 2022

Current major external funding:

·     Wallenberg Foundation, 2017-2024, SEK 5 800 000/year for 5 years, Molecular structure of mucin domains and roles of their interactions in mucus of the intestinal and respiratory diseases.

·     ERC Proof of Concept 2023-2024, €150,000, Novel treatments for the mucus accumulation at chronic lung diseases.

·     The Swedish Science Research Council 2024-2026; SEK 1 800 000/year for 3 years; Biochemistry and function of mucins and related molecules in diseases of the respiratory tract. Highest score possible.

·     LUA/ALF, Mucus in Diseases - COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Crohn’s, and IBS, 2022-2024, SEK 1 000 000/year

Finished (major)

·     Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation 2019-2022, USD 749,770 for 3 years, In Vitro and In Vivo Mucus Screen for LOPAC and Natural Product Libraries. Finished June 30, 2022

·     The Swedish Science Research Council 2018-2023; SEK 1 800 000/year for 5 years; Biochemistry and function of mucins and related molecules in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Highest score possible.

·     European Research Council, 2016 – 2021, Advanded ERC, SEK 4 800 000/year for 5 years, The role of mucins and mucus in the diseases cystic fibrosis, ceoliac disease and ulcerative colitis.

·     National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institue of Health (NIH) 2016-2021 USD 305 614/year for 5 years. The MUC2 Mucus Gel as an Innate Immune Mechanisms that Inhibits Colitis

·     NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, NIH 2012-2016 USD 300 000/year for 5 years. The MUC2 Mucus Gel as an Innate Immune Mechanisms that Inhibits Colitis

·     Wallenberg Foundation, 2012-2017, SEK 28 000 000 for 5 years, The mucus layer formed by the MUC2 mucin as the habitat of the colon commensal microbiota

·     The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, 2010-2015, SEK 30 000 000 for 5 years, The colon mucus layers as the first innate immune barrier.

Supervision of PhD.- completed thesis (year of graduation and current position)

1. Dan Baeckström 1995, Retired

2. Jing-Yang Mu, 1996, in CA, USA

3. Ke Zhang, 1997, bioinformatic scientist at Ceres Inc., CA, (http://www.ceres-inc.com).

4. Niclas Karlsson 1997, professor, Oslo.

5. Rein Sikut, 1998, head of immunology group at a Biotech. company

6. Noomi Asker, 1998. Reseacher.

7. Magnus Axelsson, 1999, Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgren Univ. Hospital

8. Kristina Thomsson, 2000, at Proteomics Core Facility

9. Fredrik Olson, 2002. Private compant

10. Christian Andersson 2003, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg

11. Sirle Laos 2005, Researcher Barcelona, Spain

12. Martin Lidell 2006, universitetslektor at Dept. MedicalBiochemistry

13. Emily Malmberg, 2006, Scientist Copenhagen University

14. Jessica Holmén Larsson, 2006, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg

15. Tiange Lang, 2007, independent posion in China

16. Malin E.V. Johansson, June 2009, PI, Professor, Medical Biochemistry, at MBG

17. Jenny Gustafsson, May 2012, Shared with Henrik Sjövall, PI, Starting grant VR, at Dept. Physiology, at MBG.

18. Thaher Pelaseyed, Nov. 2012, PI, Researcher, SSMF, at MBG.

19. Joakim Bergström, Dec. 2014, Lab. Director at AstraZeneca

20. Sjoerd van der Post, Dec. 2014, PI, post-doc position VR, at MBG.

21. Karolina Sjöberg Jabbar, Nov. 2018, post-doc positio VR at Dept. Medicine, Univ. Gothenburg

 

Former and current international and national Post-docs in the laboratory:

