Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by David Westergaard
Detection of microchimerism in menstrual blood: a proof-of-concept study including 86 women
ArticleArticles in Press105898 Affiliations & Notes aDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark bThe Fertility Clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark cDepartment of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark dDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Article Info Publication History: Received April 16, 2026; Revised June 29, 2026; Accepted August 7, 2026;...
Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies genetic drivers of bile acid metabolism in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
|
Abstract Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, which affects 0.2–2% of pregnancies, is characterized by pruritus, increased aminotransferase activity and elevated serum bile acids. Previous studies have implicated liver-enriched genes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
By Jaakko S. Tyrmi, Juha Karjalainen, Samvida Venkatesh, Clara Benoit-Pilven, Susanna Lemmelä, Søren Brunak, Bitten Aagaard, Mie T Bruun, Christian Erikstrup, Henrik Ullum, Ole B. Pedersen, Karina Banasik, Erik S. Sørensen, Christina Mikkelsen, Michael C Schwinn, Arni Sturluson, Sisse R. Ostrowski, Johannes Kettunen, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, Mette Nyegaard, David Westergaard, Thorunn Rafnar, Patrick Sulem, Kari Stefansson, Priit Palta, Triin Laisk, Taru Tukiainen, Cecilia M Lindgren, Mark Daly, Aki S Havulinna, Hannele Laivuori
|
Nature
Verified
Subgrouping patients with ischemic heart disease by means of the Markov cluster algorithm - Communications Medicine
Abstract Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is heterogeneous with respect to onset, burden of symptoms, and disease progression. We hypothesized that unsupervised clustering analysis could facilitate identification of distinct and clinically relevant multimorbidity clusters. We included IHD patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) or coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) between 2004 and 2016 and used the earliest procedure as the index date.
Sequence diversity lost in early pregnancy - Nature
|
Abstract Every generation, the human genome is shuffled during meiosis and a single fertilized egg gives rise to all of the cells of the body1. Meiotic errors leading to chromosomal abnormalities are known causes of pregnancy loss2,3, but genetic aetiologies of euploid pregnancy loss remain largely unexplained4.
By Gudny A. Arnadottir, Hakon Jonsson, Jennifer R. Gruhn, Peter Loof Møller, David Westergaard, Louise le Roux, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Hannes P. Eggertsson, G. Bragi Walters, Hreinn Stefánsson, Agnar Helgason, Palle Duun Rohde, Bjarni V Halldorsson, Sofie Bliddal, Mette Nyegaard, Eva Hoffmann, Henriette Svarre Nielsen
|
Nature
Verified
Genome-wide analyses identify 25 infertility loci and relationships with reproductive traits across the allele frequency spectrum - Nature Genetics
|
Abstract Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) may help inform the etiology of infertility. Here, we perform GWAS meta-analyses across seven cohorts in up to 42,629 cases and 740,619 controls and identify 25 genetic risk loci for male and female infertility. We additionally identify up to 269 genetic loci associated with follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol and testosterone through sex-specific GWAS meta-analyses (n = 6,095–246,862).
By Samvida Venkatesh, Duncan Palmer, Nikolas Baya, Melody Parker Verified, Mie T Bruun, Christian Erikstrup, Anders Juul, Christina Mikkelsen, Henriette S. Nielsen, Sisse R. Ostrowski, Ole B. Pedersen, Palle Duun Rohde, Erik S. Sørensen, David Westergaard, Asgeir Haraldsson, Hilma Holm, Ingileif Jónsdóttir, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Minna K. Karjalainen, Benjamin Jacobs, Georgios Kalantzis, Nikki Hubers, Margaret Lippincott, Deborah A. Lawlor, Nicholas J Timpson, Mette Nyegaard, Kari Stefansson, Reedik Mägi, Hannele Laivuori, Dorret I. Boomsma, Ravikumar Balasubramanian, Yee-Ming Chan, Triin Laisk, Bitten Aagard Jensen
|
Nature
Verified
IVF versus ICSI in patients without severe male factor infertility: a randomized clinical trial - Nature Medicine
Abstract Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and conventional in vitro fertilization (c-IVF) are widely used fertilization techniques in assisted reproduction, but their relative effectiveness in patients without severe male factor infertility remains debated. While ICSI’s role in couples with severe male factor infertility is well established, its routine use in cases with normal or nonseverely decreased sperm quality is not evidence-based.
