Category Archives: This week’s editorial

This weeks edithorial


As the newly appointed research leader at K2, this is my first editorial in K2-nytt. I am a medical specialist in infectious diseases and completed a PhD in 2012 on clinical and immunological analyses of patients with long-term complaints following the Giardia outbreak in 2004. Since then, I have researched diarrheal diseases and immunology with Giardia, ETEC, and Cryptosporidium as my favorite microbes.

In my new role, there is much I want to familiarize myself with. I have started by getting an overview of the research activities at K2. Measured in publications, K2 is involved in around 480 scientific articles per year. This has been stable over the past four years. 65% of our publications have international co-authorship, and 89% are published with open access. It is gratifying that the proportion of high-quality publications, published in the more selective level-2 journals, has shown positive development from 18% in 2021 to 25% in 2023. Our research publication relative to our number of first positions and full-time equivalents has remained stable in recent years.

The goal must be to maintain or improve the quality and research production at K2 despite tight finances and necessary cost-saving measures that must be implemented this year and next year. We managed to keep going through the pandemic, and I see it as an important task for me in my role as research leader at K2 to help ensure that we achieve this in the future as well.

I have an office on the 5th floor of the Lab building if you want to have a chat with me. For those interested in more publication statistics from UiB, this can be found at https://bibliometri.w.uib.no/

Dear everyone,

As many as 5 out of 8 applications that have proceeded to round 2 of the call from the women’s health center DRIV come from K2 – Eystein Husebye, Stian Knappskog, Camilla Krakstad, Stephanie Le Hellard and Helge Ræder. Congratulations!

In order to maintain the fantastic research and teaching work (including supervision) at K2 and at the same time save money, we need to look at how we can help each other in a better and more effective way. We will therefore begin a mapping process of our technical staff, who constitute a huge resource at the institute we are completely dependent on. Without them, we would not have been able to carry out the research projects or the teaching that we do today. Over the past 10 years, the structure of the research groups at K2 has naturally changed a lot, so it becomes natural to look at it. To begin with, we will send out questionnaires to our technicians to get an overview of the skills, capacity, wishes etc. We will inform everyone on an ongoing basis about where we are in the process.

Have a great weekend!

The Norwegian Directorate of Health comes for an inspection – be prepared

The Norwegian Directorate of Health has notified an audit pursuant to the Gene Technology Act at the Faculty of Medicine, 10-12 September this year. In preparation for the audit, research group leders must submit documentation by August 29 in accordance with the following points

  1. Ongoing projects that have been applied for approval according to GMO (Brief overview of ongoing work with GMOs)
  2. Overview of ongoing GMO projects that have not been applied for approval
  3. List of persons who can be interviewed during the audit
  4. Which rooms (Room number) are used for GMO work

Everyone should familiarise themselves with this page of the HSE Handbook: 4.4. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) – HSE at K2 (uib.no)

For the daily work in the laboratory, there are four things you have to deal with:

  1. That laboratories and facilities are approved for work with GMOs.
  2. That there is a notification/approval for the work you are performing. The notification/approval must include a pre-assessment (risk assessment) of the contained use. A link to the notification form for GMM can be found here.
  3. That the work is carried out in a safe manner. Each research group should have its own procedures for this work, based on its own risk assessment.
  4. That a journal is kept of the work, and must be able to be presented in the event of an inspection.

For all activities involving GMOs, the principles of good microbiological practice and the following principles of good safety and hygiene in the workplace apply.

For questions, contact Siv Lise Bedringsaas (siv.bedringaas@uib.no)

New Deputy Director of Research

Professor Kurt Hanevik takes over as the new deputy director for research at K2. Kurt is a specialist in infectious diseases. He also has experience from international humanitarian aid and global health. He defended his thesis on research on the long-term effects of the Giardia epidemic in and has continued research on diarrhoea and related disorders. His experience and expertise will constitute a good addition to the leadership at K2.

Have a good weekend when the time comes!

Regards
Eystein Husebye

Digital morning coffee with the rector

Dear all colleagues,

 The academic year is officially underway. On that occasion, I would like to welcome you to a new digital morning coffee to talk about what occupies the university leadership.Some of the topics will be the start of the semester and today’s student generation and UiB’s ambitions and challenges as an international university. 

