Monthly Archives: October 2015

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find

Eystein 2

The extended leader group has just discussed application strategies for 2016. A review of our project portfolio showed that K2 has had great success in the competition for the NRC and EU grants in recent years. In 2013, 5 of the 18 applications to the NRC was funded (28 percent), while the figure for 2014 was 7 of 19 (37 percent). The total percentage granted in 2014 was 11 percent. K2 has also had success with their EU applications. Of 24 applications 4 have been granted (17 percent), including 1 where Helse Bergen is partner and UiB third party and 1 project where UiB is coordinator. The funding percentages in the first calls in the H2020-program have been at 5 per cent or less.

To succeed in fierce national and international competition one must work systematically. We believe that the approach we have used for writing of NRC applications in recent years has contributed to our success and increased our competitiveness. Good research advisers have also been instrumental and in many cases had decisive impact.

Thus, there was a broad agreement to continue our application procedures consisting of:

  • Plenary proposal discussions
  • Budgeting help from the administration
  • Writing support from both research advisors and experienced colleagues

To take part in these “support services” it is necessary that applicants comply with deadlines. Participation is also an excellent opportunity to test and improve your own ideas and to help others improve their applications. To obtain funding it is often not enough to have a creative idea, a broad and multi-disciplinary approach to the problem is regularly required, including good plans for dissemination and research training. One can get input and ideas on all these areas in a structured process where everyone helps each other.
One thing is certain, -those who don’t apply will not get research money.
Good luck with this spring’s most important adventure.

Eystein

Nomination of candidates to receive King Olav V’s Cancer Research Award for 2016

kreftforeningenThe Norwegian Cancer Society is now inviting to nominations of candidates to receive King Olav V’s Cancer Research Award for 2016. Please find enclosed the invitation to nominate candidates, the list of previous winners and guidelines for allocation of the Cancer Research award. The nomination must be submitted in English. The deadline for nominations is 10 December 2015. More information can be found on our website.

Best regards

The Norwegian Cancer Society
Åsmund Eikenes, PhD
Advisor

UNs Secretary General’s IAP for the Global Strategy on Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent’s Health: Request for Applications

The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (The Partnership) is soliciting applications for vacancies on the United Nations Secretary General’s Independent Accountability Panel (IAP) for the Global Strategy on Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent’s Health (Global Strategy).  Applications for members from all regions are required to be submitted no later than 18th November 2015. Continue reading

Announcement of research exchange agreement – 2016-2017

The researcher exchange between the University of Washington, Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Bergen has worked for over 30 years.
Our researcher exchange program offers exchanges in most disciplines.

Announcement
Application

Send the application to the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, which will send a recommendation to the research administrative department.
Deadline: 01/11/15

Questions may be directed to the exchange committee secretary, Hans-Egil Offerdal, (hansofferdal@uib.no).

Public PhD Defense, Week 44

holmedahl_nils_henrikNils Henrik Holmedahl will defend his PhD thesis on Wednesday October 28, 2015
Trial lecture: Wednesday, October 28, 2015, 10:15
Topic: ”Ventilasjonsregulering og kronisk respirasjonssvikt”
Place: Stort auditorium, Haukeland Universitetssykehus
Public defenseWednesday October 28 2015, 12:15
Place: Stort auditorium, Haukeland Universitetssykehus
Title of dissertation: “Assessment of nocturnal versus daytime gas exchange in stable COPD. With emphasis on hypoventilation during spontaneous sleep and in sleep influenced by alcohol or zopiclone”
1st opponent:Docent Eva Lindberg, Uppsala Universitet, Sverige
2nd opponent:Professor Sigurd Steinshamn, NTNU, Norge

Press release

New Publications

Based on last week’s search for “Department of Clinical Science AND Bergen”. If you have publications which are not covered by this search, send the reference to elin.opheim@uib.no.

Expanding the toolbox of ADHD genetics. How can we make sense of parent of origin effects in ADHD and related behavioral phenotypes?
Zayats T, Johansson S, Haavik J.
Behav Brain Funct. 2015 Oct 16;11(1):33.

MDM4 SNP34091 (rs4245739) and its effect on breast-, colon-, lung-, and prostate cancer risk.
Gansmo LB, Romundstad P, Birkeland E, Hveem K, Vatten L, Knappskog S, Lønning PE.
Cancer Med. 2015 Oct 16.

