Medical and Health research in Norway – in brief Director Mari K. Nes 22 June 2006

Universities and University Hospitals University of Bergen University of Tromsø Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Trondheim) University of Oslo Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) University Hospital 2 University Hospitals 5 Norwegian Regional Health Authorities 5 University Hospitals

Medical and Health research in Norway Public funding 405 mill. USD (2003) University hospitals Reg. Health Authorities Clinical and translational research Institutes  NIPH  Sintef Health  7 others  Medicine/dentistry  Psychology/other health disciplines  Health services/ systems/economy 203 mill. USD 139 mill. USD 63 mill. USD Universities Basic, translational and applied research

Research area Mill NOK Mill USD % Technology1 980,9300,1 39 Humanities184,228, Social sciences817,9123,9 16 Agriculture and fisheries 505,176,510 Natural sciences767,8116,3 15 Medical sciences397,260,2 8 Administration413,362,6 8 Total5 066,5767,6 100 The Council Budget 2006

White Paper – National priorities INTERNATIONALISATION BASIC RESEARCH (with emphasis on research quality and math and sciences ) RESEARCH-BASED INNOVATION Energy and environment FoodOceansHealth ICT New materials Nanotech. Biotechnology Structural Thematic Technology areas

Relative index of citation Norwegian publications – all disciplines Index of citation is increasing….. Index Denmark Sweden Norway Finland World average

Educational background of PhD students in the field of medicine (percent)

External evaluations of biomedical, medical and health research Increased funding – larger and fully financed projects Encourage multidisciplinary research environments and supportive infrastructure More national and international collaboration More emphasis on scientific leadership More incentives for research – salary and prestige Encourage translational research and better use of populationbased databases for research Recommendations :

National funding Instruments (RCN)  Centre for Molecular Biology and Neuroscience  Centre for the Biology of Memory New funding for CoEs in 2006! Other “scientific quality” schemes  Independent Projects  Large Independent Projects  Young Investigators Award Center of Excellence

Independent projects (9 discipline based review committees) Humanities Social Sciences Science and Technology Clinical Medicine Public Health and Health Services Molecular bioscience/Biotechnology Anatomy/Physiology Evolution biology/Ecology Development and environmental studies

Research Programmes  FUGE – FUnctional GEnomics in Norway  Public Health  Clinical Research  Mental Health  Health and Care Services  Environment, Genetics and Health  NeuroNor  Global Health and Vaccination National funding Instruments (RCN) Centres for Research-based Innovation

Activities FP7 “Health”– Norwegian expertise Biotechnology, generic tools and technologies  Drug transport and delivery  Vaccinology and immunotherapy  Biomaterials and tissue regeneration  Bioinformatics  Transgenic Zebrafish research  Brain related diseases  Antimicrobial drug resistance  Poverty related diseases  Emerging epidemics  Cardiovascular diseases  Cancer  Diabetes  Infectious diseases  Enhanced health promotion and disease prevention  Translating clinical research into clinical practice  Quality and solidarity of health systems  Economics of health care delivery Optimising the delivery of health care Translating research  Health Surveys and Biobanking  Medical Imaging

Biotechnology, generic tools and technologies Optimising the delivery of health care Translating research Population-based Health Surveys and Biobanks Epidemiology to be merged with genetics, molecular biology, and ICT A need to harmonise legislation, regulations and guidelines on health surveys and biobanking across Europe Identify genetic and environmental causes of complex diseases Promote health, prevent disease Norwegian expertise and comparative advantage Sources: Cohort of Norway – CONOR (HUNT, HUSK, HUBRO, Tromsø Health Study) Biohealth Norway Mother and Child Cohort Study – MoBa National health and disease registries

Biotechnology, generic tools and technologies Optimising the delivery of health care Translating research Imaging for Improved Patient Care MRI, ultrasound, molecular imaging Translating clinical research into clinical practice Brain and brain-related diseases Cancer Cardiovascular diseases  Improved patient outcome  Cost-efficient health care  Commercialisation of innovations Detection, diagnosis and monitoring Innovative therapeutic approaches and interventions Research must focus on Norwegian expertise

NeuroNor A national and strategic programme for neuroscience research Objectives  Increase the knowledge of the etiology of neurological and mental diseases  Improve the scientific basis for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of these diseases

Thank you!

PILLAR 2 Translating research Major diseases I/II Cancer  Chemoresistance mechanisms  Molecular profiling of cancer  Tumor stem cell research  Cellular signalling pathways  Micrometastasis  Gene and immunotherapy of cancer  Radiation biology  Photodynamic therapy and photochemical internalisation  Palliative care: Pain, depression and fatigue. Search for pain-relevant genes Bergen, Oslo, Tromsø, NTNU