It is also possible to submit questions in advance via this form. https://skjemaker.app.uib.no/view.php?id=17537491

The morning coffee takes place on Thursday 29 August at 09:00-09:30 on Zoom. Follow the link to participate: https://uib.zoom.us/j/64244074872?pwd=zBvwesafx5KROfaisebI5HjMzeaEKb.1

 The conversation is in Norwegian.

 Kind regards

Margareth Hagen, rector

Dear everyone,

I look forward to being back as (this time not just acting) head of K2! I started on July 1st and have an office on the 8th floor of the lab building. I know that this will be a challenging job and I will have to make some decisions that may not be so popular, but as everyone has noticed, K2 is in a very precarious financial situation so that we have to make changes to get back into balance. I am grateful for any suggestions and input you can provide. I will not make the decisions all alone, with me in the leadership of K2 continue Eystein Husebye as deputy director, Silje Skrede as head of innovation and Mia Holmaas as head of administration, and Camilla Tøndel is the new head of teaching. Many thanks to Mette Vesterhus for her brilliant efforts as head of teaching in recent years and Silje Skrede as acting head of teaching in recent months! I still need a new head of research, but I am working on it.

My goal is to have K2 as a place where people thrive and like to work, where you feel heard, seen and valued, and where you also have the infrastructure to be able to conduct clinical, translational and experimental research of high quality. I know that I am responsible for fantastic researchers, teachers, technicians and administrative supporters and not least students for the next 4 years, and together we will make it happen!

Are you willing to take one for the team?

Foto: Ingvild Festervoll Melien

Summer is just around the corner and in this last editorial before the holidays, I want to make some observations about economy and culture.

At the start of the year, K2’s finances could resemble an airplane plunging towards the ground, but with persistent efforts we have succeeded in levelling the plane. We are no longer losing altitude and are now set to land on the budgeted deficit. Many have worked diligently to make this happen, not least Maria Holmaas and Beate Bernes. In addition, we have received good help from the faculty.

Going forward, the job will be to gain altitude and get rid of the deficit with the actions I have previously outlined; more research on less space, more teaching with fewer people, more EU and NFR projects and a relatively of 0-overhead grants, restructuring, possible closure of core facilities.

If we are to achieve this, everyone must be willing to “take one for the team”. This means that the tasks and burdens must be distributed more evenly than is the case today. It is not up to the individual employee to decide all his or her work tasks. As a teacher at the university, you can’t say that, no, I don’t want to be UGLE, or I just want to teach my narrow area of specialization – my colleagues have to do the other work. Everyone in an area must share the UGLE task, you may have to devote a little more time and effort to renew your teaching and taking on teaching tasks that you are not entirely familiar with and sit on a committee not entirely relevant for you – then the work will be more evenly distributed.

Since I also work at the Department of Medicine, I get the opportunity to experience another organization. Every morning, the department gathers for a morning meeting with a report from the team on call and the individual units. One might think that a lot of time is wasted on such a joint meeting, but this meeting point creates a unity and a team spirit that translates into offering help when someone is short on staff or hands to solve a task – you grow into thinking more of us than me. Now, K2 is a different type of organization and I am not suggesting that we should have morning meetings, but the team spirit at Department of Medicine is something we need to acquire in order to perform and thrive better at K2.

Use the summer to think about how you can contribute to a better team spirit;  don’t ask what the department can do for you – ask what you can do for the department.

Finally, Professor Silke Appel will be the new Head of Department and will take office as soon as it is practically possible. We congratulate her and wish her the best of luck at K2’s helm.

Have a lovely summer,

Eystein Husebye

DigitalHealth2024

DigitalHealth2024 was recently hosted in Bergen. This is the third time this conference, organized by Helse Bergen, Bergen University College, and Alrek Health Cluster, has taken place. This year’s conference was filled to capacity, with 700 participants. The main subject, as suggested by the title, was the development and implementation of digitalization in healthcare, which is highly relevant to much of the operations at K2.

