Annual Report 2012
Cooperation that develops
Annual Report 2012
Cooperation that develops
–2–
Collaboration at the top of the agenda We have a busy year behind us. Looking back, I can confirm that the Sahlgrenska Academy is continuing to expand and develop. It is with pleasure therefore that I now look forward to 2013 with confidence.
We would especially highlight translational research, a close and reciprocal exchange between the Academy and health care, on the basis of actual care cases. We are proud of our collaboration with Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Region Västra Götaland. Now we wish to similarly further our relationships with Chalmers and companies in western Sweden, so as to fully focus on life science. It is therefore gratifying that the plans for a joint cluster, a scientific platform, are beginning to take shape. Collaboration is at the top of the agenda as we enter a new year.
The implementation of the University of Gothenburg’s new organisation is in its final phase. Grants to our researchers have increased. Our biggest educational programmes have received the green light from the government to accept more students. Sahlgrenska Academy has emerged extremely well from the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education’s investigation. Almedal Week in Gotland in July and the InFuturum conference in Gothenburg in November were two important, informal meeting places for Sahlgrenska Academy and important external players.
–3–
–4–
Uterus transplants offer hope to the childless In September 2012, after more than a decade’s research, a research team from Sahlgrenska Academy performed the world’s first uterus transplants from mother to daughter. The transplants became one of the year’s most internationally recognised pieces of Swedish research news.
A solid and serious research project The research project at the University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital is unique in terms of its length and the solid excellence of its documentation. Since the first laboratory analyses of chilled uterine tissue, the project has developed via successful transplants on small animals, pigs and sheep. Progress of the research has been reported in more than 40 scientific works. In May 2012, the research group received a permit from the Central Ethical Review Board to perform the first uterus transplants from mother to daughter. After the transplant, the women will undergo IVF treatment and, if the artificial fertilisation is successful, become pregnant.
The transplants, in which two Swedish women in their 30s received new uteri donated by their mothers, are the result of a research project that has been going on at Sahlgrenska Academy since 1999. About twenty specialists are now engaged on the project, under the leadership of professor Mats Brännström, who is also senior physician at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
”Between 2,000 and 3,000 women in Sweden alone are estimated to be childless because they lack a functional womb. Involuntary childlessness due to uterine factors is one of the last types of infertility that we do not have the possibility of treating. Our hope is that transplantation will be able to resolve this major clinical problem,” says Mats Brännström. Enormous international attention There has been great interest in the project for some time, both here in Sweden and internationally. The press conference on the first transplantations led to about 150 reports in the world’s media, including CNN, The New York Times, Le Figaro, the BBC, The Guardian, South China Post and The ASAHI Shimbun,which is one of Japan’s largest newspapers. It is planned that a further eight women will receive new uteri during autumn 2012 and spring 2013. It will not be possible to decide until 2014 at the earliest, however, whether the transplantations have been successful. The research project will also be concluded at that time, but the research team hopes that in the longer term the method will be available all over the world.
The research group’s aim is that women who were born without a uterus, or whose uteri have been removed at a young age due to cancer, shall be given the opportunity to have biological children. The idea was born in the late 1990s when Mats Brännström operated on a patient whose uterus had to be removed because of cancer and asked why it was not possible to transplant a new one.
–5–
Life science - time to move from words to action Maria Anvret puts forward three important points for the life science collaboration. ”Speak with one voice, communicate one message and dare to focus on the areas where Sahlgrenska Academy has the potential to be even better and stronger,” she says.
Life science covers everything from humans and animals to nature. Traditional disciplines such as biology, mathematics, chemistry and medicine come together within life science, but there is also room for physics and technology.
The importance of coordination Professor Maria Anvret is senior adviser for research and external relations. She was recruited in 2010 to develop and run Sahlgrenska Academy’s collaboration with society around us. During 2012, her duties were extended and she became responsible for coordination of life science at the University of Gothenburg. From year end, this also includes Chalmers. ”The importance of coordination and collaboration became clear,” says Maria Anvret.
What characterises life science, one of the region’s strongest clusters, is the close collaboration between academic and clinical research, as well as industry. This is of strategic importance for industry, public sector activities, politics and academics in western Sweden - but also nationally and internationally. Creating a common culture The university’s most important collaboration partners are Chalmers, Region Västra Götaland, Business Region Göteborg, the City of Gothenburg and a number of pharmaceutical, biotechnical and medical technology companies. ”There is now a will to create a common culture. Now it is time for us to move from words to action,” says Maria Anvret..
