Transforming nutrition: University of Copenhagen drives key research in the NutriEV Project
The NutriEV project unites top research institutions across Europe to investigate nutritional extracellular vesicles (nutriEVs)—tiny particles found in plant-based foods that may improve gut health, support metabolic function, and help combat obesity and related diseases.
As part of this effort, the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is leading research to explore how these particles—known as nutriEVs—circulate through the body and interact with the gut, immune system, and even the skin.
The UCPH team is focusing on how nutriEVs affect metabolic processes and inflammation, particularly in the gut. Using advanced laboratory models, they’re examining how these vesicles influence the cells that line our intestines, the microbiome, and immune responses. One especially promising avenue of their research is the development of non-invasive ways to detect these particles.
A historic institution driving health research
The University of Copenhagen is Denmark’s oldest university and a prominent hub for health and medical sciences in Europe. Its Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences fosters multidisciplinary research across human biology, pharmaceutical sciences, and veterinary medicine. Based in Copenhagen’s thriving innovation ecosystem, the university collaborates with research foundations and biotech companies to support scientific discovery and public health.
Meet the Wandall group
A key contributor to NutriEV from the University of Copenhagen is the Wandall Group, led by Professor Hans H. Wandall, an internationally recognized expert in glycobiology. Based at the University’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, the lab brings long-standing expertise in understanding how sugar structures (glycans) on cells and vesicles shape biological communication.
Professor Wandall also brings biotechnology leadership as consulting Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of several antibody therapy companies, including GOTherapeutics, Cymab, Ebumab, and Hemab. His team includes Associate Professor Sergey Vakrushev, who specializes in mass spectrometry and glycoproteomics, and Associate Professor Sally Dabelsteen, an expert in 3D tissue culture and cell interaction. Together, the group brings cutting-edge technical capabilities and interdisciplinary insight to the NutriEV project.
NutriEVs for diagnostic and therapeutic: Exploring the tiny messengers in our food
As a leading institution within the NutriEV project, the University of Copenhagen spearheads research into how nutriEVs—tiny vesicles from plant-based and fermented foods—interact with our cells, organs, and immune system. Under the leadership of the Wandall Group, this research is uncovering how glycans on the surface of nutriEVs influence their biological behavior, including how they are absorbed, where they travel, and how they may impact inflammation and metabolic health.
The group applies advanced tools such as gene editing, 3D organoid models, and high-resolution mass spectrometry to gain deeper insights into these mechanisms.
Beyond leading this work, Professor Hans H. Wandall and his team also supports other NutriEV partners. With the National Research Council (CNR) in Italy, they contribute to glycan fingerprinting of vesicles, helping to define how these sugars mediate biological effects. With Technische Universität Braunschweig in Germany, they contribute to the design of traceable nutriEVs using genetic and molecular tagging methods. These collaborations strengthen the project’s shared mission: to turn food-derived vesicles into powerful tools for disease prevention, diagnostics, and therapy.
Shaping the future of nutrition
By translating complex science into practical health applications, the University of Copenhagen contributes valuable expertise to the NutriEV consortium. Their research supports the broader goal of developing natural therapies for chronic diseases, advancing non-invasive health monitoring, and opening new possibilities in personalised nutrition.
The project is a collaborative effort involving key partners: the University of Oulu (Finland, coordinator), National Research Council (CNR) (Italy), Technische Universität Braunschweig (Germany), and Zabala Innovation (Spain). Together, they bring expertise in biosensors, nanotechnology, food science, molecular biology, and science communication—driving a shared mission to explore how nutrient-derived extracellular vesicles can be harnessed for future diagnostics, therapies, and smart food innovations.