Uncovering the heritable components of multimorbidities and disease trajectories using a nationwide cohort - Nature Communications
Abstract Quantifying the contribution of genetics and environmental effects on disease initiation and progression, as well as the shared genetics of different diseases, is vital for the understanding of the disease etiology of multimorbidities. In this study, we leverage nationwide Danish registries to provide a granular atlas of the genetic origin of disease phenotypes for a cohort of all Danes 1978–2018 with partially known pedigree (n = 6.3 million).
Homozygosity for a stop-gain variant in CCDC201 causes primary ovarian insufficiency - Nature Genetics
|
Abstract Age at menopause (AOM) has a substantial impact on fertility and disease risk. While many loci with variants that associate with AOM have been identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) under an additive model, other genetic models are rarely considered1. Here through GWAS meta-analysis under the recessive model of 174,329 postmenopausal women from Iceland, Denmark, the United Kingdom (UK; UK Biobank) and Norway, we study low-frequency variants with a large effect on AOM.
By Asmundur Oddsson, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Gudjon R. Oskarsson, Unnur Styrkarsdottir, Gísli H. Halldórsson, Gardar Sveinbjornsson, David Westergaard, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, Brynjar O. Jensson, Gudny A. Arnadottir, Hakon Jonsson, Ole A. Andreassen, G. Bragi Walters, Mette Nyegaard, Christian Erikstrup, Rolv T. Lie, Ingileif Jónsdóttir, Bjarni V Halldorsson, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Karina Banasik, Ole Birger Pedersen, Laufey Tryggvadottir, Jan Haavik, Hilma Holm, Thorunn Rafnar, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Patrick Sulem, Audunn S. Snaebjarnarson
|
Nature
Verified
Genome-wide association meta-analysis identifies five loci associated with postpartum hemorrhage - Nature Genetics
|
Abstract Bleeding in early pregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) bear substantial risks, with the former closely associated with pregnancy loss and the latter being the foremost cause of maternal death, underscoring the severe impact on maternal–fetal health. We identified five genetic loci linked to PPH in a meta-analysis.
By David Westergaard, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Palle Duun Rohde, Xiaoping Wu, Frank Geller, Pol Sole-Navais, Christopher Flatley, Ole Birger Pedersen, Christian Erikstrup, Christina Mikkelsen, Mie Topholm Bruun, Thorsten Brodersen, Per C. Magnus, Ole A. Andreassen, Pål Njolstad, Lone Krebs, Mette Nyegaard, Thomas Hansen, Bjarke Feenstra, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Olafur A. Stefansson, Gardar Sveinbjornsson, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Bo Jacobsson, Triin Laisk, Hannele Laivuori, Søren Brunak, Nordic Collaboration
|
Nature
Verified
Lifestyle and demographic associations with 47 inflammatory and vascular stress biomarkers in 9876 blood donors - Communications Medicine
|
Abstract The emerging use of biomarkers in research and tailored care introduces a need for information about the association between biomarkers and basic demographics and lifestyle factors revealing expectable concentrations in healthy individuals while considering general demographic differences. A selection of 47 biomarkers, including markers of inflammation and vascular stress, were measured in plasma samples from 9876 Danish Blood Donor Study participants.
By Bertram Kjerulff, Joseph Dowsett, Rikke Louise Jacobsen, Josephine Gladov, Agnete Troen Lundgaard, Karina Banasik, David Westergaard, Khoa Manh Dinh, Kathrine Agergård Kaspersen, Michael C Schwinn, Anders Juul, Carsten Bøcker Pedersen, Clive Eric Sabel, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, Maria Didriksen, Mette Nyegaard, Niels Grarup, Pär Johansson, Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, Sanne Schou Berger, Søren Brunak, Søren Jacobsen, Thomas Hansen, Torben Frøstrup Hansen, Torben Sigsgaard, Mie Topholm Bruun, Henrik Hjalgrim, Klaus Rostgaard, Ole Birger Pedersen
|
Nature
Verified
Variant in the synaptonemal complex protein SYCE2 associates with pregnancy loss through effect on recombination - Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
|
Abstract Two-thirds of all human conceptions are lost, in most cases before clinical detection. The lack of detailed understanding of the causes of pregnancy losses constrains focused counseling for future pregnancies. We have previously shown that a missense variant in synaptonemal complex central element protein 2 (SYCE2), in a key residue for the assembly of the synaptonemal complex backbone, associates with recombination traits.
By Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Bjarni V Halldorsson, Hakon Jonsson, Gunnar Palsson, Asmundur Oddsson, David Westergaard, Gudny A. Arnadottir, Karina Banasik, Thomas Hansen, Søren Brunak, Mette Nyegaard, Christian Erikstrup, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Asgeir Haraldsson, Laufey Tryggvadottir, Ingileif Jónsdóttir, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Eva Hoffmann, Patrick Sulem, Hilma Holm, Henriette Svarre Nielsen
|
Nature
Verified
Prospective reproductive outcomes according to sperm parameters, including DNA fragmentation in recurrent pregnancy loss
Abstract Are the prospective reproductive outcomes in RPL couples related to sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) measured by SCSA, morphology and concentration at referral? A prospective cohort study including 95 couples seen between 01/04/2018 and 01/12/2019 at the tertiary Copenhagen RPL Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet and Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark.
Genome-wide association study of placental weight identifies distinct and shared genetic influences between placental and fetal growth - Nature Genetics
|
Abstract A well-functioning placenta is essential for fetal and maternal health throughout pregnancy. Using placental weight as a proxy for placental growth, we report genome-wide association analyses in the fetal (n = 65,405), maternal (n = 61,228) and paternal (n = 52,392) genomes, yielding 40 independent association signals. Twenty-six signals are classified as fetal, four maternal and three fetal and maternal. A maternal parent-of-origin effect is seen near KCNQ1.
By Robin Beaumont, Christopher Flatley, Marc Vaudel, JING CHEN, Gunn-Helen Moen, Line Skotte, Øyvind Helgeland, Pol Sole-Navais, Karina Banasik, Clara Albiñana, Justiina Ronkainen, Katerina Trajanoska, David Westergaard, Sundararajan Srinivasan, José Ramón Bilbao, Catherine Allard, Teemu Kuulasmaa, Frédérique White, Haoxiang Cheng, Ke Hao, Ole A. Andreassen, Bjørn Olav Åsvold, Ben Michael Brumpton, Søren Brunak, Jonas Bybjerg-Grauholm, Paul Elliott, Christian Erikstrup, Marisa Estarlich Estarlich, Frank Geller, Jakob Grove, David M. Hougaard, Eero Kajantie, Mette Nyegaard, Ole Birger Pedersen, Fernando Rivadeneira, Sylvain Sebert, Camilla Stoltenberg, Bjarni J Vilhjálmsson, Cristen J. Willer, Timo A Lakka, Torben Frøstrup Hansen, Ewan R Pearson, Sisse R. Ostrowski, Craig E Pennell, Janine F. Felix, Andrew T. Hattersley, Deborah A. Lawlor, Thomas Werge, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, David Evans, Bo Jacobsson, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Marie-France Hivert, Stefan Johansson, Rachel M Freathy, Bjarke Feenstra, Marika Groleau, Dorte Gybel-Brask
|
Nature
Verified
Pregnancy Loss and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, and All‐Cause Mortality: A Nationwide Partner Comparison Cohort Study
Privacy Preference Center When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies on our website. Click on the different category headings to find out more and manage your cookie preferences.
Publisher Correction: Deficit of homozygosity among 1.52 million individuals and genetic causes of recessive lethality - Nature Communications
|
Author notes These authors contributed equally: Asmundur Oddsson, Patrick Sulem. These authors jointly supervised this work: Kari Stefansson, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson. Authors and Affiliations deCODE genetics/Amgen, Inc., Reykjavik, Iceland Asmundur Oddsson, Patrick Sulem, Gardar Sveinbjornsson, Gudny A. Arnadottir, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Gisli H. Halldorsson, Bjarni A. Atlason, Gudjon R. Oskarsson, Hannes Helgason, Hildigunnur Katrinardottir, Run Fridriksdottir, Brynjar O.
By Asmundur Oddsson, Patrick Sulem, Gardar Sveinbjornsson, Gudny A. Arnadottir, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Gísli H. Halldórsson, Bjarni A. Atlason, Gudjon R. Oskarsson, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, David Westergaard, Brynjar O. Jensson, Vinicius Tragante, Egil Ferkingstad, Hakon Jonsson, Snaedis Kristmundsdottir, Solbritt Rantapää-Dahlqvist, Ida Elken Sonderby, Maria Didriksen, Pernilla Stridh, Jan Haavik, Laufey Tryggvadottir, G. Bragi Walters, Ingrid Kockum, Thorunn Olafsdottir, Geir Selbaek, Mette Nyegaard, Christian Erikstrup, Thorsten Brodersen, Saedis Saevarsdottir, Mie Topholm Bruun, Rikke Louise Jacobsen, Rolv T. Lie, Srdjan Djurovic, Lars Alfredsson, Soren Brunak, Bjarni V Halldorsson, Leonid Padyukov, Karina Banasik, Thorunn Rafnar, Lars Klareskog, Ole Birger Pedersen, Alexandra Havdahl, Björn Nilsson, Ole A. Andreassen, Ingileif Jónsdóttir, Hilma Holm, Kari Stefansson
|
Nature
Verified
Deficit of homozygosity among 1.52 million individuals and genetic causes of recessive lethality - Nature Communications
|
Study samples and ethics declarations For Iceland, this study is based on whole-genome sequence data from the white blood cells of 49,708 Icelanders participating in various disease projects at deCODE Genetics14. In addition, a total of 155,250 Icelanders have been genotyped using Illumina SNP chips. All participating individuals who donated blood or buccal tissue samples, or their guardians, provided written informed consent.
