MRC Epidemiology UnitSenior Investigator Scientist
Physical Activity Epidemiology
Left the Unit in 2016
Work and interests
Dirk Lund Christensen was a senior investigator scientist in the Physical Activity Epidemiology Group, who left the Unit in 2016. His main research interests are physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness as exposure and outcome variables in clinical and descriptive epidemiology. Recently, he has also examined the relationship between extreme physical activity exposure and potential damage of key organs as well as the relationship between physical activity and metabolic disease in low birth weight individuals.
Background and experience
Dirk holds an MSc in human physiology from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. He also has MA and PhD in African Studies and clinical epidemiology of diabetes, respectively, both obtained at the University of Copenhagen. His PhD study was an investigation of diabetes and risk factors in different populations (ethnic, rural vs. urban) in Kenya where he has formerly studied elite runners. Dirk has also been involved in studies in physical activity in relation to risk factors of metabolic disease in low- and middle-income countries, including Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, low birth weight individuals vs. normal birth weight individuals in India, and TB patients in Tanzania.
Dirk holds a position as Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.