About the group

The research group carries out epidemiological and clinical outcome studies in kidney transplantation, pancreas transplantation and islet transplantation.

Data from the Norwegian Renal Registry (which is updated yearly) together with data from a local biobank are generated, together with RCTs and observational studies.

The studies focus on immunotherapy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacotherapeutic modelling and metabolism, in particular post-transplant bone disease metabolism and also post-transplant diabetes (PTDM).

Projects

  • A blinded, randomized placebo-controlled trial of treatment with the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin 10 mg od vs. placebo 6 weeks after kidney transplantation. Altogether 330 patients will be included and followed for altogether 3 years. The study will run through 2028. Inclusion of patients started in May 2023, and by Dec 31 2024, altogether 172 patients had been included in the study, which is according to the progression plan.
  • The EU project ‘Diabetes, Obesity and the Kidney’ (DOKI) started in 2023. The DOKI project includes three partners: The University Hospital of La Laguna (Tenerife, Professor Esteban Porrini), University Hospital of Copenhagen (Professor Mads Hornum, Department of Nephrology) and us (Professor Trond G Jenssen). The project will run for three years, and the major scope is to improve knowledge and intervention on the risk that diabetes and obesity together pose on the development of chronic kidney disease.
  • In 2024 we initiated a randomized controlled study evaluating the effect of a structured home-based physical training program for kidney transplant recipients (HOMETRAIN KTR). Patients are included at the day of transplantation and are randomized to either a structured 12-weeks home-based training program or the standard group-based training during their 8-week follow-up at Rikshospitalet. A total of 200 patients will be included. Primary outcomes measured at 1 year are physical function and frailty score.
  • In 2024 we included and transplanted our first 2 patients in the Vx-880-001 FORWARD trial. This is a phase 1 / 2 study to assess safety and effect of transplanting a differentiated stem cell based cell line of Islets of Langerhans to patients with type 1 diabetes. They are included due to recent experience of severe hypoglycemic events. A third patient is to be transplanted in the spring of 2025. The study will include altogether 50 patients from the USA, Canada and Europe.

Studies

  • DEAK study: The effect of Dapagliflozin Early After Kidney transplantation
  • FORWARD study (Vx-880-001): Transplantation of stem-cell derived Islets of Langerhans to patients with type 1 diabetes and severe hypoglycemic events.
  • HOMETRAIN study. Randomized study of a structure home-based training program vs. regular 8-weeks group training in newly kidney transplanted patients.
  • CalciTx study: A study on the pharmacokinetic interaction between calcium and Vitamin D supplement and immunosuppressive drugs in kidney transplanted recipients.
  • DELOS : Detecting local and systemic fluid accumulation with a wearable bioimpedance sensor in patients with fluid management problems.
  • SIMPLIFY study: Simplification of the plasma clearance of iohexol.
  • Patiromer PK study: Effect of patiromer on pharmacokinetics of immunosuppressive drugs in renal transplant recipients (finalized in 2024)
  • Hypomagnesemia as a risk factor for development of posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PhD project Rasmus Kirkeskov Carlsen).
  • The microbiome and gut metabolism of mycophenolate acid.
  • Covid-19 vaccine study among kidney transplant recipients (finalized in 2024.
  • EVITA (Epstein-Barr virus infection monitoring in renal transplant recipients).
  • BONTRAX – 10 years follow-up of bisphosphonate treatment in kidney transplant recipients.
  • Home Based Monitoring – patient centric sampling for analyses of tacrolimus, creatinine and hemoglobin.
  • Post-transplant diabetes mellitus
  • Kidney rejection and immunity
  • Individualization of immunosuppression, also with home based blood sampling (MitraTip®)
  • Biomarkers of outcomes after transplantation
  • Measured GFR by iohexol plasma clearance vs. estimated glomerular filtration rate
  • Evaluation and follow-up of kidney donors (ALDON Study)
  • Long-term effects and safety with human pancreas transplantation
  • CMV preventive strategies in kidney transplant recipients

In relation to these topics altogether 22 peer-reviewed papers were published in international journals in 2024.

Our biobank was expanded, and we have established valid measures for long-term outcome after transplantation (e.g., GFR, pharmacological and metabolic measures, inflammation parameters, etc.).

The receival of an EU grant as partner in a twinning project of the Horizon program: Diabetes, Obesity & the Kidney (DOKI), and the receival of  a large grant from KLINBEFORSK (see above) has increased our ability to perform studies on a higher level internationally than before.

Cooperation

Internal

  • Section of Endocrinology
  • Section of Transplant surgery
  • Department of Pathology
  • Department of Immunology
  • Department of Pediatrics

National

  • University of Oslo, AHUS - Renal research Group
  • University of Tromsø- Renal research Group
  • University of Bergen- Department of nephrology
  • University of Stavanger, Department of nephrology
  • School of Pharmacy, UiO
  • Department of Nutrition, UiO

International

  • Laboratory for Applied Pharmacokinetics and Bioinformatics, University of Southern California
  • Professor Esteban Porini, La Laguna University, Tenerife, Spain
  • Professor Manfred Hecking, Medical Universtiy of Vienna, Austria
  • CHU Limoges, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Limoges, France
  • Andreas Paasch, Caltec, Basel
  • Professor Filip Knop, Center for Diabetes Research, Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen
  • Professor Bo Feldt-Rasmussen, Department of Nephrology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen

Publications

  • Blom KB, Kro GAB, Midtvedt K, Jenssen T, Reisæter AV, Rollag H, Hartmann A, Sagedal S, Sjaastad I, Tylden G, Njølstad G, Nilsen E, Birkeland JA, Åsberg A. Cellular immunity against cytomegalovirus and risk of infection after kidney transplantation. Frontiers in Immunology 2024; 15: 1414830.
  • Lindahl JP, Åsberg A, Heldal K, Jenssen T, Dörje C, Skauby M, Midtvedt K. Long-term outcomes after kidney transplantation from DBD donors aged ≥70 years. Transplantation Direct 2024; 10(7): e1660.
  • Strømmen R, Godang K, Hovd M, Finnes TE, Smerud K, Hartmann A, Åsberg A, Bollerslev J, Pihlstrøm HK. Hip geometry and strength remain stable the first year after transplantation – an ibandronate/placebo post hoc analysis. J Bone Mineral Res Plus 2024; 8(12): ziae130.
  • Vethe NT, Åsberg A, Bergan S, Robertsen I, Midtvedt K. Implementation of Volumetric Finger-Prick Self-Sampling for TDM of Immunosuppressants After Kidney Transplantation: Lessons Learned from the Practice. Ther Drug Monit. 2025; 47(1): 98-104.
  • Carlsen RK, Åsberg A, Svensson M, Birkeland KI, Jørgensen HS, Bressendorf I, Gulseth H, Midtvedt K, Nordheim E, Jenssen TG. Relationship between hypomagnesemia and insulin secretion and action one year after renal transplantation. Frontiers in Medicine 2024; 12: 1492871.