Research at Oslo University Hospital

Research published March 21st in the open access Nature journal "Translational Psychiatry" found patients with severe mental disorders who had experienced childhood abuse to have shorter telomeres, a predictor of biological age. 

Here, Monica Aas, lead author of the study together with Torbjørn Elvsåshagen and Ole Andreassen tells us about the findings and what the next steps are for the field. 

Professor Kjersti Flatmark (Departments of Tumor Biology and Gastroenterological Surgery) was recently elected Chair of the EuroPMP COST Action, aimed at creating better networking opportunities for researchers and clinicians working to find a cure for rare cancer pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).

The article entitled “Small variations in nanoparticle structure dictate differential cellular stress responses and mode of cell death”, just published in Nanotoxicology, describes details about the toxic mechanisms obtained by testing three very similar nanoparticles on six cancer cell lines. The three different types of particles where all of the class poly(alkylcyanoacrylate), they differed only in their alkyl side chains being butyl (PBCA), ethylbutyl (PEBCA) or octyl (POCA). Such substances have for many years been used as medical glue. The authors describe different effects of these nanoparticles.

Researchers at the Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo are developing a computer program that can assist oncologists to find the best personalized treatment for each patient. The main driving force behind the project is Arnoldo Frigessi, professor in medical statistics at UiO, who is head of the "Oslo Centre for Biostatistics Epidemiology" at OUS and leader of the "Centre for Research-based Innovation" (SFI) "Big Insight".

The award winning research magazine "Apollon" recently presented the work of Frigessi and collaborators in an extensive feature article by Yngve Vogt.

A joint effort by several groups at the Institute for Cancer Research and University of Oslo, led by Dr. Jodie Goodridge and Prof. Karl-Johan Malmberg provide new insights into the molecular basis behind NK cell education.

NK cells calibrate their functional potential against host MHC in a process termed education. Paradoxically, the more inhibitory input the cell receives during its education, the stronger its functional potential. Although this phenomena is well documented and conserved across species, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying NK cell education have remained elusive. 

FRIPRO is an open, national competitive arena that covers all fields of research. FRIPRO aims to promote scientific excellence, bold and innovative research, support the careers of young research talents, as well as increasing the mobility for scientists early in their careers.

Five promising researchers and projects originating from Oslo University Hospital have now been granted suppoert from FRIPRIO.

A new study from NORMENT - Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research -  shows an overlap in genes involved in mental illness and intelligence. Postdoctoral fellow Olav B. Smeland and colleagues found that risk genes for bipolar disorder were associated with higher intelligence.

The study is published in Molecular Psychiatry, and was covered by the Norwegian newspaper VG+

One branch of the Marie-Curie program, called “EU – Glia PhD” is a Europe wide consortium represented by internationally respected neuroscientists, industry and partner organizations.  Within this several million Euros grand program financing PhD students, Oslo is represented via Kjell Heuser and Toni Berger, who have met together with the "EU Glia-PhD" consortium at the College de France to discuss recent progresses of their research.