Many participants probably expected the conference to provide answers regarding the direction of digitalization and the “next big thing”. Where are we headed when ChatGPT is no longer a novelty that can provide you with a waffle recipe and a few humorous answers to your simple questions, and it is no longer sensational that digital image analysis can reduce the response time for radiological examinations? The answer provided can be summarized as “it is coming, and it is developing rapidly”. It is difficult, even for those who work with digitalization daily, to foresee what the next few years will bring on a specific level. One subject that stood out was patient-related data, collected through digital channels, where the channel is not only used for data collection – but also more actively in patient care e.g. to convey information or to identify patients who need intensified follow-up.

The challenges seem easier to identify. We need to be actively involved in the development, and not wait for technology to be introduced. Patient safety and privacy quickly become an issue, closely linked to data collection and acquisition, e.g. in the context of collaboration with commercial services. Financing, political incentives, and a jungle of companies, apps, and services entering the market with varying degrees of validation are other key points.

It is important to remember that not only classic products, but also services and processes can be included when considering technology and innovation in healthcare. Regardless, it will be challenging but crucial to stay updated as the field races ahead. In summary, I believe that digitalization and increasing awareness around it can make the path from research to implementation shorter – but still, it is a bit difficult to grasp exactly how this will happen.

Silje

Dear everyone!

Thank you very much to all who contributed to the successful completion of OSKE12 yesterday, and to those who will participate next week for OSKE6! I can only encourage more people to contribute, as it will reduce the workload for everyone.

I was also very pleased to hear that half of the applications to DRIV – Center for Women’s Health Research, submitted last week, came from K2, a total of 14 applications! Now the evaluation is underway, and we will find out in August who will proceed to step 2. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that some from K2 will make it through.

But this is a good starting point to continue with proposal writing and submit to NFR – FRIPRO. Marit Bakke provided information this week that:

  1. FRIPRO will distribute 900 million NOK this year.
  2. So far, a total of only 100 applications have been received from all fields in Norway.
  3. Applications submitted by mid-August will be considered for this year’s round.

This means that there are better chances than ever to succeed in FRIPRO this year. And now we also have a deadline: mid-August. Remember to register your application in our portal for externally funded projects (Skjemaker for applications, K2), so one of the economists can assist you with the budget and help us turn around the deficit K2 has accumulated.

Have a great weekend

Financial Realities – K2 Management Takes Action

K2 is running a significant deficit, and changes are necessary to turn things around. Therefore, the management has initiated several measures that will affect your workday. In such situations, it can often be challenging, to use a favorite expression of politicians, but it is crucial to identify and seize the opportunities that exist.

The broader picture indicates that the Norwegian education sector is gradually being downsized over time, though perhaps not as much in the health and medicine sectors, where many hands will be needed in the future. We are not alone in this; reduced resources are something all universities must cope with, and as always, it’s important to be among the best.

What does this mean for K2? The following points summarize some of the measures management is working on:

  • Space Reduction: K1 and K2 are working to reduce their area in the Laboratory Building by about 400m² to save on rent. The involved groups are collaborating with management to find solutions that do not harm research activities, and we hope this process can be completed by the end of August.
  • Core Facilities: Our core facilities are crucial infrastructure for research and are often essential for securing research funding. K2 has many such facilities, all running at a deficit, which collectively poses a significant problem. We must, therefore, consider restructuring, relocating, or possibly shutting down non-critical core facilities.
  • Zero-Overhead Projects: While these projects are beneficial, they also pose a problem as they burden the collective resources. K2 has many large projects in this category, contributing to the deficit. Until now, we have had matching funds to mitigate this, but this scheme has been discontinued. We are working on budgeting to reduce deficits in such projects, including freeing up project staff. So far, we have not declined such projects, but it could become a reality in the future.
  • Efficient Teaching: The number of students is increasing, but the number of teachers is decreasing, requiring more teaching from fewer staff. In collaboration with the study administration, we are working to get a better overview of teaching responsibilities and who can contribute. We need to be open to new ideas; perhaps you will need to teach a subject you are not a super specialist in, or perhaps an academic environment needs to change the curriculum to make teaching more efficient with new tools. Introducing more weekly duties in the departments might also be necessary. Here, dialogue with healthcare institutions will be crucial to find good arrangements.
  • Same People, New Tasks: Starting in June, we will map the competencies of technical staff and PhD/postdocs with an eye on administrative tasks. We need people to assist with events, defenses, and other work on a voluntary basis.

