The Research Group studies mechanisms regulating inflammation and coagulation. The research aims to disclose the roles of blood cells and extracellular vesicles in coagulation and inflammation. Human monocytes and lymphocytes, whole blood models, cell lines and patient samples are used as model system. Laboratory-oriented coagulation research to improve clinical diagnostics in patients with increased thrombotic or bleeding tendency is another focus area. The research group has also ongoing projects to identify and characterize hemoglobin variants and their influence on erythrocyte variables. The group is engaged in collaboration projects determining possible association between genetic variation in “vulnerable genes” and different clinical end points. The Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Ullevål and the Microarray Core Facility, Ullevål are also parts of the group.

• Monocytes and microparticles in experimental and clinical settings of meningococcal disease – with special focus on tissue factor
• Pro- and anti-inflammatory responses in human meningococcal disease.
• Genetic changes in sepsis; Studies of gene expression in FFPE tissues from patients with systemic meningococcal disease
• Laboratory-oriented coagulation research in patients with increased thrombotic or bleeding tendency
• Identification and characterization of hemoglobinopathies in Norway
• Association studies of DNA and RNA variation in health and disease
• Endocytosis of extracellular vesicles (EV) in human monocytes
• Implementation and validation of methods for isolation of EV from plasma
• Functional microparticle (MP)-associated tissue factor (TF) as a potential biomarker of thrombosis in cancer
• Characterization of extracellular vesicles from human skeletal muscle cells
• Functional roles of plasma extracellular vesicles in cardiovascular disease.

Contact information
Group leader Reidun Øvstebø PhD Department of Medical Biochemistry Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål Tel: +47 22119491 Fax: +47 22118189 reidun.ovstebo@ous-hf.no