Population and Medical Genetics in the Moltke Group
The research in the Moltke Group is focused on developing and applying statistical and computational methods to genomic data to solve problems within both medical genetics and population genetics. Within medical genetics we are mainly interested in identifying genetic variants that play role in metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, with the aim of improving diagnosis, prevention and treatment in the clinic. Within population genetics we are interested in evolutionary phenomena like selection, population size bottlenecks and admixture and how these affect the health and survival of populations both for humans (medically relevant) and for animals (conservation).
Within both medical genetics and population genetics a key focus of the group is Greenland.
Within medical genetics we have identified several Arctic-specific genetic variants with a high impact on metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes. And this has led to improved diagnostics and treatment options in Greenland and other Inuit populations. For example, we have identified a single genetic variant that increases the odds of getting type 2 diabetes more than 10 fold. And importantly people who have diabetes due to this variant will not be identified with the HbA1c-based diabetes test that is typically used in Greenland, but they can be diagnosed with an oral glucose tolerance test.
Within population genetics we are currently collaborating with Greenland Institute of Natural Resources on several population genetic studies of Greenlandic land mammals with the aim of generating information that is valuable to management decisions. E.g. we are performing a genetic study of caribou across most management regions in Greenland to see if they differ genetically and to what extent they are admixed with semi-domisticated reindeer imported from Norway.
FF Stæger, MK Andersen, Z Li, JP Hjerresen, S He, CG Santander, RT Jensen, KF Rex, ACB Thuesen, K Hanghøj, IH Seiding, E Jørsboe, SE Stinson, MS Rasmussen, RF Balboa, CVL Larsen, P Bjerregaard, M Schubert, J Meisner, A Linneberg, N Grarup, E Zeggini, R Nielsen, ME Jørgensen, T Hansen#, I Moltke#, A Albrechtsen#: Genetic architecture in Greenland is shaped by demography, structure & selection. Nature 2025; 639:404-410
ACB Thuesen*, FF Stæger*, A Kaci, MH Solheim, I Aukrust, E Jørsboe, CG Santander, MK Andersen, Z Li, A Gilly, SE Stinson, AMP Gjesing, P Bjerregaard, ML Pedersen, CVL Larsen, N Grarup, ME Jørgensen, E Zeggini, L Bjørkhaug, A Albrechtsen#, I Moltke#, T Hansen#: A novel splice-affecting HNF1A variant with large population impact on diabetes in Greenland. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe 2023; 24:100529.
E. Jørsboe, MK Andersen, L Skotte, FF Stæger, NJK Færgeman, K Hanghøj, CG Santander, NK Senftleber, LJ Diaz, M Overvard, RK Waples, F Geller, P Bjerregaard, M Melbye, CVL Larsen, B Feenstra, A Koch, ME Jørgensen#, N Grarup#, I Moltke#, A Albrechtsen#, T Hansen#: An LDLR missense variant poses high risk of familial hypercholesterolemia in 30% of Greenlanders and offers potential for early cardiovascular disease intervention. Human Genetics and Genomics Advances 2022; 3(4):100118.
MK Andersen*, L Skotte*, E Jørsboe*, R Polito, K Hanghøj, RK Waples, CG Santander, FF Stæger, N Grarup, IK Dahl-Petersen, LJ Diaz, M Overvad, NK Senftleber, B Søborg, CVL Larsen, C Lemoine, O Pedersen, B Feenstra, P Bjerregaard, M Melbye, ME Jørgensen, NJ Færgeman, A Koch, MP Gillum, I Moltke#, T Hansen#, A Albrechtsen#: Loss of Sucrase-Isomaltase Function Increases Acetate Levels and Improves Metabolic Health in Greenlandic Cohorts. Gastroenterology 2022; 162(4):1171-82. e3.
RK Waples, AL Hauptmann, I Seiding, E Jørsboe, ME Jørgensen, N Grarup, MK Andersen, CVL Larsen, P Bjerregaard, G Hellenthal, T Hansen, A Albrechtsen#, I Moltke#: The genetic history of Greenlandic-European contact. Current Biology 2021; 31(10):2214-2219.e4
N Grarup*, I Moltke*, MK Andersen, M Dalby, K Vitting-Seerup, T Kern, Y Mahendran, E Jørsboe, CV Larsen, I Dahl-Petersen, A Gilly, D Suveges, G Dedoussis, E Zeggini, O Pedersen, R Andersson, P Bjerregaard, ME Jørgensen, A Albrechtsen, T Hansen: Loss-of-function variants in ADCY3 cause obesity and type 2 diabetes. Nature Genetics 2018; 50: 172–174.
M Fumagalli*, I Moltke*, N Grarup, F Racimo, P Bjerregaard, ME Jørgensen, TS Korneliussen, P Gerbault, L Skotte, A Linneberg, C Christensen, I Brandslund, T Jørgensen, E Huerta-Sanchez, EB Schmidt, O Pedersen, T Hansen, A Albrechtsen, R Nielsen: Greenlandic Inuit show Genetic Signatures of Diet and Climate Adaptation. Science 2015; 349, 1343-7.
I Moltke, M Fumagalli, TS Korneliussen, JE. Crawford, P Bjerregaard, ME Jørgensen, N Grarup, HC Gulløv, A Linneberg, O Pedersen, T Hansen, R Nielsen, A Albrechtsen: Uncovering the genetic history of the present-day Greenlandic population. American Journal of Human Genetics 2015; 96: 1-16.
I Moltke*, N Grarup*, ME Jørgensen, P Bjerregaard, J Treebak, M Fumagalli, TS Korneliussen, M Andersen, T Nielsen, N Krarup, A Gjesing, A Linneberg, J Zierath, X Wu, G Sun, X Jin, JJ Al-Aama, K Borch-Johnsen, O Pedersen, R Nielsen, A Albrechtsen, T Hansen: A common Greenlandic TBC1D4 variant confers muscle insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Nature 2014; 512: 190-3.
Our research is only possible thanks to generous funding from several key sources. This includes:
- The Carlsberg foundation
- DFF
- NNF
Group leader
Associate Professor
Section for Hologenomics
E-mail: ida.moltke@sund.ku.dk
Telephone: +45 61 70 04 86
Group members
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvinder Kaur Pawar | Postdoc | +4535334016 | |
| Ida Moltke | Associate Professor - Promotion Programme | +4561700486 | |
| Nuno Filipe Gomes Martins | Postdoc | +4535322144 |