She is professor of neurogenetics, with a background as head of research at Karolinska Institutet, research and innovation adviser at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and manager and head of research at AstraZeneca.
–6–
Virtual dissection table uses 3D technology The body’s blood vessels appear with absolute sharpness on the virtual dissection table - like a powerful root system. But professor Bengt R Johansson wants no associations with any fictitious reality and says: ”We are looking at reality here. This is no illusion.”
He thinks it is gratifying to see how well all the students tackle this moment, in spite of its unpleasantness for a modern young person. ”Death is not a natural presence in our lives today,” he says. Himself, he grew up on a farm outside Norrköping.
Infra red light rays The newly-acquired Visualisation Table sits atop a metrehigh pillar. It looks like a gigantic touch screen. Infra red light beams run parallel to the image surface. By breaking the light beams with one or more fingers, Bengt R Johansson can change the image on the screen
He picks up a picture of a body with clear blood vessels, like a root system. The wide vessels closest to the heart become narrower and narrower the further out into the body they go. Learning anatomy In spite of new technology, students of the future will also have to learn anatomy via the bodies of deceased donors. ”But we have a plan. We wish to combine dissection preparation in reality with images of the same donor’s body on the light table. To be able to obtain these images, we use contrast fluid in the embalmed body and perform a full body scan. We are just discussing this with the radiologist,” says Bengt R Johansson.
Out in the big anatomy room at Medicinareberget, the ceiling is high and there is plenty of light. On one of the shorter walls are rows of refrigerators. Thick doors and powerful metal handles shut off the deceased who lie at rest inside. Dissection tables stand in rows on the floor like rectangular stainless steel bath tubs. Bengt R Johansson says: ”We shall gently and carefully give students their first introduction to the deceased, a delicate task.”
–7–
Managers who listen make the best leaders New professors 2012 Sahlgrenska Academy gained nine new professors in 2012. We offer portraits of three of them: Kerstin Nilsson, new professor of health care science, Fredrik Bäckhed, new professor of molecular medicine, especially the role of the intestinal flora in metabolism, and Maria Ransjö, new professor of orthodontics. New professors 2012
Maria Bokarewa, professor of translational clinical and experimental rheumatology Fredrik Bäckhed, professor of molecular medicine, especially the role of intestinal flora in metabolism Lars Grip, professor of cardiology Lennart Jacobsson, professor of rheumatology Eva Jennische, professor of histology Peter Naredi, professor of surgery Kerstin Nilsson, professor of healthcare education, specifically in competence, competence development and leadership in health care Jenny Nyström, professor of physiology, specifically in molecular and functional studies of kidney function Maria Ransjö, professor of orthodontics
Those who wish to succeed as managers must be willing to listen. ”It is also necessary to be clear and unambiguous. You must also stimulate, and be willing to speak out,” says Kerstin Nilsson, the new professor of healthcare education. In her research she has identified health factors, in relation to leadership, that get people in a workplace feeling good. Investigates leadership in health care Investigation of health care managers shows that some managers are better leaders than others. Why? Kerstin Nilsson, professor at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences, is seeking the answer through her research into health care managers. She describes herself as creative and energetic, a curious person who wants to find out more and push her own limits. ”When you learn something, a change always occurs, a kind of journey. The learning process creates opportunities,” says Kerstin Nilsson. Putting leadership into context. After many years as a nurse and company nurse, she decided on a change. Right at the beginning of her academic career, she started wondering what makes certain managers better leaders than others. In her thesis, she attempted to understand what constitutes leadership and to put it into context. Interaction, acceptance, mastery and adaptation proved to be key building blocks in the structure.
–8–
”Leadership is developed in many ways; not least we learn leadership from experience.” Prevention is best Good leadership is also about conflict management, prevention and taking action before opposition occurs. ”Conflicts often arise in connection with changes in the workplace, even when these are about development and improvement. To be able to work with change, you must sell the idea, ensure endorsement, get the majority with you. You must understand the other person’s perspective if you are to be able to lead,” says Kerstin Nilsson. She explains how important it is to treat people with respect and to understand how sensitive and vulnerable an individual can actually be. ”The manager must also understand the spirit of the work - the totality - whatever level it is on,” says Kerstin Nilsson.
Collaboration gives results in research into intestinal bacteria Imagine giving a stool sample and finding out that you have a high risk of developing diabetes. To reduce the risk of getting the disease, you are given a cocktail of different benign bacteria to drink, especially formulated for you.
