Research at Oslo University Hospital

Work by Krister Vikedal from the Bacterial Defense Systems and Antimicrobial Resistance Group led by James Booth and Emily Helgesen at the Department of Microbiology shows that combining high-content imaging with machine learning is a powerful, scalable way to map how bacterial genes shape chromosome organization and DNA damage responses. The modular nature of the developed method means it can readily be extended to other gene libraries, stress conditions, reporters, or bacterial species. These insights bring us a step closer to understanding — and ultimately combating — antibiotic resistance.

Katarzyna (Kasia) Gajewska, a researcher in Marina Vietri’s project group at Institute for Cancer Research, has been awarded a grant of 2 MNOK under the “radical ideas” programme of the Research Council of Norway.

Her project is named “Under Pressure: Mechanosensitive Nuclear Bodies in Cancer Progression”

Cancer cells experience intense physical stress as they grow and invade surrounding tissues, yet how these forces affect the cell nucleus is not fully understood. 

Recommended sites for current OUS research news:

From Oslo University Hospital, in Norwegian:
OUS Innsikt – ny forskning, innovasjon og behandling - channel for science communication
More news from OUS (oslo-universitetssykehus.no)

From UiO and centres of excellence (UiO/OUS):
News from the Inst. of Clinical Medicine, UiO
Research news - UiO
CanCell - Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming 
Cresco - Centre for Embryology and Healthy Development 
PRIMA - Precision Immunotherapy Alliance - Norwegian version
Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre for Organ on a Chip-Technology

A tiny protein ring at the heart of DNA copying may have a bigger role in genome repair than previously thought, according to new research from the Bacterial Defense Systems and Antimicrobial Resistance Group. Results published in New Nucleic Acid Research shows that a small ring-shaped protein at the heart of DNA copying, the β-clamp, plays a more direct role in this emergency repair than previously recognized. The finding strengthens the parallel between bacterial and eukaryotic DNA-maintenance systems and raises new questions about how cells integrate copying and repair to protect their genomes.
The study was led by joint first authors Ida Mathilde Marstein Riisnæs and Synnøve Brandt Ræder, with collaborators at the University of Oslo, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and the University of Copenhagen.

On 11 June, Sigrun Aasland, Minister of Research and Higher Education, launched the University of Oslo’s research strategy on emerging technologies. This long-term initiative aims to bridge basic research and technological development, and the government has allocated 25 million NOK to the University of Oslo in 2026 and 50 million NOK annually from 2027 to support its development. The initiative will be evaluated in 2030.
Altogether, this technology initiative comprises eight new research projects. Johanna Olweus will lead the project AI-Facilitated Immune Receptor Engineering (AFIRE), which will establish an integrated, AI-driven technology platform for the development of a new class of soluble and cell-based immune receptors targeting intracellular proteins.

Project leader Marina Vietri in Harald Stenmark’s group at Institute for Cancer Research has received a grant from the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Sør-Øst) of 9 MNOK on the project “Uncovering hidden nuclear vulnerabilities: from mechanism to anticancer strategies."
In this project, Vietri and her co-workers will investigate a newly identified cellular mechanism that appears to help cancer cells withstand stress. By understanding how this process functions and how it contributes to cancer cell survival, the aim is to identify new opportunities for improving cancer treatment. The long-term goal is to generate knowledge that may support the development of more effective therapeutic strategies and contribute to better outcomes for patients with cancer.

Announcement from the UiO Growth House:
Do you have an innovative idea based on your research for a new product or service, but need funding to develop your early-stage technology or service further?
Complete information:
Apply for seed funding NOK 50 000 or 200 000 from The UiO Growth House! (uio.no)

We have allocated NOK 1,5 million for this call. The application deadline is 1 September 2026.

• In 2026 the UiO Growth House dedicates NOK 1.5 million to this round of seed funding to support the development of innovative early-stage ideas.
• Each project team will work together with a UiO Growth House innovation adviser to help realise the full potential of the project. 

Three Oslo University Hospital scientists received prestigous awards for their outstanding research on June 12th 2026.
The major prize - the "Excellent Researcher Award" - went to Kristina Haugaa. 
Ida Lindeman and Nicola Pietro Montaldo both received the "Early Career Award".
The prize money - 400.000 and 200.000 NOK respectively - is earmarked for research activities.

The awards for outstanding research articles are awarded twice a year based on over 2,300 scientific articles that are published annually by OUS. The clinics' research committees nominate the articles, and an external committee evaluates and finally selects the six worthy winners.

The winning articles must have achieved international impact or have distinguished themselves in other ways. The articles must also be of exceptionally high quality and communicate important findings.