Lung function measurements in children - copsac

Acknowledgements
The thesis was written during my employment at the Department of Pediatrics, Næstved
Hospital and the Danish Pediatric Asthma Center, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte
from 2005 to 2008. The work is a product of joint efforts.
First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Hans Bisgaard, for his enormous
inspiration, help and support. Thank you for the gentle pushes to the edge, challenging me, and
not least thank you for trusting and believing in me.
Also I would thank Dr. Carsten Vrang and Headnurse Kirsten Holgersen for never-ending
support and understanding, you make every problem possible to solve and also thanks to my
colleagues at Næstved Hospital.
To all my dear colleagues at the COPSAC cohort (Malene Stage, Lene Toft-Jensen, Klaus
Bønnelykke, Martin Brasholt, Bo Chawes, Liselotte B. Halkjær, Mette Hermansen, Lotte
Loland, Nadja H. Vissing, Kirsten H. Mathiesen, Lotte Klansø, Lena Vind, Pia F. Jensen, Eskil
Kreiner-Møller, Christian B. Pipper, Sannie V. Thorsen, Signe M. Jensen, Florent Baty and
Richard Flaaten: I wish to thank each and one of you with all my heart for the practical help,
scientific feedback and laughs. It would not have been the same without you.
A warm thank to all the doctors and staff at the different hospitals: Næstved (Hanne
Andreassen, Ann Katrine H. Thomsen), Skejby (Lena Johnsen, Hanne Niekrenz, Ellen
Margrethe Raaby, Jørn M. Henriksen, Oluf Schiøtz), Kolding (Birgitte Christensen, Tove Duus,
Signe Vahlkvist, Søren Pedersen), Hvidovre (Bent Klug) and Rigshospitalet (Birgitte Hanel,
Kim G. Nielsen). I could not have done the multicenter trial without you and I am most grateful
for your efforts.
I am also grateful to have worked with my competent and skilful co-authors (Simon F.
Thomsen, Lone G. Stensballe, Kirsten O. Kyvik, Axel Skytthe), who have given me valuable
advice and helped me through the papers.
A warm thank to my dear friend Dr. Lise Aksglæde for proofreading my thesis.
In addition, a thank to Lene T. Skovgaard for statistical advise and Carsten Pedersen for his
technical feedback on the wholebody plethysmography.
Furthermore I wish to thank the parties, which supported the studies financially: The Danish
Pediatric Asthma Center; Næstved Hospital; Region Sjælland; Østdansk
Sundhedsvidenskabeligt Forskningsforum; Den Sundhedsvidenskabelige Forskningsfond -
Region 3; Storstrømmens forskningsråd; Lægekredsforeningen for Storstrøms Amt
Forskningsfond; Dansk Selskab for Pædiatrisk Allergologi og Pulmonologi; MedImmune.
Thanks to Jensen Bøfhus for sponsoring dinner to the participating families who travelled
around the country with me.
The COPSAC cohort is funded by several research funds which are acknowledged on the
website: www.copsac.com.
A special thanks to all the children and parents who participated in the studies.
I would also like to thank my mother, father and sister for giving me the best foundation in life.
Finally, I wish to thank my love and best friend Villads for never-ending encouragement,
patience and immense support. Thank you for letting me know what is important in life.
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