Our group

Group leader

David Olagnier

Title

Associate Professor, Associate Professor

Primary affiliation

David Olagnier

Areas of expertise

  • Viral Immunology
  • Oncolytic Viruses
  • Innate Immunity
  • Redox Biology
  • NRF2

Contact information

Telephone number
Email address

Profile

David Olagnier is Associate Professor and Group Leader at the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, and Co-Principal Investigator at the Center of Excellence in Immunology of Viral Infections (CiViA). Trained in immunology and infectious diseases, he has worked in France, the USA, Canada and Denmark. He leads an interdisciplinary research programme connecting antiviral immunity, virus-host interactions, cancer biology, functional genomics and translational oncolytic virotherapy.

Research

David Olagnier studies antiviral innate immunity, virus-host interactions and oncolytic virotherapy, with a focus on tumor-intrinsic determinants of viral permissiveness and therapeutic response. His laboratory investigates how oncogenic pathways, cellular stress responses and chromatin regulation shape antiviral defenses, using functional genomics, genome-wide CRISPR screening, transcriptomics, mechanistic cell biology, live-cell imaging and clinically relevant 3D tumor models.

Teaching activities

David Olagnier teaches in Medicine, Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, covering virology, parasitology, mycology, bacteriology, innate immunity and virus-host interactions. His teaching includes lectures, course development, examinations and research-based learning. He supervises bachelor, master, PhD and postdoctoral researchers and integrates current research questions, critical scientific thinking and experimental reasoning into teaching and student supervision.

Collaborations

Local, national and international collaborations are central to the Olagnier laboratory. The group works across virology, immunology, cancer biology, chemistry and clinical research, with partners at Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, the University of Copenhagen and leading institutions in Europe and North America. These collaborations support mechanistic studies, functional genomics, chemical biology and translational work in clinically relevant cancer models.

Job responsibilities

As Associate Professor and Group Leader, David Olagnier is responsible for the scientific strategy and daily leadership of an independent research laboratory. His responsibilities include supervision and mentoring, grant acquisition and management, development of collaborations, teaching, project oversight and research dissemination. He also contributes to peer review, editorial activities, scientific evaluation and international research networks in virology, immunology and cancer research.

Selected publications

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Read more about David here​​​​​​​

Academic staff

David Olagnier

Title

Associate Professor, Associate Professor

Primary affiliation

David Olagnier

Areas of expertise

  • Viral Immunology
  • Oncolytic Viruses
  • Innate Immunity
  • Redox Biology
  • NRF2

Contact information

Telephone number
Email address

Profile

David Olagnier is Associate Professor and Group Leader at the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, and Co-Principal Investigator at the Center of Excellence in Immunology of Viral Infections (CiViA). Trained in immunology and infectious diseases, he has worked in France, the USA, Canada and Denmark. He leads an interdisciplinary research programme connecting antiviral immunity, virus-host interactions, cancer biology, functional genomics and translational oncolytic virotherapy.

Research

David Olagnier studies antiviral innate immunity, virus-host interactions and oncolytic virotherapy, with a focus on tumor-intrinsic determinants of viral permissiveness and therapeutic response. His laboratory investigates how oncogenic pathways, cellular stress responses and chromatin regulation shape antiviral defenses, using functional genomics, genome-wide CRISPR screening, transcriptomics, mechanistic cell biology, live-cell imaging and clinically relevant 3D tumor models.

Teaching activities

David Olagnier teaches in Medicine, Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, covering virology, parasitology, mycology, bacteriology, innate immunity and virus-host interactions. His teaching includes lectures, course development, examinations and research-based learning. He supervises bachelor, master, PhD and postdoctoral researchers and integrates current research questions, critical scientific thinking and experimental reasoning into teaching and student supervision.

Collaborations

Local, national and international collaborations are central to the Olagnier laboratory. The group works across virology, immunology, cancer biology, chemistry and clinical research, with partners at Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, the University of Copenhagen and leading institutions in Europe and North America. These collaborations support mechanistic studies, functional genomics, chemical biology and translational work in clinically relevant cancer models.

Job responsibilities

As Associate Professor and Group Leader, David Olagnier is responsible for the scientific strategy and daily leadership of an independent research laboratory. His responsibilities include supervision and mentoring, grant acquisition and management, development of collaborations, teaching, project oversight and research dissemination. He also contributes to peer review, editorial activities, scientific evaluation and international research networks in virology, immunology and cancer research.

Selected publications

More
Use arrow keys on your keyboard to explore

Technician

David Olagnier

Title

Associate Professor, Associate Professor

Primary affiliation

David Olagnier

Areas of expertise

  • Viral Immunology
  • Oncolytic Viruses
  • Innate Immunity
  • Redox Biology
  • NRF2

Contact information

Telephone number
Email address

Profile

David Olagnier is Associate Professor and Group Leader at the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, and Co-Principal Investigator at the Center of Excellence in Immunology of Viral Infections (CiViA). Trained in immunology and infectious diseases, he has worked in France, the USA, Canada and Denmark. He leads an interdisciplinary research programme connecting antiviral immunity, virus-host interactions, cancer biology, functional genomics and translational oncolytic virotherapy.