Turning the economy around requires everyone to contribute. We have discussed this in various forums, but so far, the engagement has been rather low. Everyone must participate if we are to succeed, and we must be willing to think creatively.

Eystein Husebye,
Acting Head of Department

 

Why teach and supervise (if you don’t have to)?

Many individuals who are employed or indirectly connected to K2 through research contribute to teaching at the bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels, and towards the professional studies at the Faculty of Medicine. Yet, there is a need for more hands (or rather, brains) and a more adequate distribution of tasks. But why teach or supervise students if it is not a formal requirement in the position or role you hold?

Many discover the rewarding aspects of teaching and supervision when they reach a point where they “have to” get involved in such tasks, while some realize a bit too late that teaching experience would provide a more complete CV, in terms of both real-life and formal competence.

Teaching can force one to delve into areas slightly outside one’s core competence. Through the preparation for teaching and, for example, supervising students who work on various assignments, this can contribute to a broader professional impact. Evaluation (“sensor”) assignments can serve a similar function, while also providing an insight into other environments and their activities – which can come in handy when in need for an evaluator for one’s own students.

Through such processes, one often needs to look afresh at one’s own passive knowledge concerning definitions and basic concepts that might be taken for granted in everyday work activities – can you really explain them to a less experienced person? Sometimes, more experienced individuals may have moments of discovery when going back to concepts they think they have understood and can explain outright. Students ask questions one as never considered.

Everyone probably clearly recalls one or several teachers or mentors from their own time as a student. Some for the ‘wrong’ reasons, but some as important role models and academic mentors. In an era with a growing focus on digitalization in teaching, I believe it is very important that students meet dedicated professionals and scientists, and I believe these meetings can be motivating for both parties.

Regarding formal competence: various forms of teaching are credited in the training part of the UiB PhD education, and supervisors can encourage the emphasis on such activities in the training component. Specific requirements apply for promotions/appointments in academic positions, but teaching will always complement an academic CV.

Be reminded that teaching is not just lectures but can take many forms. If you want to contribute to teaching or supervision, you can communicate this to the leader of your research group, to teaching group leaders in your field, or to colleagues who teach a relevant subject.

Silje – Fungerende undervisningsleder.

K2 Retreat Refreshed

K2 recently hosted its annual retreat on Tuesday, April 30th. In a departure from tradition, this year’s gathering took place at UiB’s newly renovated premises on Nygårdsgaten 5, rather than the usual Solstrand location, prompted by the institute’s current financial situation.

The retreat proved to be highly informative, offering valuable insights for all participants. After a warm welcome from outgoing head of department Pål Njølstad, we delved into the “healthy economy” project, presented by Dean Per Bakke. While K2’s financial health currently faces challenges, there’s optimism for improvement in the near future. On the bright side, K2 continues to excel in research, benefiting from a robust influx of external funding. Importantly, no staff members will face termination. However, the deficit and hiring freeze pose challenges, particularly affecting administrative roles. As of June, the administration team will operate with only 1.5 positions, necessitating teamwork and creativity. Boundaries between subject areas are fluid, and PhD students’ responsibilities extend beyond teaching to include administrative tasks. Stepping out of comfort zones will be essential.

In the pursuit of creativity, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a powerful tool. Robert Hetlelid, from the IT department, provided an insightful overview of UiB-chat and Copilot—tools exclusively available to UiB employees. These tools surpass Chat-GPT in functionality, prompting me to cancel my Chat-GPT subscription in favor of Copilot. For Helse Bergen PC users, remember to log in to Edge using your UiB account.

Perhaps consider leveraging Copilot for crafting better applications? Research advisor Susanna Pakkasmaa highlighted various application possibilities during the retreat. While K2 performs well, there’s room for improvement, especially in securing EU funding. Success stories further motivated us: Research student Jonas Hodneland Sundfjord shared insights from longitudinal GWAS analyses on the Mother-Child cohort, while Professor Simona Chera outlined the KG Jebsen Center for Myeloid Blood Cancer’s mission. Chemicals play a crucial role in research, and proper disposal is essential. Consult with Bente-Lise P. Lillebø, senior adviser at the Occupational Health Service, to navigate chemical handling—an area where UiB has a good agreement with BIR.

