Project manager for a large clinical study investigating healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy to prevent childhood obesity - the PRE-STORK-trial

We are looking for project manager with an academic background. You must have a focused, goal-oriented, and constructive positive mind. We expect that you are energetic and ready to participate in all aspects of clinical trial. Simultaneously, you must have the skills to juggle many tasks at the once without losing focus.

In case the lines above describe you - we a have a 16-month part time (50%) project manager position at Clinical Research, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC) and the University of Copenhagen open for occupation by July 1st, 2025 or by appointment.

Clinical Research at SDCC, University of Copenhagen

Our clinical interventional research is based on human studies of individuals with obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes. Our studies involve both very detailed physiological studies of smaller groups of individuals, often in combination with various lifestyle interventions, as well as larger clinical studies involving several hundred individuals. Our long-term goal is prevention and/or cure of obesity and diabetes. We focus on how environmental, genetic factors and pharmacological treatments in a differential manner affect physiological and metabolic perturbations relevant to the development and/or clinical course of obesity and diabetes. Our current research project focus on identifying how healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy may prevent childhood obesity.

The project

Globally, the prevalence of overweight has tripled since 1975, one of three Danish women are overweight at the time of pregnancy and almost one out of five children are obese. Interestingly, maternal obesity before conception, excessive bodyweight increase during pregnancy and general physical inactivity are some of the risk factors suspected for infant adiposity. Lifestyle interventions during pregnancy have shown limited or no effect in the offspring and renewed effort to improve the prevention of childhood obesity is warranted. The PRE-STORK-trial will investigate whether intensive, tailored multifactorial lifestyle intervention with diet-induced weight loss, increased physical activity and cognitive behavioural therapy in 360 women with overweight or obesity and their partners, before and during planned pregnancy can reduce neonatal fat mass and the development of childhood obesity. We will also investigate how the intervention affects placental function, epigenome, metabolome, gut microbiome, appetite regulation and neonatal adiposity at birth and at 6 months of age in the offspring. Finally, we will establish a child and family cohort to be followed throughout childhood for healthy weight development. The study will provide evidence of effects from pre-conception-initiated intervention and have the potential to improve health and quality of life for children. Finally, our pre-conception intervention program aim shift focus and stigmatization from the children, towards an evidence-based program to be implemented in municipalities and health care sector for mothers in spe.

Job description 

The responsibilities of the project manager will in short consist of: 

• Assisting the PI and co-PIs with daily management of the trial and trial personnel
• Participation in clinical experiments during the trial based on experience and relevance to the trial
• Planning, arranging, managing, and summarizing meetings
• Participation in academic consortia activities from protocol writing, handling of ethical committee documents/acceptance to manuscript commenting.

Required qualifications  

We are looking for a candidate with a relevant scientific background and experience, as well as good collaboration skills. You should be a Medical Doctor or Master of Science with specific career interest within physiology, obesity, lifestyle and/or diabetes research and care. Your qualifications optimally include experience with execution, planning and management of clinical research projects and personnel. The project manager is required to possess good positive, constructive interpersonal collaborative, service minded and communicative skills, and the perfect candidate speaks and writes fluent Danish and excellent English.

Recruitment and employment

The candidate’s qualifications will be assessed by an internal assessment committee. The employment is in accordance with the Capital Regions collective agreements.

Contact and Information

For further information please contact Tina Vilsbøll, Professor MD DMSc (SDCC/University of Copenhagen, mobile: +45 4094 0825), Louise Grunnet, senior researcher MSc PhD (SDCC, mobile: +45 6067 1704) or Signe Torekov, Professor MSc PhD (University of Copenhagen, +45 2298 3837).  

About Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen

Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC) is an international leading diabetes hospital within The Capital Region of Denmark. The hospital has specialized in diabetes treatment, clinical research, prevention, and education. SDCC is the biggest diabetes hospital in Scandinavia treating around 11.000 persons with diabetes including approximately 1000 children. In November 2021 SDCC moved to a new house next to Herlev Hospital. Read more at www.sdcc.dk and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

• Fakta

• Arbejdssted
  Steno Diabetes Center
• Kontaktperson
  Tina Vilsboell
  tina.vilsboell.01@regionh.dk
• Adresse
  Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 83, 2730 Herlev
• Stillingstype
  Leder
• Speciale
  Administration
• Ansættelsesform
  Projektansættelse
• Ugentlig arbejdstid
  Fuld tid
• Ansættelsens start
  01-07-2025
• Regionens jobnr.
  263066
• Quick-nr.
  478229
• Indrykningsdato
  20-06-2025
• Ansøgningsfrist
  30-06-2025