Fredrik Bäckhed is a distinguished molecular biologist and leading authority in gut microbiome research, serving as Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of Gothenburg where he directs the Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research. He earned his PhD in infectious biology from Karolinska Institutet in 2002 and completed postdoctoral training with Jeffrey Gordon at Washington University in St Louis, where his foundational work began to elucidate the relationship between gut microbiota and host metabolism. In 2006, he joined the faculty at University of Gothenburg, establishing himself as a pioneering researcher in host-microbe interactions, and has since held additional appointments as Professor at the University of Copenhagen and guest Professor at the University of Oslo. His scholarly leadership has been recognized through election to prestigious academies including the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.
Professor Bäckhed's research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of how gut bacteria influence human metabolism and contribute to cardiometabolic diseases, with his seminal work identifying the gut microbiota as a critical environmental factor regulating adiposity and obesity. His laboratory discovered that individuals with type 2 diabetes exhibit distinct alterations in gut microbiota composition and identified specific microbial metabolites like imidazole propionate that directly impair insulin signaling pathways. With over 150 publications in top-tier journals including Nature, Science, and Cell, his work has been widely recognized as foundational to the field, earning him distinction as one of the world's most cited researchers in Microbiology and Molecular Biology and Genetics in 2021. His innovative use of gnotobiotic mouse models combined with clinical research has provided crucial mechanistic insights into the complex dialogue between microbes and their human hosts.
Beyond his research achievements, Professor Bäckhed has been instrumental in shaping the global microbiome research community through his leadership roles and collaborative initiatives, including his upcoming directorship of the Novo Nordisk Foundation's Microbiome and Health Initiative starting in November 2024. His election to the European Molecular Biology Organization in 2025 reflects the international recognition of his contributions and provides a platform for further advancing microbiome science across Europe. Professor Bäckhed continues to pioneer research addressing whether gut bacteria can cause obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in humans, with the goal of developing novel prevention and treatment strategies based on microbiome modulation. His work bridges fundamental microbiology with clinical applications, positioning him at the forefront of translating microbiome discoveries into tangible health benefits for patients worldwide.
