Randi Bertelsen

Randi is investigating the role of oral bacteria in lung disease. The composition of bacteria in the mouth has a lot to do with lung health. Oral inflammatory bacteria can reach the lungs and cause lung inflammation, but these oral bacteria can also affect inflammation throughout the whole body (systemic inflammation). In addition to the research on bacteria from the mouth, she is also interested in bacteria in the indoor environment and how these can influence respiratory health.

She is a European Research Council grantee, with the ERC Starting Grant project, BRuSH: Oral Bacteria as determinants for respiratory health.

Randi was born in Bergen on the west-coast of Norway. She received her master from the University of Bergen and the PhD degree from the University of Oslo. She has worked at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and two years at NIEHS/NIH in the US, before moving back to Norway in 2013 and continuing her research at the University of Bergen.