Research at Oslo University Hospital

In a newly published opinion article in Trends in Cell Biology, Tore Skotland and Kirsten Sandvig in CanCell and the Department of Molecular Cell Biology at the Institute for Cancer Research, discuss the assumptions made to reach the new membrane model.
They conclude that more studies are needed to verify whether the model is true for red blood cells. Moreover, they discuss the large difference in the lipid composition of red blood cells and the plasma membrane of other cells, making it unlikely that one membrane model fits all cell types.

Deo Prakash Pandey, leader of the "Targeting tumors of central nervous system" research group at the Department of Microbiology, and collaborators have identified a promising new therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor in adults.
Glioblastoma cells, particularly glioblastoma stem cells, rely on abnormally high transcriptional activity driven by neurodevelopmental transcription factors. The study shows that these stem cells are selectively vulnerable to inhibition of the transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases CDK12 and CDK13, while inhibition of other transcriptional kinases such as CDK7 and CDK9 results in broader, non-specific toxicity.

Recommended sites for current OUS research news:

From Oslo University Hospital, in Norwegian:
OUS Innsikt – ny forskning, innovasjon og behandling - channel for science communication
More news from OUS (oslo-universitetssykehus.no)

From centres of excellence (UiO/OUS):
CanCell - Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming 
Cresco - Centre for Embryology and Healthy Development 
PRIMA - Precision Immunotherapy Alliance - Norwegian version
Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre for Organ on a Chip-Technology

Welcome to this meeting place where we want to inspire researchers and students, give them self-confidence and knowledge about the innovation process, help them build networks, and facilitate collaboration between academia and industry. This hangout is a collaboration between the UiO Growth House, Norway Health Tech and Health2B.

Time and place: Apr. 9, 2026 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Oslo Science Park, Forum auditorium

Complete information and registration form (med.uio.no)

The group of Dr. Pierre Chymkowitch (Dept. of Microbiology, OUS and IBV, UiO), and their collaborators at NCMBM and IMB, have made a step forward to understanding how fat cells keep their identity and can be reprogrammed. Published in Nucleic Acids Research, the work demonstrates that a brief pharmacological inhibition of SUMOylation using the small molecule TAK-981, when combined with the PPARG agonist rosiglitazone, stably "imprints" a beige differentiation fate in human adipose stem cells. Unlike typical white fat cells that store energy, beige cells can burn fat to generate heat through a process called adaptive thermogenesis or beiging.

There is a strong need for more high‑quality de-escalation studies in cancer to enable more personalized treatment and improve patients’ quality of life.
Kristin Austlid Taskén, at the Institute for Cancer Research, and Ieva Ailte at the European Cancer Collaboration Unit at OUS are coordinating and leading the Task for Cancer Research in Work Package 8 of the Joint Action European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (JA EUnetCCC, 2024–2028). 

A podcast episode about the subject has recently (March 25th) been recorded, available from the Radforsk platform Radium at Spotify.

The Institute for Cancer Research at Oslo University Hospital has published its Annual Report for 2025. In addition to key figures and highlights from our cutting-edge research, the report provides an overview of recruitment, training and career development, translation and innovation, dissemination, public outreach, and national and international collaboration.

Research groups at the Institute are key partners in more than 25 clinical trials and lead over 120 translation and innovation projects, many in close collaboration with industry partners. Our 376 employees across six research departments, 28 research groups, 26 project groups, and seven core facility units together form a dynamic environment and a fully integrated cancer research organisation. 

Researchers at Oslo University Hospital and the University of Oslo have created the most detailed map so far of how the genome regulates autophagy, the process cells use to break down and recycle their own components. The findings are published in the journal Nature Cell Biology. Nathalia Chica and Aram N. Andersen are shared first authors, while Jorrit Enserink, leader of the Cancer Molecular Medicine group at the Institute for Cancer Research, is senior author.
By combining high-content fluorescence microscopy with deep learning, the team analyzed 5,919 yeast gene mutants, covering about 90 percent of the yeast genome. The researchers tracked how autophagy changed over time as cells moved through periods of nutrient starvation and recovery.

This project aims to combat the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis, zoonotic hepatitis E, in a One Health perspective. More than 30 European countries participate with a total of 150 members joining.
Susanne Dudman is representing Norway and is leading work group 2, focusing on clinical management. The group aims to establish robust and comparable clinical trial frameworks, standardize outcome measurements, and support the identification and development of antiviral therapies.