”So far this is just science fiction, but it could well become reality,” says Fredrik Bäckhed. Leading an ambitious research group Things have turned out well for Fredrik Bäckhed. He has just become a professor at the age of 39 and is also Director of the Wallenberg Laboratory, where he leads a multi-professional team of researchers with about twenty members. They are researching how the intestinal flora works and how it affects the body’s metabolism. ”We are a group of ambitious researchers who are all willing to work hard to get a bit further,” says Fredrik Bäckhed.
He describes the group’s research as translational, meaning they work on actual patient cases. In recent years his group has received several large research grants for various collaboration projects, the latest being about SEK 30 million from the New adjunct professors 2012 Wallenberg Foundation for a collaboration Helena Brisby, adjunct professor of orthopaproject on child obesity. edics, Christer Dahlin, adjunct professor of oral A perfect research partner Finding out which bacteria and which bacteria genes are found in an intestinal sample is complicated. Only a few research groups in the world can currently manage it. ”When we analyse gene expression in intestinal flora, the amount of information we get is copious. Our computers cannot handle it, but we have a perfect research partner in Jens Nielsen, who is a professor at Chalmers. Different intestinal flora after a stroke Collaboration with the group at Chalmers has recently resulted in a publication in Nature Communications, which showed that the intestinal flora of patients who have had a stroke had changed. The group now also hopes to show whether the intestinal flora changes before or after the stroke, thanks to another collaboration with Göran Bergström, who is heading a large clinical population study at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
–9–
surgery, especially controlled tissue regeneration Elisabeth Fernell, adjunct professor of child and youth psychiatry Margareta Hellgren Wångdahl, adjunct professor of obstetrics and gynaecology Marie-Lois Ivarsson, adjunct professor of surgery Bo Jacobsson, adjunct professor of obstetrics and gynaecology Anders Lehmann, adjunct professor of physiology Hans Lönroth, adjunct professor of surgery Roland Thomee, adjunct professor of physiotherapy, especially orthopaedics Bo Wängberg, adjunct professor of surgery New guest professors 2012
Mohit Bandari, guest professor of orthopaedics, especially evidence based trauma treatment Thomas Burns, guest professor of clinical social psychiatric research with particular focus on psychosis Gerald DiBona, guest professor of renal physiology Michael Nilsson, guest professor of neurological rehabilitation, especially with regard to translational stroke research
Likes both patients and cells Maria Ransjö does not understand the division between pre clinical and clinical research. She believes it is equally interesting to work with patients, in the research lab and teaching students.
”For me, the clinic and cell biology go together. My subject, orthodontics, links craniofacial development, bone biology and tissue reactions with the clinical treatment of patients with jaw and bite deformities.,” says the new professor. The skeleton is constantly changing The skeleton is constantly rebuilding itself as part of a well-balanced process. Cells called osteoclasts take bone away and cells called osteoblasts create new bone tissue. However, various illnesses can cause a change in the bone tissue. ”It is important to understand how the osteoblasts and osteoclasts function and are regulated, so as to be able to give treatment,” says Maria Ransjö, whose background in oral cell biology is unusual in orthodontics.
Began as a student She has an ardent interest in her research area, shown by her clear gaze and intense voice when she speaks about how she began. How when young and after some hesitation, she accepted a place on the dentistry course at Umeå, and how later in her education she became fascinated by being able to study cells under the microscope. ”In fact I am still interested in pretty much the same questions as in the research I started on as a student, signals that control the bone-resorbing osteoclasts,” she says. Glass that affects bone cells Maria Ransjö is also interested in how bio material that is used for reconstruction of bone tissue can affect osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and is now especially fascinated by bioactive glass. ”It didn’t seem interesting at first, until I saw a histology test, ” she says , and finds a picture in a book to demonstrate. ”Look, the cells creep into cracks in the glass particles and bone is created there; that is so exciting!” Maria Ransjö and her colleagues are studying how the glass can affect the bone cells’ behaviour. They have recently demonstrated that the glass also affects osteoclasts and inhibits bone resorption.
