Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2020 Toxins Young Investigator Award is Dr. Andreas Hougaard Laustsen.

Dr. Andreas Hougaard Laustsen is the Principle Investigator of the Tropical Pharmacology Lab and is specialized in antibody discovery, toxinology, and snakebite antivenom. He finished his PhD studies on recombinant antivenom at the University of Copenhagen in 2016 and continued as a Postdoc at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where, in 2018, he became an Associate Professor and established his own research group. Andreas’ research involves the discovery and application of antibodies against toxic and infectious agents, such as animal toxins and pathogenic bacteria. He is known for having developed the world’s first fully human recombinant monoclonal antibodies against animal toxins and for being an expert on black mamba venom. He has published more than 50 scientific articles on animal toxins and next-generation antivenoms, and his scientific achievements have been recognized with Andreas being a Fellow of the Young Academy of Denmark, the Young Academy of Europe, and the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences. In addition to his academic career, Andreas is a co-founder of the life science companies: Biosyntia, VenomAb, Antag Therapeutics, Chromologics, VenomAid Diagnostics, and Bactolife, which employ 50+ employees and have attracted significant venture capital. Andreas’ most notable work relates to his discovery and development of an experimental recombinant antivenom based on a cocktail of human monoclonal antibodies against black mamba venom, as well as his later work on developing broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against snake toxins.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Andreas Hougaard Laustsen on his award, and for his outstanding achievements. As the awardee, Dr. Andreas Hougaard Laustsen will receive an honorarium of CHF 2000 and an engraved trophy.

Toxins Editorial Office