Nordic Life Science 1
48 s Head of R&D Alliance Management at Ferring P
harmaceuticals, Kristin Wannerberger is today directing several alliances, including the up-and-coming field of human microbiota/microbiome. The human microbiome is the collection of microbial genomes that contribute to the broader genetic portrait of each human. This is a new interdisciplinary field and it has links to a number of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. “To run projects and promote and facilitate collaborations within this field inspires me and it is fascinating. Ferring also offers a lot of opportunities for commitment,” says Kristin. Together with partners, Ferring is trying to increase our understanding of the microbiome, and also explore the potential of rehabilitating the gut microbiome to help people live better lives. The company began working in the microbiome space in 2008 and has since established long-lasting relationships, for example with Karolinska Institutet, Metabogen and Intralytix. “By exploring the microbiome we can increase our knowledge about how our health is dependent on these living organisms and how they interact with our bodies,”says Kristin. “The challenge is that it is such a complex system, so it is difficult to obtain accurate and sufficient data, and to reintroduce the living organisms in our regulated medical world – which today is built upon dead molecules’,” she continues. “This challenge is approached through discussions with medical authorities and the establishment of new guidelines.” One of the microbiome alliances that Kristin is involved in is Microbiome Signature Project that seeks to build the Greater Copenhagen’s cluster strengths by positioning it as a global center for microbiome research. In this region companies including Biogaia, Chr. Hansen, Ferring, Novozymes, Probi and SNIPR BIOME have a focus on the microbiome space and the universities located here also perform world-class research in this field. Researchers are for example exploring how microbiome influences illnesses such as asthma, diarrhea and obesity and how the microbiome can help women’s health. 48 NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG ”TO RUN PROJECTS AND PROMOTE AND FACILTATE COLLABORATIONS WITHIN THIS FIELD INSPIRES ME AND IT IS FASCINATING. FERRING ALSO OFFERS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMITMENT.” KRISTIN WANNERBERGER “Medicon Valley has the advantage of being a geographically small region with great potential for close collaborations. The regulations are similar and the mindsets are similar. A lot of innovation and great research comes out of this region,” she says. Kristin began her career as a Research Scientist at AstraZeneca in Lund, Sweden, after finishing her M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, a Licentiate of Engineering degree and a Ph.D. in Biophysical Technology from Lund University. After four years at AstraZeneca she started working as Associate Director at Ferring Pharmaceuticals in Malmö in 2000. Two years later her position was transferred to Ferring’s International Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, and in 2006 she began working as Global Project Director at Ferring’s headquarters in Switzerland (FICSA). In 2016 she took up her current role as Director R&D Alliance Management, staying at Ferring and in Switzerland.