Maria Kristiansen is Professor of Participatory Health Services Research and Head of the Collaborative Ageing Research Initiative, University of Copenhagen. With a background in public health sciences, her research focuses on ensuring person-centered healthcare in the context of population ageing and diversity. Her research is mission-driven, interdisciplinary and participatory, conducted in partnerships with civil society organizations, public and private partners.

She is the lead author of the whitepaper “Towards sustainable public private strategic partnerships” evaluating the Lighthouse Life Science partnership. She held an Honorary Research Fellowship at the Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, 2013-19, and she has a Research Collaborator Appointment at the Mayo Clinic, the US. Besides being a member of Boards of Directors at several foundations, she is involved in assessment of research and innovation proposals and funded projects e.g. for Horizon Europe, the European Research Council, the Innovative Health Initiative, and the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Program.