– 10 –
Measurement theory and oral medicine in focus for this year’s honorary doctors Two English professors received honorary doctorates from Sahlgrenska Academy in 2012: Stephen Porter and Alan Tennant. Porter has been important in developments in oral medicine at the Institute of Odontology. Tennant has meant a great deal for Sahlgrenska Academy’s development in becoming one of Sweden’s leaders in measurement theory. Professor Stephen Porter Stephen Porter, Director of the UCL Eastman Dental Institute in London, is a world leader in oral medicine research. He is primarily interested in virological and pre malignant diseases. He has published more than 150 original articles and produced a large number of text books and electronic teaching materials in oral medicine that are used the world over. Professor Alan Tennant Alan Tennant, professor at the Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, researches into evaluation and rehabilitation with long-term illness. This includes rheumatological diseases, arthrosis and brain damage after strokes, trauma and epilepsy. He has been collaborating with rehabilitation medicine at University of Gothenburg for almost 15 years.
Increased grants from First doctor of New magazine with the Swedish Research pharmacology Public Dental Health Council Care For the first time, a newly Sahlgrenska Academy and the University of Gothenburg received approximately SEK 250 million in grants from the Swedish Research Council’s open call in medicine and health in 2012. This is a clear improvement over the previous year and means that the University of Gothenburg receives the second highest amount of all educational institutions in the call.
”Sahlgrenska Academy has had a deliberate programme aimed at increasing grants from the Swedish Research Council and it is very satisfying to see this year’s awards,” says Dean Olle Larkö.
qualified doctoral student has become a doctor of pharmacology at Sahlgrenska Academy. Pernilla Jonsson had her doctoral disputation in November 2012, defending her thesis that showed among other things that two per cent of all adult Swedes suffer from headaches caused by the overuse of headache medicines.
Best thesis of 2011
Johanna Schmidt, specialist Clear improvement and gynaecologist, received The grants to the University of Gothenthe prize for best thesis of burg were clearly better in 2012 in terms 2011 at Sahlgrenska Acaof both the number of contributions demy for ”Polycystic ovary and the total amount. 18 per cent of the syndrome: ovarian pathopSwedish Research Council’s total grants in hysiology and consequences this area went to the institution’s researafter the menopause”. The chers. This is an increase of five percentage prize was awarded in May 2012, in colpoints over the year before. 17 per cent laboration with Dr Arnt Vestby’s Research of the researchers who receive grants are Foundation. working at the University of Gothenburg, an increase by four percentage points. The Institute of Health and Care Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy was especially successful this year with its applications aimed at gaps in health and care knowledge. Out of a total of almost SEK 75 million allocated by the Swedish Research Council, the researchers at the University of Gothenburg succeeded in obtaining approximately SEK 26 million.
New centre for cystic fibrosis
The Lederhausen Centre for Cystic Fibrosis Research was opened in May 2012 in the presence of benefactor Palle Lederhausen. The centre is headed by professor Gunnar C Hansson. The centre shall gather together leading researchers in this area and develop new treatments.
– 11 –
At the beginning of the year, the magazine Research into Dental Health landed in the postboxes of politicians and other key persons in the region. The magazine promotes several joint research projects between Public Dental Health Care Västra Götaland and Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, in order to promote better conditions for both finance and recruitment. There was a similar initiative the preceding year with Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
The Academy in Visby
Collaboration in Sweden now looking at the Nordic region in future
Sahlgrenska Academy and the University of Gothenburg were present for the first time at Almedal Week, Sweden’s largest political meeting place. Sahlgrenska Academy spoke about research and the future during several hectic days in Visby in early July. With 25 million inhabitants, a common culture and similar hospital systems and academies, the Nordic region could be a future platform for collaboration. If so, the first stage must be fruitful national collaboration. This was the message when In early summer, Sahlgrenska Academy Olle Larkö and Lars Grip welcomed delehosted the council of deans and national gates to InFuturum 2012 in Gothenburg. research education conference. The heads of seven medical faculties were invited, as InFuturum is a Swedish continuation of well as representatives of the educational the initiative taken in 2010 by Nordic institutions’ research education. The pur- hospital managers and academic leaders in pose was to discuss common issues. Tammerfors, Finland.
Seven educational institutions meet
Lars Grip, R&D Director of Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and Olle Larkö, Dean of Sahlgrenska Academy, welcomed 140 conference delegates to Gothenburg In connection with the Nobel festivities in on 8-9 November. Stockholm, three of the winners also visited Gothenburg. John B Gurdon, winner Ten million soon of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, lectured According to Lars Grip, with almost ten to an audience of 350 at Medicinarebermillion inhabitants there are good condiget. The Nobel visit was a collaboration tions for developing the national health between the University of Gothenburg, care of the future. This could occur, for Sahlgrenska Academy and Chalmers. example, through coordination and the
Nobel Prize winners drew a full house
– 12 –
structured introduction of new methods. Coordinating university hospitals could also facilitate larger clinical studies and faster results. It is also a question of breaking with academic tradition and initiating research through clearly directed assignments. Start with the world at large Olle Larkö also took the world at large as his starting point. How can it be that two Danish doctors can now handle twice as many patients as five doctors did before? Why do other European countries require doctors to spend 50 hours a year in further education at conferences, while Sweden has no such requirements? ”Perhaps we do too little international benchmarking. We must be open to considering whether we are working in the right way or whether we could organise resources differently,” said Olle Larkö. The baton is now being passed to Skåne, the host of InFuturum 2013.
