APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110017-5
production is relatively small, however, because of limited resources, finances, and manpower. Support is derived from the government, private sources, and elsewhere, including WHO and the United States. Medical training is excellent, and teaching personnel are selected for research potential as well as for teaching ability.
Denmark has considerable strength in biochemistry and molecular biology, and these disciplines are employed in other areas of biomedical research. Nutritional biochemistry receives special attention. Current basic work includes study of the molecular properties of isoenzymes to determine specific functions and the biochemical nature of their reactive sites, the sequence of steps in the activity of enzymes, the metabolism of fatty acids and vitamins, including induced deficiency, micro determination of enzyme inhibitors, chemical modifications of various groups in enzymes, and immunophoretic studies of vegetable protein. Important centers for this research include the Chemical Section of the Carlsberg Laboratory, the Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition of the Technical University of Denmark, the Institutes of Molecular Biology in Arhus and Odense, and the A, B, and C units of the Biochemical Institute of Copenhagen University.
The Institute for Biochemical Research and Development, Copenhagen, an independent organization associated with the Academy of Technical Sciences, is an important center for studies on food hygiene and nutritional assay and on the chemical analysis of food proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
Microbiological research is excellent. Scientists at the Institute of Medical Microbiology of Copenhagen University are doing impressive work on the epidemiology of various staphylococci and on chemical classification and phage tying of microorganisms. Other contributions include high-caliber virus research, development of microscopic techniques for fine study of antibodies, use of electrophoretic mobility characteristics to identify bacterial strains which cause intestinal infections, and a culture bank collection that ranks among the foremost in the world.
The State Serum Institute in Copenhagen has enjoyed international prestige. It has a staff of 100 scientists and 1,100 assistants to support its voluminous fundamental and applied work in bacteriology, mycology, protozoology, virology, immunology, vaccine production, blood fractionation, hormones, biological standardization, biochemistry, biophysics, biostatistics, and epidemiology. The high reputation of Danish microbiological competence is attested by the fact that the country has an International Escherichia Center, an International Laboratory for RCG, a WHO Reference Regional Laboratory for Enteroviruses, a WHO National Influenza Center, a WHO Serological Reference Center, a WHO Neisseria Center, and a WHO Virus Collaborating Laboratory for Trachoma.
Fundamental and clinical work in radiobiology includes the chemical and pharmaceutical aspects of radioisotope therapy, the use of hydrogen and deuterium to investigate the secondary and tertiary structures of protein, and the influence of X-rays, prenatal, and perinatal factors on infant development. Pharmacologists are investigating the use of psychotropic agents in drug rehabilitation studies, development of antibiotics from plants, and trials of a caries prevention agent. The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy in Copenhagen provides strong research orientation in education and appears to be the leader in pharmaceutical education throughout Scandinavia.
Biomedical engineering is advancing, especially in the production of an apparatus for renal dialysis, food quality control, and air pollution control. Very precise instruments are being developed to support research in molecular biology. The Danish Institute of Protein Chemistry has developed instrumentation for solid-phase research on protein synthesis. It is contributing basic studies on automatic sequence determination of amino acids in proteins. Physiologists have contributed authoritative studies of the climates of closed environments and exhibit a good understanding of the nature of the heartbeat and its relation to the stresses of deep sea diving. A pulsating ultrasound device has been developed for diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.
6. Other sciences
a. Chemistry and metallurgy (C)
Denmark is moderately active in chemical research, and the work is of good quality. The level of capability in chemistry is somewhat lower than that of Sweden, but is higher than that of Norway. Most of the research effort is carried out in universities and is much stronger in fundamental than in applied chemical research. The greatest strength is in physical organic chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, and biochemistry. Industrial organic and inorganic research is of little significance, and the chemical technology used by chemical plans is almost entirely imported.
Copenhagen University is outstanding in physical organic chemistry. Professor Bak has for many years
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110017-5
