Professor Margaret Hahn completed her visiting professorship on the project “Establishing Real-World Interdisciplinary Care and Research Approaches for Cardiometabolic Care in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder (SSD)s” at Rigshospitalet Glostrup with a grant from Danish Diabetes Academy (DDA) (now known as Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy). Professor Margaret Hahn is employed at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (CA).

We have asked Professor Margaret Hahn to reflect on her time as a DDA-funded visiting researcher.

What are the most important findings of your research project?

The main goal of my visiting professorship was to set up a Mental Health and Metabolic Clinic in the Capital Region of Denmark, which aligns with the clinic we have in Toronto, Canada. The clinic in Toronto is one of the world’s first clinics which simultaneously addresses cardiometabolic and mental health in individuals living with severe mental illness. During my visits in Denmark, we were successful in securing a federal grant funding to support a clinical trial which will test the implementation and effectiveness of a ‘sister’ mental health and metabolic clinic in a Danish setting. In September of last year (2023), I had the opportunity to visit Denmark, and to see the clinic enroll its first participant.

How is your research project relevant to the public?

Individuals living with severe mental illness die prematurely from cardiovascular disease and suffer from high rates of cardiometabolic disorders including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Despite the negative implications on physical health and quality of life, these modifiable cardiometabolic disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated. Establishing clinical models that dually address physical and mental health has the potential to change how we manage physical health issues in people with mental disorders, improving patient outcomes.

What is the biggest difference between doing research in Denmark and the country you work in?

I think the main difference I have found is the ability of Danish people to more effectively balance work with life, as compared to North Americans. This is all the while preserving high research productivity and output!

What have you gained as a visiting researcher?

I have gained insight into another research culture. I have also developed invaluable collaborations, and friendships.

What was a highlight in your time as a DDA-funded researcher?

Riding my bike, 24 km, rain or shine, every day to work!

Why should other international senior researchers apply for a DDEA Visiting Researcher Grant?

Spending time in Denmark offers not only an amazing integrative cultural experience, but also offers exposure to highly innovative and pragmatic research perspectives that I believe are unique to Denmark.

Our 2024 call for Visiting Researcher Grant applications is now open with application deadline 11 September.

What is next for you?

I have just been granted an Affiliate Professor of Metabolic Health in Severe Mental Illness’ at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University in Copenhagen. So beyond continuing to run my own research programme in Toronto, Canada, I will be spending 2-3 months per year in Denmark, continuing to build our Metabolic Psychiatry initiatives and collaborations.

Professor Margaret Hahn obtained co-funding from Steno Diabetes Centre Copenhagen and the Novo Nordisk Foundation during her DDA visiting professorship. Professor Margaret Hahn’s closest collaborators have been Clinical Professor Bjørn Ebdrup, Professor Filip Knop, and Professor Tina Visbøll.

We wish Professor Margaret Hahn all the best in her future career.

See all of our open calls for grant applications within diabetes, metabolism, and endocrinology research.