Active media work give results
Midwives took the prize
Education under the microscope
During the year Sahlgrenska Academy has been actively working with media contacts and has sent 140 press releases to Swedish and international media, steered more than 100 journalists towards relevant researchers and answered a number of questions via the Swedish Research Council’s Expertsvar service.
The team on the midwives programme received Sahlgrenska Academy’s education prize for 2012. The seven members of the team are Anna Dencker, Margareta Mollberg, Marie Berg, Ingela Lundgren, Tone Ahlborg and Anna Wessberg, as well as Helena Lindgren, who is not in the picture from the prizegiving above.
Visible in media During 2012, Sahlgrenska Academy was mentioned in more than 800 articles and pieces in the country’s 30 largest national media outlets. The greatest attention, including internationally, was given to the news of the world’s first uterus transplants, performed by a research team at Sahlgrenska Academy in September. The uterus transplants have been presented on a webbased press conference and on YouTube, where the film about the research project had been viewed more than 12,000 times by year end.
Constant development They received the prize for ten years of purposeful work marked by excellence, width and innovation. ”We are continuously trying to develop the educational aspects. At the moment we are making a training film and developing simulator training and clinical examination.
Sahlgrenska Academy’s educational programme receives a high level of applications, has a good flow of students and leads to qualifications that are much valued by employers. The work of developing the educational programme can however require reinforcement, according to a report that the faculty presented to the Vice-Chancellor at the beginning of the year.
The prize is to acknowledge and reward teachers who contribute to achieving the vision that the education programme shall be among the three most attractive in the country.
– 13 –
Top ranking for health care education Sahlgrenska Academy came third in the independent university and college league table Urank’s review of 22 Swedish educational institutions. A high intensity of medical research pushes the score up. So does the percentage of students with a foreign background and the percentage who come from homes without a tradition of study.
Very good results in the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education’s investigation Best in the country The hospital physicist programme and the masters programme in medical radiology physics ensured that the University of Gothenburg was the only educational institution to get top marks in the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education’s evaluation. Other educational institutions share a good second place. ”This is obviously something we are tremendously happy about. We have good interaction between the academic and clinical activities and we have many committed hospital physicians and other personnel categories who teach. I would like to put in a special word for all our doctoral students, who have wholeheartedly helped our students,” says professor Peter Bernhardt, director of studies at the radiophysics department.
Education at Sahlgrenska Academy has emerged extremely well from the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education’s evaluation 2012. Professor Kerstin Nilsson, Assistant Dean for education, says: ”The predecessors of our programmes and main areas have put a great deal of work into providing us with a basis. The investigation of how well we achieve the goals for the remaining examinations now remains.”
”Our students will of course be working with each other in the health care operations when they complete their education. How inter-professional learning is to increase and be formalised is also on the agenda. An important piece of the puzzle is the three-year educational development project on inter-professional learning with support from simulation, which starts at new year for nursing and medical students,” says Kerstin Nilsson.
Focus on five areas Kerstin Nilsson, who puts forward five focus areas for continuing work:
Sustainable development and human rights Sahlgrenska Academy has come along way in integrating sustainable development into its teaching. An interactive website is under construction, together with the Gothenburg Environmental Science Centre.
Internationalisation Inter-professional learning Sustainable development Human rights and genus Innovation and entrepreneurship
”All programmes have produced an action plan for how we shall increase the number Exam work carries a lot of weight The Swedish National Agency for Higher of students and teachers who travel out and how more shall come to us. During Education’s evaluation system places 2013, we shall work to realise the intengreat emphasis on investigating students’ examination work. Also considered are the tions of the action plans. More courses in English will be necessary to enable foreign institution’s self-assessments, surveys of students to participate in our educational students’ experience of the teaching. programmes,” says Kerstin Nilsson. ”We put a great deal of emphasis on students being proficient at lab work, writing reports, investigating scientific studies and To learn with, from and about each other, what we call inter-professional learning, is giving verbal presentations,” says Peter an important part of health care education. Bernhardt.