The retreat concluded with an update from Professor Simon Dankel on Vestlandslegen, followed by anniversary celebrations. Notably, Pål Njølstad received an AI-generated artwork crafted by researcher Marc Vaudel as a token of appreciation.

For those who missed out, fear not—next year promises a fresh retreat. Perhaps our collective success will allow us to reconvene at Solstrand?

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Eystein Husebye
Acting Head of Department

Reflections on an Exciting Journey at K2

As my time as the Head of K2 comes to an end, I feel both nostalgia and gratitude. These past six years have been a whirlwind of challenges, triumphs, and camaraderie – a journey that has left deep marks on our department.

A Pattern of Outstanding Achievements

Our department is like a vibrant pattern woven from various disciplines. From medical education to pharmacy and nutrition, we have nurtured the minds of countless students, shaped their futures, and instilled in them a high standard of quality. Our professors and associate professors – 52 steadfast individuals in permanent positions and 79 dedicated souls in part-time roles – form the threads of this network, enabling us to provide our students with education that will carry them safely into their professional lives.

The unsung heroes

But let us not forget the less visible heroes – the 171 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers who tirelessly work in the laboratories, unravel mysteries, and push the boundaries of knowledge. Their passion drives our research, and their curiosity propels us forward. To them, I extend my deepest gratitude.

Groundbreaking Discoveries

Our journey has been marked by milestones. We have stood on local podiums, received well-deserved awards, and national and international recognition has affirmed our collective efforts. We have contributed to groundbreaking discoveries why our research graces the pages of prestigious international journals, including the Nature family.

The magic of translation

Our research is more than data points – it is a bridge between the laboratory and the hospital bed. Always keeping the patient in mind, we work toward solutions that matter. And it is this delicate balance between science and practice, between molecules and medicine, that ultimately turns hypotheses into hope – into improved diagnostics and treatment for our patients.

Facing the storms

Yes, there have been storms. The COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges have tested our resilience. But like seasoned sailors, we have adjusted our sails and navigated through turbulent waters. And amidst it all, the spirit of K2 remains unwavering – a beacon of collaboration.

Gratitude prevails

Today, as I stand at the threshold of a new chapter, my heart is filled primarily with gratitude. To the technicians fine-tuning our instruments, the young researchers dreaming big, and the professors sparking curiosity. And let us not forget the unsung heroes – the administrative warriors who keep our ship afloat. Their precise work may go unnoticed, but it is always deeply appreciated. Thanks a lot.

Farewell

As I pen my final editorial comment, I raise a virtual glass to each one of you. Our institute is not just about science; it is about people – the beating hearts that breathe life into the walls of K2’s many rooms. My hope is that K2 continues to flourish, bringing joy to new generations.

A thousand thanks, dear colleagues, for making this journey unforgettable. We will meet again, albeit with me in a different role.

Pål

The Crown Prince Rides Again

The eternal crown prince or deputy is a figure who often finds themselves in the shadow of the leader and thrives there, yet still plays a hopefully important role in the organization. If we believe the descriptions online, the crown princes’ perpetual presence in this position can be both a blessing and a curse. What it has been for me, others will judge, but now I will from May 1st lead you safely through spring and summer until a new institute leader is in place, hopefully by September 1st.

In the meantime, there is much exciting happening. First up is the K2 seminar on April 30th. There we will thank Pål for the great effort he has made for K2 over 6 years. Never have K2 researchers brought in more BOA funds than in the last years under Pål’s leadership. In addition, there will be presentations about artificial intelligence, gene studies, and what the new KG Jebsen Center lead by Gjertsen and Chera will be dealing with. There will be talks about the work environment and chemical handling, Vestlandslegen and our jubilants will be marked. As always, there will be good food and time to mingle with colleagues. In May and June, there will be a Faculty lunch and Institute Council, exams including OSCE, so stay tuned.

As always, there are application opportunities. The Trond Mohn Center for Women’s Research is announcing grants, there is a call for sketches for a new round of Norwegian Center of Excellence plus much more, detailed in K2 news.

Eystein