The cytokine-mediated crosstalk between primary human acute myeloid cells and mesenchymal stem cells alters the local cytokine network and the global gene expression profile of the mesenchymal cells.
Reikvam H, Brenner AK, Hagen KM, Liseth K, Skrede S, Hatfield KJ, Bruserud Ø.
Stem Cell Res. 2015 Sep 25;15(3):530-541

Public PhD Defense, Week 45

sand_kristofferKristoffer Evebø Sand will defend his PhD thesis on Friday November 6, 2015
Trial lecture: Friday, November 6, 2015, 09:15
Topic: ”Emerging new diagnostic and prognostic models for MDS”
Place: Stort auditorium, Haukeland Universitetssykehus
Public defense: Friday, November 6, 2015, 11:15
Place: Stort auditorium, Haukeland Universitetssykehus
Title of dissertation: “Immunological aspects of myelodysplastic syndromes. Scientific environment”
1st opponent:Professor Arjan van de Loosrecht, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam
2nd opponent:Forsker Martin Jädersten, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm

Press release

New Publications

Based on last week’s search for “Department of Clinical Science AND Bergen”. If you have publications which are not covered by this search, send the reference to elin.opheim@uib.no.

Clinical reappraisal of SHORT syndrome with PIK3R1 mutations: towards recommendation for molecular testing and management.
Avila M, Dyment DA, Sagen JV, St-Onge J, Moog U, Chung BH, Mansour S, Albanese A, Garcia S, Ortiz Martin D, Lopez AA, Claudi T, König R, White SM, Sawyer SL, Bernstein JA, Slattery L, Jobling RK, Yoon G, Curry CJ, Le Merrer M, Le Luyer B, Héron D, Mathieu-Dramard M, Bitoun P, Odent S, Amiel J, Kuentz P, Thevenon J, Laville M, Reznik Y, Fagour C, Nunes ML, Delesalle D, Manouvrier S, Lascols O, Huet F, Binquet C, Faivre L, Rivière JB, Vigouroux C, Njølstad PR, Innes AM, Thauvin-Robinet C.
Clin Genet. 2015 Oct 24.

HOTAIR and its surrogate DNA methylation signature indicate carboplatin resistance in ovarian cancer.
Teschendorff AE, Lee SH, Jones A, Fiegl H, Kalwa M, Wagner W, Chindera K, Evans I, Dubeau L, Orjalo A, Horlings HM, Niederreiter L, Kaser A, Yang W, Goode EL, Fridley BL, Jenner RG, Berns EM, Wik E, Salvesen HB, Wisman GB, van der Zee AG, Davidson B, Trope CG, Lambrechts S, Vergote I, Calvert H, Jacobs IJ, Widschwendter M.
Genome Med. 2015 Oct 24;7(1):108.

Epitope specific T cell responses against influenza A in a healthy population.
Savic M, Dembinski JL, Kim Y, Tunheim G, Cox RJ, Oftung F, Peters B, Mjaaland S.
Immunology. 2015 Oct 22.

Tumor necrosis is an important hallmark of aggressive endometrial cancer and associates with hypoxia, angiogenesis and inflammation responses.
Bredholt G, Mannelqvist M, Stefansson IM, Birkeland E, Hellem Bø T, Øyan AM, Trovik J, Kalland KH, Jonassen I, Salvesen HB, Wik E, Akslen LA.
Oncotarget. 2015 Oct 14.

Associations between intake of fish and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and plasma metabolites related to the kynurenine pathway in patients with coronary artery disease.
Karlsson T, Strand E, Dierkes J, Drevon CA, Øyen J, Midttun Ø, Ueland PM, Gudbrandsen OA, Pedersen ER, Nygård O.
Eur J Nutr. 2015 Oct 19.

Assessment of body composition in children with cerebral palsy: a cross-sectional study in Norway.
Finbråten AK, Martins C, Andersen GL, Skranes J, Brannsether B, Júlíusson PB, Syversen U, Stevenson RD, Vik T.
Dev Med Child Neurol. 2015 Sep;57(9):858-64.

The extended management team at K2

Per Bakke As mentioned in a previous editorial in K2Nytt, the new organizational chart on K2 has been approved by the Institute Council. A new extended management team is part of the reorganization. The extended management team consists of 7 research group leaders and a representative from Stavanger, in addition to the department management. The 7 research group leaders have now been chosen: Emmet
Mc Cormack, Hematology; Eva Gerdts, Cardio; Henning Lygre, Pharmacology / Pharmacy; Per Eystein Lønning, Oncology; Pål Njølstad, Pediatrics; Vidar Steen, Genetics and Harald Wiker, Infection / Microbiology. In the choice of research group leaders to the extended management team, we have tried to let as many subjects as possible be represented. In addition, we have avoided subjects which are already represented in the management group (lung, endo, immunology, gyn / obs). I want to emphasize that there is no disallowance of those not selected. Each of the seven research group leaders will be in the extended management team for 2 years. The team meets once a month. In the extended management team the institute management wants to discuss ongoing matters. Examples are strategy, budget and finances, equipment priorities, educational issues, positions, lab areas and organization of application processes. The 7 research group leaders do not represent anyone but themselves. All the department’s 21 research group leaders will, like earlier, have a direct line to the department management and they will receive the minutes of meetings. The first meeting of the management team was held on Tuesday this week

