RESEARCH COLLABORATION. The pandemic put a stop to the originally planned Research Day this spring, but we’ve now been able to hold it. Research Day 2021 is the sixth consecutive. This one focused on Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital’s research into COVID-19.
More than 400 employees at Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital registered to attend the Research Day, either via online streaming or onsite at the Wallenberg Conference Center. All audience members could also use the digital meeting tool to ask questions of the speakers. The topic was “The New Normal? Consequences, lessons learned and developments in the wake of COVID-19”.
Lessons to be learned
Dean Agneta Holmäng and Hospital Director Ann-Marie Wennberg praised the great efforts made by staff during the pandemic and their outstanding attitude that made it possible to provide care, conduct research and enable education despite the pressure of the situation. They also both noted that the Research Day is a proof of how important it is for research and medical care to work hand in hand. They agreed that there are lessons to be learned from the work carried out during the pandemic.
“In the words of Winston Churchill, ‘never waste a good crisis’. During the pandemic, we have prioritized medical care and research and removed unnecessary administration, and we want to continue in that direction. We have also worked together across specialties and across organizational boundaries,” said Ann-Marie Wennberg during her introductory speech.
Both senior managers also pointed to the upcoming ALF evaluation. The previous evaluation awarded our collaboration in clinical research the best scores in Sweden.
“We are well prepared, and the working group led by Caterina Finizia and Henrik Hagberg has worked very hard to collect all the data for submission. We are looking forward to the evaluation. Our excellent collaboration in clinical research is our hallmark here at Gothenburg, and we feel confident,” said Agneta Holmäng.
Interesting and enjoyable
Some of the day’s visitors were Anna Casselbrant, Sara Blomström and Britt-Marie Iresjö, who are all colleagues in the Surgical Department.
“We were just discussing the talk about viruses in wastewater that we attended this morning. We have seen reports about it in the media, and it was interesting to hear a detailed presentation,” says Britt-Marie Iresjö.
“Learning about research that we would otherwise not have heard of is valuable,” says Sara Casselbrant.
Fully packed program
The program started with a fascinating session on research into the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19, moderated by Professor Tomas Bergström. Like all other new viruses, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic originated from the animal kingdom, and Peter Norberg informed us that genetic analyzes suggest that this one was created when a virus carried by bats crossed with a virus carried by pangolins. Helen Norder presented an in-depth overview of what is required for viral analysis of wastewater. It is hoped that wastewater could be used to predict peaks of infection, which would be of great help in planning care. Researchers would, of course, have to know which viruses they are looking for.
Ola Rolfson moderated another session that related to the impact on care for patients with myocardial infarction and patients waiting to receive a knee or hip prosthesis. In the case of myocardial infarction, mortality in Sweden has not increased during the pandemic, unlike in the USA, according to Elmir Omerovic. However, the number of operations for knee or hip prostheses has decreased significantly during the waves of infection, and the number of patients on waiting lists has unfortunately increased.
Unexpectedly positive for older people
In general, the perceived well-being of the elderly has increased during the pandemic, said psychologist Pär Bjälkebring, and they also consider that their personal financial situations have improved. On the other hand, loneliness had increased. Pär Bjälkebring did, however, point out that the older persons who were able and willing to respond to the survey that the research was based are, in general, better educated, healthier and younger.
The program also gave insight into how care was provided during the pandemic, and what lessons have been learned along the way. The Research Day also gave insights on what it was like to work and study during a pandemic, and how rehabilitation has changed for patients during a pandemic.
Three months until the next Research Day
Three staff members, who had received prestigious awards during the year, gave presentations at the Research Day. Tao Jin received a higher clinical ALD research fellowship, Hlin Kvartsberg wrote the Thesis of the Year at Sahlgrenska Academy 2019, and Linda Åhlström and Christopher Holmberg received Sahlgrenska Academy’s Pedagogical Award.
The next Research Day will be on February 3, 2022. It will also be arranged as a hybrid meeting but hopefully with more bookable onsite spots in Wallenberg Hall. The topic for Research Day 2022 will be “Working together leads to world-class interdisciplinary research.”
BY: ELIN LINDSTRÖM
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