– 14 –
Focus on human rights and genus continues; this must be developed in all educational programmes. Kerstin Nilsson confirms that Sahlgrenska Academy has now been tasked by the University of Gothenburg to develop a masters programme in innovation and entrepreneurship. ”But we shall also develop the students’ creativity that builds innovation in relation to the directions of the respective programmes,” she says.
Doctoral candidates from day one
Recommendations give more equal conditions for students Sahlgrenska Academy’s students’ union (SAKS) has been greatly engaged in the issue of work placement training in the past year. The union has carried out a comprehensive survey among students and has also had great influence on the recommendations taken up by the faculty, which will provide more equal conditions for students. Safeguarding quality Sahlgrenska Academy is educating more and more students. In order to ensure the quality of the work placement training, the faculty is now establishing training places in more hospitals, care centres and other workplaces in a wider geographical area. A number of students will therefore have further to travel and increased costs in connection with their work placement training. Most are happy The questionnaire survey carried out by SAKS shows that overall students are very satisfied with their work placement training. Three quarters of those who
responded to the survey stated that they thought that their practice was ”very good” or ”good” overall. ”But we could see some aspects in need of improvement. It is important that there should be a good system to capture students whose training out in care departments and other workplaces is not working,” says Simon Persson, who took over as chair of SAKS during the year. Children mean priority Parallel with the students union’s work on the major survey, SAKS also took an active role in the faculty’s work on recommendations for how the work placement training places should be distributed and how students’ increased costs could be compensated. ”This means that priority for a desired practice place may be given if a student has children, for example, and therefore cannot travel far, something that more students are demanding,” says Stina Fredriksson, who was chair of SAKS up until summer 2012.
– 15 –
The University of Gothenburg decided during the year that all new research students will gradually be offered the opportunity to be doctoral candidates from their first working day. This is a change that both Sahlgrenska Academy’s former Vice-Dean Börje Haraldsson and the union have been working for. ”This issue has been close to our hearts. The security of doctoral candidates in their positions will now be increased and they will be entitled to parental leave and paid sick leave from day one,” says Lars Karlsson, who represents the doctoral candidates in SAKS. The change will be made gradually up until 2015.
Refurbished student union house Villa Medici, Sahlgrenska Academy’s almost 40 year old student union house, is being successively refurbished, according to plan. Repainting and drainage were completed during 2012. Villa Medici is a stylish brick building in central Gothenburg where union members can socialise, study and party.
Prizes and distinctions during 2012 - a selection Professor Tord Berglundh received the year’s Astra Tech Scientific Award, a prize that shall ”honour significant contributions to research in oral implants”. Astra Tech presented the award during its world congress in Gothenburg. The award is valued at SEK 100,000. Health care’s biggest prize for clinical research, the Athena Prize, was awarded to professor Ann Hellström and her research group. The prize consists of a research grant of SEK 150,000. Henrik Zetterberg, professor of neurochemistry, was awarded the Inga Sandeborgs prize by the Swedish Society of Medicine. He received the award for ”internationally outstanding and active research into Alzheimers disease”. The prize is SEK 125,000. Professor Martin Bergö received this year’s Göran Gustafsson prize for medicine. He received the award for ”his remarkable research into CAAX proteins and their significance for the incidence and treatment of diseases such as cancer and progeria”. The five Göran Gustafsson prizes are the biggest national prizes for scientific research.
Associate professor Joakim Larsson was this year’s recipient of the Eric K Fernström prize for young and particularly promising and successful researchers Joakim Larsson is researching into how medicines affect the environment. Henrik Lund received the Swedish Dental Society’s award for the best doctoral thesis, which he presented at Sahlgrenska Academy in 2011. The thesis is entitled ”Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Evaluations of Some Side Effects of Orthodontic Treatment”. The prize was awarded during the national orthodontic assembly in Gothenburg. The award is valued at SEK 35,000. Professor Hans Carlsten received Pfizer’s major research grant for 2012. He received the award, with the sum of SEK 400,000, for his innovative and purposeful research into oestrogen and its effect on the immune system in the treatment of rheumatic disease - research that has attracted great national and international attention. During the year, Karl Swedberg, professor emeritus in medicine, became the first person to take up a position of senior professor at the University of Gothenburg.
