Project organisation and collaboration

In collaboration with a group at NTNU, the Norwegian Radium Hospital (DNR) has pioneered the establishment of cDNA microarray technology in Norway. By high throughput robotic techniques tens of thousands of small spots of gene probes are placed on glass slides, and can be used for gene activity monitoring on a genomic scale. This technique will be a quantum leap in the study of transcriptional changes in tumours (and in disease in general), as well as for experimental studies. These analyses will probably revolutionise the differential diagnostics of tumours, and may pave the ground for much more biologically founded therapy selection. Through close collaborations with clinicians, we have started several projects using this technology to study tumour diagnostics, chemotherapy resistance etc.

Together with the Universities of Trondheim and Bergen, we have established the Norwegian Microarray Consortium (NMC), and through effective sharing of tasks and resources, also with Swedish Consortia*, we have established gene probe collections for rat, mouse and humans, and offer very cheap cDNA microarrays to Norwegian academic groups. DNR has the national responsibility for human and mouse array production, and is now setting up a robotised production line for further gene probe production. Through scientific collaborations with leading international groups, DNR has also acquired a high level of competence in the necessary experimental techniques, and is in the process of developing a critical level of bioinformatics competence.

In 2002, the NMC was awarded a 5-year grant through the national functional genomics programme to run a national microarray technology platform and service.

From 2008 the FUGE Microarray Platform was prolonged another 5 year, with the now Institutional RH Micrarray Core Facility (MACF) responsible for the Oslo Platform node of the NMC.