Stig Purup is originally a trained biologist and has a PhD in medicine from Aarhus University. Since 1997, he has been employed as senior researcher with Aarhus University in Foulum, and his most important research areas include studies of the content of bioactive components in food and feed and their effect on the nutritional and health-related quality in both animal and human. As of 15 September 2020, he has been assigned the renowned title as adjunct professor at Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalborg University.

The new adjunct professor has a solid research background under his belt. One of the special focus areas in Stig Purup’s research is bioactive components in natural biological fluids like milk, blood, and plant and tissue extracts. He has many years of experience in using in vitro cell-based models as well as animal models with a view to identify the biological effect of the bioactive components for consumers and animals. This knowledge is important in order to be able to develop better methods for preventing and treating diseases in human and animal and for increasing the quality and safety in the food production. Stig Purup has written more than 275 publications of which 113 are peer-reviewed articles, mainly within applied cell biology and lactation physiology.

Recently, Stig Purup takes part in the research project “CleanMeat and CleanMilk – Fremtidens bæredygtige fødevareproduktion”, in which the purpose is to develop methods and know-how within cell-based production of meat and milk. Also recently, the Novo Nordisk Foundation has granted him the research project “What do we drink in 2030? In-vitro milk based on cultured cells”. The projects will result in fundamental know-how about milk production by using cell cultures thus creating a biosynthesis platform which can contribute with knowledge for production of sustainable and climate friendly food. The project takes part in strengthening Denmark’s position within this research area.

“I am very honored to be assigned adjunct professor at Aalborg University, and I very much look forward to collaborating with Department of Chemistry and Bioscience within applied cell biology. The department has many exciting research projects, including within bioactive materials from microorganisms and plants. I hope that I can contribute with expertise for building scientific skills within the department’s central research areas, be part of research applications and contribute with teaching and supervision of students”, says Stig Purup, Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University.