– 16 –
The title of senior professor is given to a few, selected retired professors who are deemed to be key persons for the organisation. The position is limited to one year, but can be extended. Ian Milsom,professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, and Cecilia Björkelund, professor of general medicine, are two of the authors behind one of the articles that won a prize in Läkartidningen’s article of the year competition. The prize was awarded at the national medical assembly. The article won the category ”Clinic and science original study or case report” and describes diffuse symptoms in young women that could indicate a blood clot in a vein. Anders Linde, professor of oral biochemistry, received the Swedish Dental Society’s Miller prize 2012. Anders Linde received the award for scientific studies of the mineralisation process in oral tissue and its import in the area of craniofacial development biology. The award is valued at SEK 75,000.
Contributions during 2012 - a selection Professor Patrik Rorsman was named as Wallenberg Scholar 2012, which will mean SEK 15 million for continuing diabetes research. His research group is working on new findings that show that an important cause of the disease is that the body’s insulin liberation is disturbed and the lack of insulin is worsened by the over-release of another hormone called glucagon. Professor Göran Landberg received approximately SEK 12 million from the Swedish Research Council to develop new, tailored treatment methods for different forms of breast cancer. This was the largest individual contribution in the Swedish Research Council’s major announcements in medicine and health. Professor Milos Pekny is participating in an international project that has been awarded SEK 110 million by the EU for research into recovery and rehabilitation after strokes. Professor Ann Hellström is coordinating a project in which researchers, biotechnology companies and drugs producers are receiving SEK 54 million in support from the EU to produce treatments for sight impairment from premature birth.
Professor Lauren Lissner and her colleagues received SEK 27.5 million from Formas, the Swedish Research Council, FAS and Vinnova to study the mental well-being of overweight school children and teenagers. Vinnova gave SEK 3 million in research support to a personcentred care department, a test unit for new forms of care, e-health solutions, services, products and education. Professor Inger Ekman is responsible for the project, which is intended to be a reference point for the health care of the future. Professor Nils Lycke received SEK 1.5 million from AFA Försäkring for his research into new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. His research group has developed a method that creates tolerance in the immune system, which reduces inflammation of the joints in rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Ingmar Skoog and his colleagues received SEK 5.7 million in the Swedish Research Council’s distribution to nationally important research infrastructure. The funds are to be used to investigate the mental health of the elderly, dementia diseases and functional ability within the unique H70 unique population study.
– 17 –
The Cancer Fund decided to give SEK 17 million to 23 cancer researchers in Gothenburg. Göran Stenman, professor of pathology, received the largest amount for his project on the development of new treatment strategies for tumours caused by fusion oncogenes. He receives SEK 1.5 million now and a similar amount per year for a further two years. Anna Martner receives the Hasselblad Foundation’s grant of SEK 1 million for female researchers further qualification in science. She is a researcher at Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, where she is studying two different types of leukaemia. Associate professor Åsa Tivesten received SEK 2 million from AFA Försäkring to review the connections between hormone levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Mary Jo Wick, professor of experimental clinical immunology, has been awarded almost SEK 2 million by AFA Försäkring to investigate the causes of the chronic intestinal diseases Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
Sahlgrenska Academy Board The Academy Board is the faculty’s highest decision-making body. The present board took office on 1 July 2012 following an election. In accordance with the new rules of procedure for the University of Gothenburg, the Dean is chair and one member represents technical and administrative personnel. Regional director Ann-Sofi Lodin of Region Västra Götaland is external member
Sahlgrenska Academy Management
The board consists of the following members Olle Larkö, chair and dean Erik Hanse, deputy chair and pro dean Inger Ekman Gunnar C. Hansson Kajsa Henning Abrahamsson Annelie Hyllner Sverker Jern Ann-Sofi Lodin Jim Collander, student representative Anders Josefsson, student representative Simon Persson, studentrepresentant
Dean Olle Larkö
Pro Dean Eric Hanse
