Institute for Cancer Research

Kjetil Taskén
Institute head

Institute for Cancer Research has since its foundation in 1954 played a central role within the field of cancer research both in Norway and internationally. The Institute has seven research departments and more than 380 employees. About 70% of the employees and projects are externally funded. Read more

See introductory video with welcome to the ICR 

See full video covering all of ICR and its Departments 

Publication overview

Annual reports

Current news and events

20 January 2026Webinar: Predi-Lynch Round

On 20 January 2026, from 4:00 to 5:00 PM (CET), Predi-Lynch will host its first public Predi-Lynch Round, an online webinar organised by UDGA and UGR, focused on key challenges in oncology clinical research and ethics.

The session will open with a short introduction by Mev Dominguez-Valentin and will feature two expert presentations. Isabel Briz Hernandez will explore inclusive representation in oncology clinical trials, addressing systemic and cultural barriers to equitable participation. Nourredine Ait Rahmoune will present the Predi-Lynch clinical trial protocol, with a focus on ethical considerations.

The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A, creating space for discussion and exchange among participants.

The Pseudovax trial featured on national television

Kjersti Flatmark during the TV2 interview
Kjersti Flatmark during the TV2 interview

Before the Christmas break, the major Norwegian TV channel TV2 visited the Radium Hospital to learn about the Pseudovax trial. The first patient that recived the vaccine, Mette, was the main focus, together with comments from general secretary Ingrid Stenstadvold Ross in the Norwegian Cancer Society and Kjersti Flatmark, one of the lead investigators of the study. 
The Pseudovax clinical trial will evaluate a novel cancer vaccine developed at the Norwegian Radium Hospital specifically for patients with Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) . 
"If the vaccine proves to be effective, we hope that this could become an new treatment option for patients with PMP who are not cured by surgery", Flatmark says.

Thomas Fleischer named Researcher of the Year 2025 at Institute for Cancer Research

Thomas Fleischer. Photo: Per Marius Didriken, OUS.
Thomas Fleischer. Photo: Per Marius Didriken, OUS.

Thomas Fleischer, project leader at Institute for Cancer Research (ICR), Oslo University Hospital, has been awarded the Researcher of the Year 2025 prize by the ICR leadership.

The prize was presented at the Institute seminar on December 17 and includes a personal scholarship of 100,000 NOK funded by the Radium Hospital Foundation to support further research excellence.

Karen-Marie Heintz - Employee of the Year 2025, Institute for Cancer Research

Karen-Marie Heintz (photo: Per Marius Didriksen, OUS)
Karen-Marie Heintz (photo: Per Marius Didriksen, OUS)

Head Engineer Karen-Marie Heintz at the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) is named the Employee of the Year 2025.

The award was presented on 17 December by Kjetil Taskén on behalf of the ICR leadership team in recognition of Heintz’s exceptional contributions to the institute and its staff.

Inven2 award:Regulation of cell division project led by Beate Grallert wins innovation campaign

For the second year in a row, Inven2, in collaboration with Oslo University Hospital (OUS), has conducted an innovation campaign to highlight research-based ideas with commercial potential from OUS. In this year's competition, Beata Grallert from the Institute of Cancer Research came out on top. Her project, which investigates the regulation of cell division, impressed the jury with the groundbreaking new regulatory mechanism she discovered. This opens up completely new possibilities for the treatment of cancer.

Link collection - current news:News stories involving OUS researchers

Recommended sites for current research articles:

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 centres of excellence (UiO/OUS):
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