Dr. René Villadsen

Biography

René Villadsen is an Associate Professor in the Morphogenesis Differentiation Program at the University of Copenhagen. His research primarily focuses on human breast epithelial stem cell biology and the tumor microenvironment. Villadsen's group has made significant discoveries in identifying and characterizing humanized mouse models and cell culture systems that elucidate breast tumor heterogeneity. His work aims to explore culture conditions for stem cell expansion, single cell cloning, and multicolor imaging techniques for studying multipotency and lineage evolution. He has been instrumental in understanding the cellular origins of breast cancer, particularly in relation to the five intrinsic subtypes of breast cancer. Villadsen’s research highlight includes investigating the role estrogen levels play in human estrogen receptor-positive cells, with a particular interest in how different breast cancer subtypes, such as basal-like and luminal, may originate from specific progenitor cells. He is also engaged in developing human-specific assays to understand the transformation of these cells in the context of cancer development.

Research Interests

Experience