CIMP
Center for Integrated Multi-Omics in Precision Medicine
Preventing Overtreatment
All about the CIMP Research Center
Structure
The Center for Integrated Multi-Omics in Precision Medicine (CIMP) brings together leading researchers and clinicians from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and Odense University Hospital (OUH).
CIMP is organized as a collaborative hub that bridges research, clinical practice, and data science. ​Research at CIMP is carried out in close collaboration with affiliated partners across SDU faculties, OUH clinical departments, and national and international research networks.
Vision
CIMP’s vision is to advance precision medicine by integrating multi-omics data with clinical insight to improve care for patients.
CIMP strives to reduce overtreatment, minimise unnecessary side effects, and support better long-term outcomes while contributing to a more sustainable healthcare system.
Research Areas
CIMP's research is centered on major disease areas where multi-omics integration can create meaningful impact on patient outcomes and healthcare sustainability.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, highlighting the need for improved treatment decisions.
Today, over 90% of patients receive adjuvant therapy after surgery, even though research shows that for up to 40% of women, surgery alone is sufficient.
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This overtreatment exposes patients to unnecessary side effects and places additional strain on healthcare resources.​ To address this challenge, a project led by Professor Mads Thomassen uses advanced multi-omics approaches to help predict cancer recurrence.
The goal is to determine which patients truly benefit from additional therapy and who can safely avoid it, leading to reduced overtreatment and unnecessary side effects, while consequently improving patients' quality of life and supporting a sustainable use of healthcare resources.​
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most impactful neurological diseases in Denmark. Modern immune-depleting therapies have significantly improved outcomes for many patients.
However, long-term use of these treatments carries serious risks, increasing the risk of infections and malignancies, highlighting the need for improved treatment decisions.
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Under the leadership of Professor Zsolt Illes, researchers are integrating clinical data, imaging, and multi-omics analyses to identify markers that can predict who continues to benefit from therapy and who may safely de-escalate or discontinue treatment. This is with the intention to improve individual health outcomes, reduce the risk of overtreatment, enhance quality of life, and contribute to more sustainable use of healthcare resources.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a major and growing health concern in Denmark and is expected to rise further as the population ages. This makes precise and well-timed treatment decisions increasingly important, both for patients and for the healthcare system.
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​Denosumab is one of the most widely used treatments to reduce fracture risk. However, stopping denosumab can cause rapid bone loss and a markedly increased risk of multiple vertebral fractures, while long-term use is associated with potential complications such as atypical femur fractures and osteonecrosis of the jaw. This makes it challenging to know when and how patients can safely transition off treatment.
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To address this, CIMP is working on a study, led by Professor Thomas L. G. Andersen, which investigates how different strategies for giving zoledronate after denosumab discontinuation can prevent rebound bone loss. The aim is to support treatment decisions that protect long-term bone health, reduce unnecessary risk, and contribute to more personalised and sustainable osteoporosis care.
