Syddansk Universitet (SDU)

Henrik has been a researcher in ecotoxicology and endocrine disruption at SDU since 2000. He has developed and validated OECD test guidelines to detect EDCs since 2001 and has been a member of OECD VMG-Eco and OECD Fish Drafting Group since 2006. He coordinated the development and the two validation phases of OECD test guideline 234, Fish Sexual Development Test which was adopted in 2011 and was in the steering group of the development and validation of two mollusc guidelines adopted in 2016 (OECD TG 242 and 243). He also participated in the validation of OECD TG 229 and 230. Henrik has been a member of the ECHA ED expert group since it was founded in 2015. He has been member of the steering group of SETAC - Global Advisory Group on Endocrine Disruptor Testing and Risk Assessment (EDTRA) and was co-moderator of the SETAC Pellston workshop on Ecotoxicological Hazard and Risk Assessment Approaches for Endocrine-Active Substances in 2016. He has authored/co-authored a number of scientific reports and guidance documents for the OECD and the Danish EPA. Henrik will be the scientific coordinator of ERGO (WP1) in close collaboration the project manager, the project management office and the steering group. His group will be responsible for WP7. He will also lead WP9.

Helle will supervise the Project Management Office of ERGO (WP1). Helle is responsible for the day-to-day operational and administrative management, the implementation of all management procedures and follow-up of plans, the coordination of production of project documents, organization of consortium meetings, administrative, financial and logistics issues, and the implementation of SDU’s contribution to the dissemination tasks.

Poul is an ecotoxicologist engaged in research on the effects of metals, pesticides and EDCs in aquatic organisms since 1980. Project leader for over 50 research projects since 1988, i.e. projects leading to the development of OECD test guideline 234. Head of ‘Danish Centre for Environmental Oestrogen Research’ (1996-2001) under the ‘Danish Environmental Research Programme’ (total budget of €5 million). Supervisor for 12 post doctorate, 18 PhD, 132 MSc and 116 BSc students. Member of the Danish EPA’s EDC network since 2001. Member of the board of ‘Danish Centre for Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals’ since 2010. Member of UNEPs ‘Advisory Group on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (2014-today). In ERGO, Poul will contribute to WP1, WP5, WP7 and WP8. Poul will be responsible for ERGO communication with the UNEP Advisory Group on EDCs.

Jane has focused on endocrine disruption and development of biomarkers including histology in her research. She joined the Ecotoxicology Group at SDU in 2010 and is currently financed via the Centre on Endocrine Disrupters, which is a national cross-disciplinary information and research centre funded by the Danish EPA. Jane is experienced in bivalve and fish histology, experimental setup of field samplings and laboratory studies with marine and freshwater species including bivalves, fish and amphibians. Jane authored and co-authored several reports for the Danish EPA including substance evaluation reports, she is co-PI on awarded grants from the Danish EPA and has extensive scientific outreach experience. She has supervised over 30 BSc and MSc students in biology, pharmacy and science communication. Jane will contribute to ERGO with histological competencies and experimental work in WP5 and WP7 and public outreach in WP8.

Since 1997 Karin has been a researcher in ecotoxicological effects of EDCs. Since 2001 she has been working with the development and validation of OECD test guidelines for the evaluation of ED properties of chemicals. The main focus has been the development of the OECD Fish Sexual Development Test (OECD TG 234) for the detection of EDCs in fish, the validation of OECD TG 229 and 230, and the identification of endpoints for thyroid disruption in fish. Karin is experienced in histopathological effects of EDCs, development of biomarkers for different ED modes of action and the setup, execution and evaluation of laboratory studies with EDCs including validation studies for OECD TG development. She is experienced in the evaluation of scientific literature on ED and she has authored/co-authored several scientific reports. In ERGO, Karin will contribute with histological and morphological evaluations of biomarkers and endpoints as well as experimental exposures in fish studies in WP5 and WP7. In WP2 Karin will provide the results of a literature survey on relevant thyroid biomarkers and endpoints for possible inclusion in existing OECD fish test guidelines.

John has expert knowledge of bio-statistics particularly for toxicological applications. John has been heavily involved in providing statistical analysis and consultancy to OECD programmes leading to the validation of test guidelines. John will support WP2, WP3, WP4 and WP5 with bio-statistical consultancy on selecting samples size, power analysis to ensure statistical soundness on OECD levels.

Sina is an ecotoxicologist with a special interest in endocrine disruption and neurotoxicity. In 2020, she joined the ecotoxicology group at SDU as a postdoctoral researcher. Sina obtained her PhD as a fellow of the German Federal Environmental Foundation at RWTH Aachen University working on olfactory toxicity in zebrafish. She has a strong background in molecular biology and several years of experience with laboratory exposure studies with fish, behavioral analyses, and imaging. Within ERGO, Sina will contribute to WP5 and WP7 by conducting experimental studies with zebrafish, evaluating histological and morphological endpoints, and performing data analyses.