Per

Registration of vacation

To those of you who have not yet registered all of your holiday for 2015 in Pagaweb: Please make sure that you register your remaining holiday this year. Deadline: October 31st, 2015.
If you have not registered and / or applied for transference of your holiday by the 31th of October we will consider your holiday as spent and register this in PAGA.

Transfer of vacation:
As a rule all vacation should be completed before the end of the year. You can still apply to have as many as 14 vacation days transferred to the next year via PAGA.  In the application you must explain your plan for these days in 2016 / or why
you have not been able to take all the vacation in 2015 (only sic leave and leave of absence will be consideed as valid reasons). Continue reading

Invitation to announcement of research grants from the Norwegian Cancer Society- Tuesday October 27, 12 pm

kreftforeningen Thanks to the populations generosity we can once again allocate funds to the country’s leading research institutions. You are hereby invited to the announcement of grants from the Cancer Society’s open call for proposals: Tuesday October 27 at. 12-1 pm at the University of Bergen, auditorium 4 in BB building, Jonas Lies vei 91.
Because of catering we ask you to register within October 21st. Invitation is attached. We look forward to seeing you!

Yours sincerely
the Norwegian Cancer Society
Kari Felicia Nestande
Special Adviser

Information day about H2020 announcements for 2016-2017

NFR will hold an information day on Health SC1 in H2020; Health, demographic change and wellbeing.
There will be an introduction to the H2020 and the work program and review of opportunities for researchers wishing to apply EU. Eystein Husebye will also have a half hour presentation of his experiences as EU coordinator.

Location:    Haukeland University Hospital, Aud. B301
Time:         04/11/2015 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Registration deadline: November 1st

Program and registration.

National network conference in Stavanger: Danning og Utdanning

We wish to welcome you to the conference Danning og Utdanning – between classical ideals and demands for external relevance. The conference is at the University of Stavanger May 2-4 2016, organized by the National Network for the University and College Education. See attached conference program (in Norwegian) with a link to registration. The target audience is the academic staff and the topic should be interesting for many. If you have any questions, send me an email.

Best regards
Kjetil Kiil Halvorsen
for Uniped v / UiS
kjetil.k.halvorsen@uis.no

Invitation to the Nordic PhD course “Bio-8303: Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Cancer”

UITDear Mr/Ms/Mrs,
Attached you will find an invitation to the Nordic PhD course Bio-8303: “Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Cancer”. The course will take place at the University of Tromsø in week 10 and 11 next year (March 7th to 18th, 2016). An international faculty teaches the course (please find the preliminary lecture schedule attached). Continue reading

New Publications

Based on last week’s search for “Department of Clinical Science AND Bergen”. If you have publications which are not covered by this search, send the reference to elin.opheim@uib.no.

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase downregulates glucose-6-phosphatase expression through RORα and SRC-2 coactivator transcriptional activity.
Andre M, Jan-Inge B, Lise B, Gunnar M, Jørn SV.
Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2015 Oct 6. pii: S0303-7207(15)30104-0.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia among Young Children with and without Diarrhea in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Tellevik MG, Moyo SJ, Blomberg B, Hjøllo T, Maselle SY, Langeland N, Hanevik K.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Oct 9;9(10):e0004125.

Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development-Folate Review.
Bailey LB, Stover PJ, McNulty H, Fenech MF, Gregory JF 3rd, Mills JL, Pfeiffer CM, Fazili Z, Zhang M, Ueland PM, Molloy AM, Caudill MA, Shane B, Berry RJ, Bailey RL, Hausman DB, Raghavan R, Raiten DJ.
J Nutr. 2015 Jul;145(7):1636S-1680S. Epub 2015 Jun 3.

Exploring the potential of public proteomics data.
Vaudel M, Verheggen K, Csordas A, Raeder H, Berven FS, Martens L, Vizcaíno JA, Barsnes H.
Proteomics. 2015 Oct 9.

Genetically-encoded tools for cAMP probing and modulation in living systems.
Paramonov VM, Mamaeva V, Sahlgren C, Rivero-Müller A.
Front Pharmacol. 2015 Sep 15;6:196.