1.Daniella Steel (from UK), scientist at Chalmers, Göteborg

2. Rein Sikut (from Estonia), see above

3. Klaus Godl, (from Germany) at Axxima biotech. company; Munchen, Germany

4. Julia Fernandez-Rodrigues Univ. Vigo, from Spain, head at GU Core Facility for Imaging

5. Cristina Weinberg (from New Zealand), BioTech company in New Zealand

6. Malin Bäckström, Univ. Gothenburg, head at Mamalian Protein Expression Core Facility

7. Elin Grahn, Univ. Gothenburg, at Örebro University

8. Kristina Thomsson, Univ. Gothenburg, Proteomics Core Facility

10. Iris Härd, Karolinska Inst., left science.

11. Ana Rodriguez Pinero, Vigo University Spain, AstraZeneca

12. Thaher Pelaseyed, established his own lab. at Dept.

13. Daniel Ambort, Univ. Bern, Switzerland, at Lonza

14. Babu Sharamsha, India, post-doc. at UNC Chapell Hill, NC

15. Jessica Holmen Larsson, researcher at Clinical Neuroscience, Univ. Gothenburg

16. Malin EV Johansson, Univ. Gothenburg, established her own laboratory 2014, in MBG

17. Anna Ermund, Lund University, Scientist in my lab.

18. Sjoerd van der Post, PI, on VR Starting grant, in MBG

19. Harriet Nilsson, deceased

20. Catharina Wising, Sweden, Scientist in industry.

21. Andre Shutte, Germany, Germany

22. Christian Recktenwald, Germany, Scientist in my lab.

23. Hedvig Jakobsson, Sweden, scientist at clinical microbiology

24. Liisa Arike, Tallin, Estonia, Scientist at Mass spectrometry Core Facility

25. George Birchenough, London, UK, PI, VR, Wallenberg Center, in MBG

26. Evelin Berger, Germany, Proteomics core facility, Gothenburg

27. Hannah Schneider, Germany, Scientist at Astra-Zeneca

28. Lisa Wuerner, Germany, Scientific writer

29. Jenny Gustafsson, Sweden, PI Dept. Physiology, Gothenburg, in MBG

30. Joan Fernandez, Spain, University Teacher Spain.

31. Joakim Bergström, Sweden, Scientist at AstraZeneca.

32. Sergio Tillo Muyo, Spain, Scientist in my lab.

33. Brendan Dolan, Dublin, Ireland, Scientist in my lab.

34. Dalia Fakih, Beirut, Lebanon, Scientist at AstraZeneca.

35. Aaran Lewis, London, UK, To industry

36. Melania Giorgetti, Italy, Pharmacy Industry

37. Pablo Gallego, Spain, Scientist at AstraZeneca

38. Maria José Bonete, Spain, Scientist at Spanish University

39. Ana S. Luis, Portugal, PI, VR start, in MGB

 

Senior visiting Scientist working in my laboratory

           1. Dr. Jean-Francois Bouhours (from France), 1998-1999

2. John R. Riordan (from USA) discoverer of CFTR, 3 month 2001

3. Prof. Sandra J. Gendler (from USA) 3 month 2002 and 2003

4. Prof. Carlos Flores (from Chile) 5 month 2018

 

Current staff in the laboratory

                      4 Senior scientists

                         Two nurses 50%

External PhD. examiner

                      1. Peter Aagaard-Nielsen, 1997, Copenhagen, Denmark

                         2. Helle Hassan, 1999, Copenhagen, Denmark

                         3. Torunn Thingstad 2000, Oslo, Norway

                         4. Hans Wandall, 2004, Copenhagen, Denmark

                         5. Mads Peter Agervig Tarp, 2006, Copenhagen, Denmark

                         6. Susan McNally, 2010, Dublin, Ireland

                         7. Zang Yand, 2012, Århus, Denmark

                         8. Vignesh Venkatakrishnan, 2014, Sydney, Australia

                         9. Elisabeth Haugstad, 2015, Trondheim, Norway

                         10. Marlene Andersson, 2016, Uppsala, Sweden

                         11. Benoit Chassaing, 2019, HDR defense, Paris, France

                         12. Thomas Daugbjerg Madsen, 2021, Copenhagen, Denmark

Companies

                      Founded MucoMedics AB and MucoLife AB

Patents

1.   USE OF ALGINATE OLIGOMERS IN THE TREATMENT OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND OTHER CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DEFECTIVE CFTR ION CHANNEL FUNCTION, US Patent: DEHN40.006APC

2.   A PROTEIN BASED ON ZG16 TO BE USED AS A MEDICAMENT, EU patent granted 15 798 074.9.

3.   Calcium binding compounds based on gammacarboxy glutamate. US Patent 10,035,821 B2, European EPO EP3311829