Lars Mundhenk | Veterinary Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Lars Mundhenk | Veterinary Science | Best Researcher Award

Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

Dr. Lars Mundhenk, PD Dr. med. vet., Dipl. ECVP, is a senior assistant with a permanent position at the Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, and an internationally recognized specialist in veterinary pathology and molecular pathology. He earned his veterinary license in 2003 and obtained his doctorate (Dr. med. vet., summa cum laude) in 2007 at Freie Universität Berlin with a dissertation on structural analyses of CLCA proteins, later completing his habilitation in 2020 with a pioneering treatise on the interspecies diversity of the CLCA gene family. His professional trajectory includes roles as scientific assistant at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover and Freie Universität Berlin, advancing to Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists (2009), Fachtierarzt für Pathologie (2019), and Privatdozent (2021). Dr. Mundhenk’s research interests focus on comparative pathology, molecular genetics, and translational animal models relevant to human diseases, with special emphasis on CLCA proteins and their functional mechanisms. His research skills span protein biochemistry, molecular biology, experimental animal studies, genetic engineering, and radiation safety, combined with extensive project leadership experience in licensed animal research. He has published 67 Scopus-indexed documents, cited more than 1,355 times, with an h-index of 22, and has participated in international collaborations across Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. His excellence has been recognized with awards including the prestigious Ernst-Reuter-Award (2008), Nachwuchsförderpreis of Freie Universität Berlin (2008), and second place in the Research to Market Challenge (2022). Beyond research, he has contributed to education through teaching, mentoring, and advancing veterinary academic programs, while balancing an active professional and family life. In conclusion, Dr. Lars Mundhenk’s distinguished academic background, innovative research, technical expertise, and leadership in veterinary pathology highlight his outstanding contributions to science and society, positioning him as a leading figure in advancing translational research and international veterinary medicine.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

  • (2025). The impact of disease and species differences on the intestinal CLCA4 gene expression. Journal of Molecular Medicine. Advance online publication.

  • (2025). Perinatal dysfunction of innate immunity in cystic fibrosis. Science Translational Medicine. Advance online publication.

  • (2025). Endoscopically assessed mucus parameters in equine asthma: Relationship to clinical history and cytological findings data. Equine Veterinary Journal. Advance online publication.

  • (2024). Lethal Borna disease virus 1 infections of humans and animals – In-depth molecular epidemiology and phylogeography. Nature Communications.

  • (2024). Repeated injection of very small superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (VSOPs) in murine atherosclerosis: A safety study. Nanomaterials.