By Asmundur Oddsson, Patrick Sulem, Gardar Sveinbjornsson, Gudny A. Arnadottir, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Gísli H. Halldórsson, Gudjon R. Oskarsson, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, David Westergaard, Brynjar O. Jensson, Vinicius Tragante, Egil Ferkingstad, Hakon Jonsson, Snaedis Kristmundsdottir, Solbritt Rantapää-Dahlqvist, Ida Elken Sonderby, Maria Didriksen, Pernilla Stridh, Jan Haavik, Laufey Tryggvadottir, G. Bragi Walters, Ingrid Kockum, Thorunn Olafsdottir, Geir Selbaek, Mette Nyegaard, Christian Erikstrup, Saedis Saevarsdottir, Mie Topholm Bruun, Rolv T. Lie, Srdjan Djurovic, Lars Alfredsson, Bjarni V Halldorsson, Leonid Padyukov, Karina Banasik, Thorunn Rafnar, Lars Klareskog, Ole Birger Pedersen, Alexandra Havdahl, Björn Nilsson, Ole A. Andreassen, Ingileif Jónsdóttir, Hilma Holm, Kari Stefansson, Bjarni A. Atlason, Thorsten Brodersen, Rikke Louise Jacobsen, Soren Brunak
|
Nature
Verified
Author Correction: Genetic effects on the timing of parturition and links to fetal birth weight - Nature Genetics
|
Author notes Anubha Mahajan & Mark I. McCarthy Present address: Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA These authors contributed equally: Ge Zhang, Bo Jacobsson.
By Pol Sole-Navais, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Marc Vaudel, Julius Juodakis, JING CHEN, Triin Laisk, Abigail L. LaBella, David Westergaard, Jonas Bacelis, Ben M Brumpton, Line Skotte, Øyvind Helgeland, Anubha Mahajan, Matthias Wielscher, Frederick Lin, Gunn-Helen Moen, Robin Beaumont, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Sisse R. Ostrowski, Elina Hyppönen, Catherine Allard, Scott Williams, Gardar Sveinbjornsson, William Lowe Jr, Ole B. Pedersen, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Christian Erikstrup, Andrew T. Hattersley, Denise M. Scholtens, Jane West, Mette Nyegaard, Anne H. Skogholt, Ole A. Andreassen, Craig E Pennell, Marie-France Hivert, Geoffrey Hayes, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Deborah A. Lawlor, Henriette S. Nielsen, Reedik Mägi, Antonis Rokas, Kari Stefansson, Bjarke Feenstra, Pål Njolstad, Rachel M Freathy, Stefan Johansson
|
Nature
Verified
Genetic effects on the timing of parturition and links to fetal birth weight - Nature Genetics
|
Abstract The timing of parturition is crucial for neonatal survival and infant health. Yet, its genetic basis remains largely unresolved. We present a maternal genome-wide meta-analysis of gestational duration (n = 195,555), identifying 22 associated loci (24 independent variants) and an enrichment in genes differentially expressed during labor. A meta-analysis of preterm delivery (18,797 cases, 260,246 controls) revealed six associated loci and large genetic similarities with gestational duration.
