News, Seminars and conferences

Welcome to CancerREHAB 2026 in Tromsø!

On April 13–14, 2026, professional communities from all over the country will gather at Scandic Ishavshotell when the national professional conference KreftREHAB is held in Tromsø for the first time. The conference is the year's most important meeting place for everyone working with cancer rehabilitation, and offers two days of professional in-depth study, inspiration and networking.

This year's program includes plenary sessions, parallel sessions, and presentations of submitted abstracts. Speakers include:

  • Annette Dragland, physician and podcast host, who promotes holistic health and the path to a better quality of life
  • Inger K. Larsen from the Norwegian Cancer Registry, who presents developments in incidence and function after cancer
  • Professor Line Oldervoll, who provides an updated knowledge status for the field of cancer rehabilitation
  • Sunniva Brurok Myklebost, psychology specialist and postdoctoral fellow, sharing new research on digital interventions for cancer-related cognitive difficulties

Participants will also gain insight into digital tools for rehabilitation, including how CaReScreen can help identify the right level of rehabilitation. Two young adults from Ung Kreft will share their personal experiences in the talk. "Rehabilitation must address the person, not the diagnosis"In addition, there will be a sofa dialogue led by Elin Drivenes.

Engelsk Konferansen arrangeres av Nettverk for kreftrehabilitering, som arbeider for å systematisere og formidle kunnskap, styrke forskning og fremme samarbeid på tvers av fagmiljøer og helseregioner. Etter en vellykket konferanse i 2024 rettes blikket nå nordover – til en region som ikke tidligere har vært vertskap for arrangementet. The conference is organized by the Cancer Rehabilitation Network, which works to systematize and disseminate knowledge, strengthen research, and promote collaboration across professional communities and health regions. After a successful conference in 2024, the focus is now turned north – to a region that has not previously hosted the event.

Registration is now open. Register here: https://event.checkin.no/179180/kreftrehab-2026

For questions, contact: Randi Børresen – randi.borresen@uit.no

Research, News

UiB receives over 170 million in the Research Council's December awards

The University of Bergen is taking home more than NOK 170 million in the Research Council's grants for December. The funds range from a new innovation center and groundbreaking health projects to top-notch research in physics, seabed minerals and digital technology.

One of the largest awards goes to the new Innovation Center for Neuroresilience (ICoN), led by Professor Charalampos Tzoulis at Clinical Department 1. The center will receive NOK 96 million and status as a Center for Research-Driven Innovation (SFI). The goal is to develop knowledge and technology that can prevent Parkinson's disease and dementia. UiB is also a partner in SFI SAINT, led by NTNU, which will research nuclear power as a zero-emission technology for shipping. Both centers are part of the Research Council's investment in eight new SFIs, which together receive NOK 768 million to strengthen the interaction between research and industry.

In health, the PreRule study, led by Kristin Moberg Aakre at Clinical Institute 2, will receive NOK 14.9 million. The project will develop methods for rapid and precise diagnosis of heart attacks already in the ambulance.

In the top research arena, Kristian Ytre-Hauge at the Department of Physics and Technology receives 40 million kroner for the BioPrecise Protons project, which will contribute to more precise and gentle proton therapy in cancer treatment.

Through the FRIPRO scheme, Dinara Yangeldina at the Center for Women's and Gender Research is receiving 5.6 million kroner for the project To kill an empire?, which investigates how Russian musicians in exile use music as political protest during wartime.

In geosciences, Sabina Strmic Palinkas is awarded NOK 16 million for NorSeMin: Unlocking Mineral Processes, a project that will provide new insight into processes related to seabed minerals and environmental impact.

In the enabling technologies category, Simone Grassini at the Department of Social Psychology receives NOK 11.9 million for InfoSHIELD, a project that will develop technological tools to strengthen digital resilience, uncover disinformation and understand user vulnerability.

This weeks edithorial

Leader of the week – Eystein Husebye

The Research Council has funds – fewer applicants so seize the opportunity!

The institute is concerned that the number of applications to the Research Council is decreasing and that grants have become smaller. This coincides with new application routines with ongoing calls for proposals and quarantine schemes. The Research Council reports that they are receiving about half as many applications as before, which also means that the grant percentage is increasing. This provides room for opportunity for K2's researchers to receive funding.

The table below lists schemes that have ongoing calls for proposals where it can be expected that the deadline will be within 1-5 months. This opens up opportunities for innovative research, radical ideas and, not least, good opportunities for stays abroad. This is an underutilized opportunity that can have enormous significance for a future research career.

ArrangementAmount limitDurationComment
FRIPRO – Research project (experienced)NOK 4–12 million3-8 yearsCuriosity-driven research
FRIPRO – Early careerNOK 4–10 million3-4 yearsFor researchers 2–7 years after PhD
FRIPRO – International mobilityNOK 4.7–7.4 million3-4 years1–2 years abroad, the rest in Norway
FRIPRO – Radical ideasNOK 0.5–2 million4–12 monthsToo early in career, high risk
Top researchers (FRIPRO)NOK 15–40 million4-8 yearsFor the most outstanding researchers
Stays abroad for doctoral and postdoctoral fellowsNOK 30,000,000 (total) Increase the proportion of young researchers with stays abroad
Recruitment of talented researchers to NorwayMax NOK 9,000,000 per project24–36 monthsAttract international researchers to Norwegian centers and projects
Support for eventsNOK 50,000–150,0001–12 monthsConferences, seminars and workshops

In addition, the Research Council has calls for long-term funding through SFF and SFI. For the most ambitious environments, there are Centers of Excellence (CEE), with up to 10 years of funding (6+4 years). For the most recent call, the deadline was in November 2025 and K2 researchers are eagerly waiting to see if they have progressed to round 2.