Assistant Dean Research Sven Enerbäck
Assistant Dean Postgraduate studies Kristoffer Hellstrand
Assistant Dean Undergraduate studies Kerstin Nilsson
Sahlgrenska Academy Organization Academy Board
Assistant dean - Research
Dean
Assistant dean - Postgraduate studies Assistant dean - Undergraduate studies
Academy Office Core Facilities
Biomedicine
Clinical Sciences
Health and Care Sciences
Medicine
– 18 –
Neuroscience and Physiology
Odontology
Key figures for the institutions Head of Department Deputy Head of Department Institute of Biomedicine Anders Oldfors Claes Gustafsson
Number of employees
Income
275 (of whom 5 adjuncts without salary)
SEK 295.7 million
Institute of Clinical Sciences
Ian Milsom
Jan-Erik Damber
230 (of whom 25 adjuncts without salary)
SEK 195.0 million
24
Institute of Health and Care Sciences
Ingela Lundgren
Kristin Falk
139 (of whom 10 adjuncts without salary)
SEK 145.0 million
8
Institute of Medicine
Hans Carlsten
Henrik Sjövall
436 (of whom 26 adjuncts without salary)
SEK 403.0 million
22
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology
Agneta Holmäng
Hans Nissbrandt
337 (of whom 23 adjuncts without salary)
SEK 343.6 million
24
Institute of Odontology
Annika Ekestubbe
Agneta Robertson
119 (of whom 14 adjuncts without salary)
SEK 170.8 million
11
Employees at the Sahlgrenska Academy 2010-2012 Number of employees1) Percentage change from previous year Full-time equivalents2)) Percentage change from previous year
2012
2011
2010
1656
1650
1617
0,4
2,0
2,4
1369
1368
1337
0,1
2,3
2,9
Full-time equivalents by type1) Teaching staff
458
482
405
Other teaching and research staff
480
448
506
Administrative staff
244
247
229
Technical staff
211
211
220
Doctorates awarded 15
Number of peer-reviewed articles + research summaries per institution1) 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Institute of Biomedicine
266
312
287
252
236
Institute of Clinical Sciences
504
623
591
514
431
Institute of Health and Care Sciences
119
102
87
93
94
Institute of Medicine
550
521
514
575
511
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology
352
428
403
391
326
Institute of Odontology
138
114
105
102
97
Number of peer-reviewed articles + research summaries Sahlgrenska Academy in total2)
1) Including externally funded co-opted staff not paid by University of Gothenburg 2) Excluding externally funded co-opted staff not paid by University of Gothenburg
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Total
1655
1779 1682
1645 1412
1) Extract from University of Gothenburg publication database (GUP) 24 January 2012. In the case of collaboration between institutions, the article has only been counted once for the institution 2) Extract from University of Gothenburg publication database (GUP) 24 January 2012. In the case of collaboration between institutions, the article has only been counted once.
– 19 –
Contribution income 2012 (SEK 1,000) External contributors
Income statement 2011-2012 (SEK mill.) Revenue
2012
2011
Grants/prepayments
797
774
Swedish Research Council
ALF and TUA grants
484
477
Cancer Fund
35 760
Universities and university colleges, Swedish
23 573
EU bodies
23 207
Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research
21 015
0
Ingabritt and Arne Lundberg’s Foundation
19 055
FORMAS Research Council
18 371
AFA Försäkring
16 589
Kammarkollegiet
16 504
Child Cancer Fund
14 424
Västra Götaland Region/other county and local authorities
13 058
Foundation for Strategic Research
12 022
Assignments Sales Income from indirect costs and internal contributions Contributions Financial income
52
63
172
164
71
91
574
583
1
Accruals, ongoing assignments
32
3
Cover for deprecation of contribution-financed inventory
31
29
Reserve for contribution-financed inventory
Total revenue
-43
-34
2171
2 150
Costs Personnel costs Doctoral candidates/Education contribution Other operating costs ALF and TUA grants
-816
-815
-93
-81
-324
-299
Jubileum Clinic
10 770
-477
Torsten Söderberg’s Foundation
10 765 10 475 10 365
-484
Indirect costs and internal contributions
-240
-244
Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
Premises costs
-139
-134
VINNOVA
Financial costs Depreciation
Total costs
0
0
-50
-47
-2146
-2 097
Transfers
Ragnar Söderberg’s Foundation
9 169
Herman Krefting’s Foundation for allergy and asthma research
8 300
Gothenburg Medical Society
6 975
Sten A Olsson’s Foundation for research and culture
5 500
Funds received
32
15
Contributions provided
-39
-30
SIDA
-15
Other contributors
Total transfers
-7
Total Changes in capital during the year
162 456
18
38
– 20 –
5 400 119 843
573 595
Produced 2013 by Kommunikation & HR at Sahlgrenska Academy Contact info@sahlgrenska.gu.se Photo Magnus Gotander/Bilduppdraget (s 11, 16, 17, 18) Gerd Ivarsson/University of Gothenburg (s 16) Thomas Johansson (s 2, 6, 18) Lisa Klang/Sahlgrenska University Hospital (s 13) Ulrika Olsson/Parasoll (s 14) Johan Wingborg/University of Gothenburg(s 4, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17) Cover illustration Maj Persson