By Pol Sole-Navais, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Marc Vaudel, Julius Juodakis, JING CHEN, Triin Laisk, Abigail L. LaBella, David Westergaard, Jonas Bacelis, Ben M Brumpton, Line Skotte, Øyvind Helgeland, Anubha Mahajan, Matthias Wielscher, Frederick Lin, Gunn-Helen Moen, Robin Beaumont, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Sisse R. Ostrowski, Elina Hyppönen, Catherine Allard, Scott Williams, Gardar Sveinbjornsson, William Lowe Jr, Ole B. Pedersen, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Christian Erikstrup, Andrew T. Hattersley, Denise M. Scholtens, Jane West, Mette Nyegaard, Anne H. Skogholt, Ole A. Andreassen, Craig E Pennell, Marie-France Hivert, Geoffrey Hayes, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Deborah A. Lawlor, Henriette S. Nielsen, Reedik Mägi, Antonis Rokas, Kari Stefansson, Bjarke Feenstra, Pål Njolstad, Rachel M Freathy, Stefan Johanson
|
Nature
Verified
The genetic basis of endometriosis and comorbidity with other pain and inflammatory conditions - Nature Genetics
|
Author notes These authors jointly supervised this work: Stacey A. Missmer, Grant W. Montgomery, Andrew P. Morris, Krina T. Zondervan. Authors and Affiliations Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Nilufer Rahmioglu, Michal Krassowski, Cecilia S. K. Cheuk, Cecilia M. Lindgren, Anne Ndungu & Krina T.
By Nilufer Rahmioglu, Peter L. Møller, Matthew Law, Yadav Sapkota, Sini Skarp, Ayush Giri, Karina Banasik, Michal Krassowski, Maarja Lepamets, Eeva Sliz, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Nura F. Topbas-Selcuki, David Westergaard, Archie Campbell, Todd L. Edwards, Reynir T. Geirsson, Jane E. Girling, Oskari Heikinheimo, Isabel C Hostettler, Henry Houlden, Sahar Houshdaran, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Yoichiro Kamatani, Stephen Kennedy, Johannes Kettunen, Michiaki Kubo, Hannele Laivuori, Massimo Mangino, Nicholas Martin, Alison Murray, Catherine M Olsen, Grzegorz Polak, David Porteous, Kathyrn M. Rexrode, Marcin Słomka, Blair Smith, Susan A. Treloar, Katy Vincent, David J. Werring, Eleftheria Zeggini, FinnGen Study, FinnGen Endometriosis Taskforce, Dharani K Hapangama, Caroline Hayward, Siew-Kee Low, Daniel I. Chasman, Marina Sirota, Tim Spector, David Whiteman, Outi Uimari, Peter Kraft, Andres Salumets, Dale R Nyholt, Reedik Mägi, Kari Stefansson, Christian Becker, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Mette Nyegaard, Grant W. Montgomery, Andrew Morris
|
Nature
Verified
Uncovering the Heritable Components of Multimorbidities and Disease Trajectories: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Abstract Quantifying the contribution of genetics and environmental effects on disease initiation and progression, as well as the shared genetics of different diseases, is vital for the understanding of the disease etiology of multimorbidities. In this study, we leverage nationwide Danish registries to provide a granular atlas of the genetic origin of disease phenotypes for a cohort of all Danes 1978-2018 with partially known pedigree (n = 6.3 million).
Endometriosis is associated with pregnancy loss: A nationwide historical cohort study
Objective To study whether endometriosis is associated with pregnancy loss and recurrent pregnancy loss. Design Nationwide historical cohort study with a nested case-control analysis. Setting National health registers. Methods/patients 29,563 women born between 1957 and 1997 were identified in the national health registers, diagnosed with endometriosis between 1977 and 2017 and age-matched 1:10 with 295,630 women without endometriosis.
Deep integrative models for large-scale human genomics
New Results View ORCID ProfileArnór I. Sigurdsson, View ORCID ProfileDavid Westergaard, Ole Winther, Ole Lund, Søren Brunak, Bjarni J. Vilhjálmsson, Simon Rasmussen doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.11.447883 ABSTRACT Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) are expected to play a critical role in achieving precision medicine. Currently, PRS predictors are generally based on linear models using summary statistics, and more recently individual-level data.
Deep integrative models for large-scale human genomics
Abstract Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) are expected to play a critical role in achieving precision medicine. PRS predictors are generally based on linear models using summary statistics, and more recently individual- level data. However, these predictors generally only capture additive relationships and are limited when it comes to what type of data they use.
Identification of hyper-rewired genomic stress non-oncogene addiction genes across 15 cancer types
Abstract Non-oncogene addiction (NOA) genes are essential for supporting the stress-burdened phenotype of tumours and thus vital for their survival. Although NOA genes are acknowledged to be potential drug targets, there has been no large-scale attempt to identify and characterise them as a group across cancer types. Here we provide the first method for the identification of conditional NOA genes and their rewired neighbours using a systems approach.
Text mining of 15 million full-text scientific articles
Text mining of 15 million full-text scientific articles David Westergaard, Hans-Henrik Stærfeldt, Christian Tønsberg, Lars Juhl Jensen, Søren Brunak bioRxiv 162099; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/162099
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with David
Contact David, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack