Mark Bremholm Ellebæk appointed clinical professor in Paediatric and IBD surgery

By Tomas Homburg, thomburg@health.sdu.dk, 6/21/2024

IBD surgery targets inflammatory bowel disease, i.e. chronic, autoimmune diseases of the intestine, e.g. Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Mark Bremholm Ellebæk's research area has included prevention, early detection, and treatment of complications after gastrointestinal (gastrointestinal) surgery.

An area of great interest is the prevention of esophageal strictures after surgery for malformations of the esophagus in newborns. Botox and a specific antibody have been studied in several animal studies with promising results. The specific antibody also has potential in the field of intestinal strictures in patients with chronic intestinal inflammation, Morbus Crohn.

One of Mark Bremholm Ellebæk's visions for the future is to improve the lives of IBD patients through patient-oriented research. This will be done by establishing a research Centre (BEAT-IBD) with a focus on advanced IBD in both children and adults in close collaboration between the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Medical Gastrointestinal Diseases, Department S, Odense University Hospital. The center will improve and implement advanced medical and surgical treatments and care through evidence-based prevention, interventions, education, and research.

Mark Bremholm Ellebæk defended his PhD thesis and became a specialist in surgery in 2015. In 2018 and 2019, respectively, he specialized in sub-specialist colorectal and pediatric surgeon under the Danish Surgical Society (DKS). Since 2022, he has been a senior consultant at the Department of Surgery, Odense University Hospital for Pediatric and IBD Surgery. He has worked as a clinical associate professor at the Skills Laboratory at the University of Southern Denmark since 2017.

In addition to his clinical work, Mark Bremholm Ellebæk is chairman of the pediatric surgery department under DKS and of gastroenterological diseases under the European Reference Network for rare Inherited and Congenital Anomalies (ERNICA). Since 2021, he has worked as a national representative for the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP).

Mark Bremholm Ellebæk is 44 years old and lives in Odense with his wife, Signe. They have three children, aged 12, 18 and 23. Leisure time is enjoyed in the holiday home on Læsø with family and friends as well as in running shoes or on a bike.