The University of Southern Denmark regards Odense University Hospital as much more than just another collaboration partner. The Faculty of Health Sciences and Odense University
Hospital are heavily dependent on each other and organisationally intertwined. The Institute of Clinical Research is the largest institute at the Faculty – but the entire institute is in fact physically located at the hospital, where research and clinical practice exist side by side.
The Faculty of Health Sciences thus plays a crucial role in the conduct of research at Odense University Hospital, while the clinical setting is essential for research.
One obvious sign of our focus on research over the past few years is the huge increase in the number of PhD students we have seen, along with a doubling in the number of professors – and still we continue to grow.
Hospital are heavily dependent on each other and organisationally intertwined. The Institute of Clinical Research is the largest institute at the Faculty – but the entire institute is in fact physically located at the hospital, where research and clinical practice exist side by side.
The Faculty of Health Sciences thus plays a crucial role in the conduct of research at Odense University Hospital, while the clinical setting is essential for research.
Odense University Hospital prioritizes research!
With a strong research strategy, the aim for the next five years is to achieve a significant rise in the range of scientific publications and the number of researchers and PhDs. At the same time, Odense University Hospital focuses on internationalization. Odense University Hospital also aims to establish a minimum of three elite research centres at the highest international level, with development functions being created within the highly specialised units. The strategy is backed by support from management and a financial commitment that brings it alive.Research of the highest standard
Our research must be of the highest standard, and the interplay and collaboration between the Faculty of Health Sciences and Odense University Hospital means that we can attract the best staff and researchers from home and abroad. Odense University Hospital and the Institute of Clinical Research would like all those with research qualifications from every field to help promote research in health sciences, and the hope is to establish clear career paths for all specialist groups. This, in turn, will further strengthen research at Odense University Hospital.One obvious sign of our focus on research over the past few years is the huge increase in the number of PhD students we have seen, along with a doubling in the number of professors – and still we continue to grow.
The Department of Regional Health Research (IRS) was established in 2007 under the Faculty of Health Sciences.
The department is responsible for coordinating research collaboration with the regional hospitals in the Region of Southern Denmark and selected hospitals in Region Zealand. This collaboration is vital, as it is at these regional hospitals that the majority of patients with the most common diseases are treated.
This has led to the establishment of a translational research profile as a regional standard, in which research and patient care are locally rooted through shared positions between the university and regional hospitals, while also fostering close collaboration with other departments at the Faculty of Health Sciences.
IRS employs more than 400 staff members across around 50 research groups, based at 12 different hospitals in the Region of Southern Denmark and Region Zealand. The researchers include doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, most of whom are primarily employed at the regional hospitals.
The department is responsible for coordinating research collaboration with the regional hospitals in the Region of Southern Denmark and selected hospitals in Region Zealand. This collaboration is vital, as it is at these regional hospitals that the majority of patients with the most common diseases are treated.
Hospitals with a translational research profile
The department’s research covers a broad spectrum, including clinical, organisational and education-related research. The Regional Medical Training Programme, based in Esbjerg, requires coordination across several departments and hospitals. In 2025, the master's level of the programme will be expanded, and a bachelor's programme is being developed to launch in 2026. The department is also responsible for the clinical training of students from the University of Southern Denmark during their clinical placements at hospitals in the Region of Southern Denmark.This has led to the establishment of a translational research profile as a regional standard, in which research and patient care are locally rooted through shared positions between the university and regional hospitals, while also fostering close collaboration with other departments at the Faculty of Health Sciences.
IRS employs more than 400 staff members across around 50 research groups, based at 12 different hospitals in the Region of Southern Denmark and Region Zealand. The researchers include doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, most of whom are primarily employed at the regional hospitals.