• Optimizing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) management in systemic sclerosis (SSc). 
  PhD candidate Hilde Jenssen Bjørkekjær, MD, main supervisor Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold.
• Deciphering a contemporary approach to management for interstitial lung disease in rheumatic  conditions.  
  PhD candidate Emily Langballe, MD, main supervisor Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold.
• Evaluation of interstitial lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other connective tissue diseases. 
  PhD candidate Phuong Phuong Diep, MD, pulmonologist, co-supervisor Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold
• IgG4RD in Norway. 
  PhD candidate Jens Vikse, MD, rheumatologist Stavanger, co-supervisor: Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold

Ongoing postdoc projects

• Medical treatment to prevent progression of lung fibrosis in Rheumatic Diseases; postdoc candidate Marthe Mæhlen
• PET imaging in rheumatic diseases, postdoc candidate Håvard Fretheim
• ILD across CTDs and RA, postdoc candidate Kastriot Kastrati

• ReSScue: Aiming to reduce disease-related gastro-intestinal symptoms in systemic sclerosis (SSc) by repeat intestinal infusions of Anaerobic Cultivated Human Intestinal Microbiome (ACHIM); a Phase II, randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled 20 week multicentre study. Included 67 patients, ongoing preclinical analyses of biosamples.
• Investigator-initiated study: Risk stratification, treatment regimens, and outcomes in systemic sclerosis–associated pulmonary arterial hypertension
• ILD in CTDs: Prospective cohort study of ILD in CTDs and RA to assess disease progression.
• Lung imaging: Detection and testing of novel imaging techniques for ILD in fibrotic inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
• NorG4: The Norwegian IgG4-related disease project. A nationwide population-based cohort study of IgG4-related disease.
• OptimiSSce: Optimizing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) management in systemic sclerosis (SSc).
• Molecular profiling of lung tissue in CTD-ILD in collaboration with UCLA and Zurich (USZ)
• The Oslo university hospital (OUH) Strategic Research area- Novel personalized management strategies for fibrosing diseases 2022- 2027 with Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold as Project leader. Collaboration with Convergence environments= UIO strategic research area (Fibro-PET) with Mona-Elisabeth Rootwelt-Revheim as leader. The overall purpose of the environment is to develop personalized management strategies including early identification, treatment, monitoring, patient dialogue and outcome assessment in patients with fibrosing diseases.
• Stem cell transplant: HMAS in Norway and EUSTAR

• RMD-mILDer: Home based clinical management of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) in systemic rheumatic conditions; the Nor-mILDeR randomized strategy trial, including also Romania and Switzerland as participating countries. Included 91 patients in December 2025.
• The Nor-SSCardioCare pilot study: Home-based clinical management of PAH in systemic sclerosis patients of 12 patients from March-June 2025.
• I-FILE study – international multicentre home spirometry study in fibrotic interstitial lung diseases. Included 20 patients.
• 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT uptake in systemic sclerosis: a prospective, single-centre pilot study. 8 patients included in 2025
• CONQUEST: Platform Clinical Study for Conquering Scleroderma: A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2b Platform Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Investigational Products in Participants with Interstitial Lung Disease Secondary to Systemic Sclerosis.

UiO:Life Science funds convergence environments – interdisciplinary research groups that address major challenges within health and environment.

We will identify, develop and test new personalized clinical management strategies for patients with fibrosing diseases to improve outcome and quality of life. Specifically, we will (1) focus on basic research to establish new positron emission tomography (PET) tracers, including their utility in preclinical studies; (2) integrate PET imaging into clinical practice for diagnosis, prognostic and outcome evaluation; (3) conduct a randomized clinical trial applying personalized approaches; (4) integrate a learning design to facilitate timely diagnosis and knowledge-based medical decisions. The proposed interdisciplinary Convergence Environment (CE) will enable highly competitive basic, translational and clinical research, together with research driven innovation and communication strategies, and initiate new clinical trials and translation into clinical use, benefiting patients with fibrosing diseases.

Novel personalized management strategies for fibrosing diseases (FibroPET) - UiO:Life Science

This strategic research area establishes a multidisciplinary project consisting of 4 divisions at Oslo University Hospital (OUS). This project will strengthen the collaboration between our disciplines (rheumatology, cardiology, nuclear medicine/radiology, bioinformatics and statistics). By integration and implementation of novel molecular imaging techniques, clinical grade tools and new biomarkers directly into clinical practice we will develop personalized management approaches for patients with fibrosing diseases. This will enable highly competitive translational and clinical research, which will foster the initiation of new clinical trials, all ultimately benefiting patients with fibrosing diseases both locally, nationally and internationally.

OUH - Strategic Research Areas (ous-research.no)