In addition, provides Centers for Research-Driven Innovation (SFI) and Forskningssenter for klinisk behandling (FKB) and clinical anchoring. Here, our friends at K1 just received funding for the Innovation Center for Neuroresilience. New initiatives for these programs have not yet been announced.

The Research Council will launch a new application system with a simpler format, better calculation tools and clearer assessment criteria in 2026. Project funding from the Research Council is particularly important for K2's finances as indirect costs are also covered.

I hope this inspires –

Eystein Husebye, deputy director at K2

News, Ph.d

Defence - Jakub Vasicek - 01/29/26

FACULTY OF MEDICINE

UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN

PUBLIC DEFENCE – Ph.D. DEGREE

Jakub Vasicek

The candidate is affiliated with the Department of Clinical Science (Klinisk institutt 2).

Main supervisor: Professor Marc Vaudel
Co-supervisors: Professor Lukas Käll and Professor Stefan Bruckner

Prøveforelesning: Torsdag 29. januar 2026 kl. 10.15

Sted: Birkhaugsalen, Sentralblokken, HUS

Stated topic: "Visual Analytics in omics: From Traditional Data Analysis to Interactive Exploration"

Disputas: Torsdag 29. januar 2026 kl. 12.15

Place: Birkhaugsalen, Sentralblokken, HUS, Jonas Lies vei 65

Dissertation title: "Enabling Haplotype-Aware Proteomics to Better Connect Human Genomes and Proteomes"

1st opponent: PhD Mariette Matondo, Institut Pasteur, France

2nd opponent: Professor Jan Aerts, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

3rd member of the committee: Professor Anagha Joshi-Michoel, University of Bergen

The dissertation will be led by Professor Stephanie Le Hellard.

Open to all interested parties

News, Ph.d

Defence – Arne Carlsen – 21.01.26

FACULTY OF MEDICINE

UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN

PUBLIC DEFENCE – Ph.D. DEGREE

Arne Carlsen

The candidate is affiliated with the Department of Clinical Science (Klinisk institutt 2).

Main supervisor: Associate Professor Tore Bjørn Grimstad
Co-supervisors: Professor Roald Omdal and Professor Lars Aabakken

Trial lecture: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 9:15 a.m.

Location: Aula in Nye SUS, Ullandhaug, building C

Given topic: “Effects of dietary treatment in inflammatory bowel disease”

Debates: Wednesday 21 January 2026 at 11:00

Location: Aula in Nye SUS, Ullandhaug, building C

Title of the thesis: "Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Infliximab and Adalimumab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Impact on treatment decisions"

1st opponent: Professor Rasmus Goll, UiT, Arctic University of Norway

2nd opponent: Associate Professor Ann Elisabeth Østvik, NTNU

3rd member of the committee: Professor Conrad Bjørshol, University of Bergen

The defense will be led by Professor Tor K. Larsen.

Open to all interested parties

News, Ph.d

Defence – Annabel Eide Ohldieck – 23.01.26

FACULTY OF MEDICINE

UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN

PUBLIC DEFENCE – Ph.D. DEGREE

Annabel Eide Ohldieck

The candidate is affiliated with the Department of Clinical Science (Klinisk institutt 2).

Main supervisor: Professor Eva Gerdts
Co-supervisors: Associate Professor Helga Midtbø and Postdoc. Ester Kringeland

Trial lecture: Friday, January 23, 2026 at 10:15 a.m.

Location: Auditorium, Armauer Hansens Hus, Haukelandsveien 28

Given topic: "Evaluation of cardiovascular risk: importance of sex-differences"

Defence: Friday 23 January 2026 at 12.15

Location: Auditorium, Armauer Hansens Hus, Haukelandsveien 28

Dissertation title: "Sex-specific associations of blood pressure and body mass index with cardiovascular complications: Insights from the Hordaland Health Study"

1st opponent: Professor Isabella Sudano, University Heart Center Zurich, Switzerland

2nd opponent: Professor Krzysztof Narkiewicz, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland

3rd member of the committee: Professor Lasse Melvær Giil, University of Bergen

The dissertation will be led by Bård Kittang.

Open to all interested parties

News

IHI launches call 12: New opportunities for researchers and innovation communities

The European Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) has now opened Call 12, an applicant-driven, one-stage call with five themes. Each theme is linked to one of the five specific objectives of IHI's strategic research and innovation agenda. The application deadline is 21 April 2026.

The call is aimed at researchers and stakeholders who wish to participate in cross-sectoral collaborative projects within health innovation. IHI encourages participation from academia, various industrial sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises, hospitals, patient organizations and other relevant environments.

Support for networking and partner search

In November 2025, IHI hosted a hybrid brokerage event to support networking and early consortium formation. The presentations from the event are available, and the digital platform for networking will be open until the application deadline: https://ihicalldays2025.converve.io/

All topics, documents, application guidelines and information on how to find project partners can be found on IHI's website.

Information days in January

Call Days for call 12 will be held on 19–20 January. The program includes information sessions on the call's content, regulations, procedures and financial requirements in the application process. More information: https://link.europa.eu/jNkncr

Participants can also use the digital platform to identify and meet potential partners.

Hvorfor søke

IHI-prosjekter gir forskere og innovasjonsmiljøer en mulighet til å delta i banebrytende samarbeid som skal gi konkrete gevinster for pasienter. Utlysningene legger til rette for samarbeid på tvers av sektorer og fagfelt, og gir tilgang til sterke europeiske nettverk.

Social media and contact

Updates about the call can be found on IHI's channels:

Questions can be directed to: applicants@ihi.europa.eu