Research

David Olagnier studies antiviral innate immunity, virus-host interactions and oncolytic virotherapy, with a focus on tumor-intrinsic determinants of viral permissiveness and therapeutic response. His laboratory investigates how oncogenic pathways, cellular stress responses and chromatin regulation shape antiviral defenses, using functional genomics, genome-wide CRISPR screening, transcriptomics, mechanistic cell biology, live-cell imaging and clinically relevant 3D tumor models.

Teaching activities

David Olagnier teaches in Medicine, Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, covering virology, parasitology, mycology, bacteriology, innate immunity and virus-host interactions. His teaching includes lectures, course development, examinations and research-based learning. He supervises bachelor, master, PhD and postdoctoral researchers and integrates current research questions, critical scientific thinking and experimental reasoning into teaching and student supervision.

Collaborations

Local, national and international collaborations are central to the Olagnier laboratory. The group works across virology, immunology, cancer biology, chemistry and clinical research, with partners at Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, the University of Copenhagen and leading institutions in Europe and North America. These collaborations support mechanistic studies, functional genomics, chemical biology and translational work in clinically relevant cancer models.

Job responsibilities

As Associate Professor and Group Leader, David Olagnier is responsible for the scientific strategy and daily leadership of an independent research laboratory. His responsibilities include supervision and mentoring, grant acquisition and management, development of collaborations, teaching, project oversight and research dissemination. He also contributes to peer review, editorial activities, scientific evaluation and international research networks in virology, immunology and cancer research.

Selected publications

More
Use arrow keys on your keyboard to explore

PhD students

David Olagnier

Title

Associate Professor, Associate Professor

Primary affiliation

David Olagnier

Areas of expertise

  • Viral Immunology
  • Oncolytic Viruses
  • Innate Immunity
  • Redox Biology
  • NRF2

Contact information

Telephone number
Email address

Profile

David Olagnier is Associate Professor and Group Leader at the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, and Co-Principal Investigator at the Center of Excellence in Immunology of Viral Infections (CiViA). Trained in immunology and infectious diseases, he has worked in France, the USA, Canada and Denmark. He leads an interdisciplinary research programme connecting antiviral immunity, virus-host interactions, cancer biology, functional genomics and translational oncolytic virotherapy.

Research

David Olagnier studies antiviral innate immunity, virus-host interactions and oncolytic virotherapy, with a focus on tumor-intrinsic determinants of viral permissiveness and therapeutic response. His laboratory investigates how oncogenic pathways, cellular stress responses and chromatin regulation shape antiviral defenses, using functional genomics, genome-wide CRISPR screening, transcriptomics, mechanistic cell biology, live-cell imaging and clinically relevant 3D tumor models.

Teaching activities

David Olagnier teaches in Medicine, Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, covering virology, parasitology, mycology, bacteriology, innate immunity and virus-host interactions. His teaching includes lectures, course development, examinations and research-based learning. He supervises bachelor, master, PhD and postdoctoral researchers and integrates current research questions, critical scientific thinking and experimental reasoning into teaching and student supervision.

Collaborations

Local, national and international collaborations are central to the Olagnier laboratory. The group works across virology, immunology, cancer biology, chemistry and clinical research, with partners at Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, the University of Copenhagen and leading institutions in Europe and North America. These collaborations support mechanistic studies, functional genomics, chemical biology and translational work in clinically relevant cancer models.

Job responsibilities

As Associate Professor and Group Leader, David Olagnier is responsible for the scientific strategy and daily leadership of an independent research laboratory. His responsibilities include supervision and mentoring, grant acquisition and management, development of collaborations, teaching, project oversight and research dissemination. He also contributes to peer review, editorial activities, scientific evaluation and international research networks in virology, immunology and cancer research.

Selected publications

More
Use arrow keys on your keyboard to explore

Visiting Researchers

David Blake, PhD, Professor of Biology, Fort Lewes College, Durango, Colorado, US. Visiting researcher (6 months 2026).

Master and bachelor students

Hannah van den Brink, Infection and Immunology, Utrecht University. Master student, summer 2026 (6 months internship).

Former Lab Members

Arden Peterson, The University of Texas at Dallas. Bachelor student, 3 months internship (summer 2026).

Keshaav Thirumavalavan, Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University. Master student (2025-2026). 

Simon Kvist Christensen, Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University. Bachelor student (spring 2026).

Clara Lyhne Bayer, Medical student, Aarhus University. Research project student (spring 2026).

Marion Elskens, Biomedical Science, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. Master student, 4 months internship (spring 2026).

Pola Emma Brettschneider, Bachelor student, Biomedical Technology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 3 month internship (2025).

Davide Tondini, Master student, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Milan, 12 month internship (2024-2025).

Emilie Pombo, Master student, Biological Engineering, University of Toulouse, 6 month internship (2025).

Cille Hautop Kristensen, Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Bachelor and premaster student 2024-2025.

Mohamed Debbarh, Master student, Immunology, Immunopathology, and Infections, University of Toulouse, 3 months internship (2025).

Madalina Elena Carter-Timofte, Assistant professor 2021-2024.

Klara Andresen, Premaster student 2024 + Research Assistant (spring 2026).

Demi van der Horst, PhD student, 2021-2024. 

Keshaav Thirumavalavan, Bachelor student 2023. 

Samson de France, Erasmus student, 2023. 

Emilia Holm, Research year medical student, 2022-2023. 

Lena Cassin, Bachelor student, 2021-2022.