Founders
Ole Bækgaard Nielsen
Ole’s main research interest is the regulation of channels and transporters in skeletal muscles and its importance for muscle excitability and function. He has authored more than 70 publications which also include papers on integrated physiology. In 2008 he was appointed a Professor at the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, where he led research that formed the basis of the activities at NMD Pharma.
Ole has been a Scientific Advisor and Board member for a number of organisations including Rhinix ApS, Spirare ApS, Team Denmark, ‘Physiotherapeutic Specialist Team’, and the Danish University Extension, Aarhus. From 2014 to 2016, he served as Deputy Head of the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University with special responsibility for the departmental teaching of medical students. From 2016-2018 he was Chief Technology Officer in NMD. Currently he is the Head of Department for the Department of Public Health and part of the leadership of the Faculty of Health at Aarhus University.
Claus Elsborg Olesen
Dr. Claus Elsborg Olesen earned his PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from Aarhus University in 2008. As a scientist Claus has focused on the structural biology of membrane proteins and has published more than 40 papers, with first authorships in Nature and Science. He is serial entrepreneur having co-founded multiple life science companies, where he has led and participated in securing investments and financing of more than €75m (e.g. NMD Pharma, STipe Therapeutics and Initiator Pharma). He is currently the CEO of STipe Therapeutics (immune-oncology) & Initiator Pharma (CNS).
Claus is a former professional sailor having competed in the Americas Cup representing Sweden in 2003 and participating in two Olympics representing Denmark in the Star Class.
Thomas Holm Pedersen
Thomas has an academic background in skeletal muscle physiology and neuromuscular disease. He holds a PhD in Physiology from Aarhus University and completed two years of post-doctoral work at Cambridge University. Thomas has years of experience in cellular electrophysiology and has published more than 30 high-ranking papers including a first author paper in Science and several papers in The Journal of General Physiology. NMD Pharma was founded on scientific discoveries obtained in the Muscle Laboratory at Aarhus University in which Thomas holds a position as Associate Professor.