The Norwegian Cancer Society awarded 170 million through their Open Call 2017, the University of Bergen received 54,7 million whereas 4 projects from K2 were awarded in total 34,6 million! In addition Stian Knappskog received a supplementary honorary prize as «Project with best user contribution», see more specific below.
Happy UiB Cancer Flag-ship researchers, Rector and Secretary General, flanked by Dean and Hospital Director.
The award ceremony took place at Bikuben Monday 6th of November, where the Norwegian cancer Society’s secretary general Anne Lise Ryel confirmed that these funding were awarded to the leading Norwegian cancer research environment. University rector Dag Rune Olsen was not less bold: Although Norwegian research traditionally is rather hushed, by continuing our hard, systematic work Norwegian research may well achieve global impact!
Dean of the medical Faculty Per Bakke underlined that these funding (and the resulting research) should benefit the patients! The user perspective was solidly based this year: the Cancer Society had incorporated user representatives in their evaluation process. One of these representatives, Bamse Mork Knudsen, confirmed that user contribution strengthen the legitimacy and trust of research. Although they themselves were somewhat uncertain of their specific role in the process, he urged researcher to not hesitate in incorporating user contributors: «Just do it!»
One which had incorporated this in such exemplary fashion that he was awarded the first « Cancer Society User Contribution Prize», was Stian Knapskog. He was awarded 8,9 million for his project «Uncovering the genetic causes of resistance to chemotherapy in breast cancer» and explains the user focus in this way: «Within the research environment of breast cancer we have, especially the clinicians Per E Lønning and Hans P. Eikesdal, a longstanding good cooperation with the Breast Cancer (patient) Society, both nationally and locally in Bergen. In this year’s application, and with future projects, we have formalized this contact by establishing a user-advisory board. The representatives have been appointed by the Breast Cancer Society, and the board will meet biannually, receive updates regarding the ongoing projects and contribute with advice/inputs for the researchers.» May this be an inspiration for all of us!
Per Lønning was awarded 8,5 millioner for the project «Genome-directed breast cancer therapy». This funding is part of this year’s «Collective effort against cancer» fund rising. The research program consists of two clinical studies whose aim is to find more targeted therapy for patients with primary breast cancer and patients with metastatic breast cancer disease.
An important goal is to design new targeted chemotherapy regimens for patients with tumors associated with poor prognosis. For these patients, a new chemotherapy regimen, possibly a targeted drug, is given.
Camilla Krakstad was awarded 9,2 million with her project «Individualized treatment of endometrial cancer». This was the only Cancer Society funding awarded for gynaecological cancer research this year. Krakstad’s project involves extensive mapping of changes in both primary and metastatic tumors. New identified targets for treatment in the metastatic tumors will be investigated in advanced disease models where the effect of new drugs is tested. The findings from these investigations will provide a better basis for selecting medication for further clinical testing. A clinical study of new markers will investigate whether these can be used in daily routine to choose optimal surgical treatment for patients. The overall goal is to find better and more individually tailored treatment for uterine cancer.
Bjørn Tore Giertsen first described how he had used all former grants he had recived from the Cancer Society. This year he was awarded 8 million from the «Collective effort against cancer» fund rising for his project «Development of novel combined CSF 1R/FLT3-targeted therapy in acute leukemia». Acute myeloid leukemia is an aggressive hematopoietic stem cell disease with less than 20% overall survival after five years. Signal transduction pathways, like receptor tyrosine kinases, are mutated in more than half of the patients. The project will explore the biology of receptor tyrosine kinases CSF1R and FLT3 in acute leukaemia, and develop CSF1R/FLT3 targeted therapy for acute leukaemia along with biomarkers for early detection of therapy non-responders. Mass cytometry will be used to monitor single cell perturbations in intracellular signaling systems combined with immune modulation in blood and bone marrow.
Heartily congratulations from all of us in K2!
Jone Trovik