NEW STUDY. Mustard gas harms the vision, skin and breathing. Three decades on, however, the predominant effect is mental ill-health. At a time when chemical warfare is a threat, researchers at the University of Gothenburg have now presented their study monitoring a group of victims of a historical gas attack. With the war in Ukraine, threats to develop and use various weapons, including chemical warfare agents (CWAs), have been stepped…
Testing a immunological drug as a new treatment for early type 1 diabetes
CLINICAL STUDY. A large clinical study is now beginning on an approved drug for treating psoriasis. The drug will be tested on patients who were recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The theory is that the drug could preserve the patient’s remaining insulin production. A large number of hospitals throughout Sweden are participating in this large project, which is funded by the Swedish Research Council within clinical treatment research. The…
Emma Eckernäs: GU now surveying doctoral students’ work environment too
COLUMN. For the first time, the work environment survey (ARK) at the University of Gothenburg (GU) now contains a sub-survey aimed specifically at Ph.D. students. All of us are now responsible, writes Emma Eckernäs of the Doctoral Student Council (DoR) in her column. She urges all doctoral students to participate in this survey of their work environment. In many ways, being a Ph.D. student is — and to some extent…
Nominate for the award “PhD Thesis of the Year”
AWARD. Do you know of a really good thesis that was defended last year? Until February 7, you can nominate for the Sahlgrenska Academy’s PhD Thesis of the Year award. The prize “PhD Thesis of the Year at Sahlgrenska Academy” has been awarded since 2009 and is funded by Dr Arnt Vestby’s Research Foundation. The purpose of the award is to recognize the contributions made by PhD students and their…
New legislation for clinical trials of medicinal products
RESEARCH RESOURCES. New EU legislation for clinical trials of medicinal products will be phased in over the coming years. All new applications must be submitted in accordance with the new regulation. The Swedish Medical Products Agency provides information on its website, and researchers can receive local support from the Research Support Office and Gothia Forum. On January 31, 2022, the Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR) went into effect. CTR is a…
Joining forces for research on asthma, allergy, and airways
RESEARCH CONDITIONS. “Breathe Sweden”, a digital platform for researchers who collect studies on diseases and disorders of the respiratory tract, has now been launched. The initiative enhances scope for Nordic collaboration in large population studies. The Andas Sverige platform was launched in 2022 to enable the Swedish-speaking public to find nonspecialist information about current research on respiratory disorders and diseases. “Breathe Sweden” is now to be an English-language sister platform…
Fewer surgically treated ankle fractures with a clear-cut treatment routine
DOCTORAL THESIS. It has been shown that the percentage of ankle fractures that undergo surgery could be substantially reduced, from more than 30 per cent to 10 in the most common type of fracture. The key is a clear-cut treatment routine that benefits both patients and caregivers, according to a doctoral dissertation at the University of Gothenburg. This thesis examines the way ankle fractures are treated in Sweden and the…
In memory of Bo Lundbäck
COMMEMORATIVE REMARKS: On December 6, Professor Bo Lundbäck passed away at the age of 74 after a period of illness. He was a senior professor in respiratory medicine at the Institute of Medicine. Bo Lundbäck initiated several large epidemiological studies in asthma and COPD research and led the Krefting Research Centre for asthma and allergy research for more than 10 years. He was also active in discussing policy during the…
Hope of more donor hearts suitable for transplantation
MULTICENTER STUDY. Improved Heart is the first prospective multicenter study in the world where evaluation of organ donors’ cardiac function is going to take place. The aim of the study is to include hearts with mild dysfunction to be acceptable for transplantation as well. In Sweden, hearts like this have been transplanted for several years with good results, but the status of this research has not been sufficient to change…
Future Vice-Chancellor wants to unify the university even more
THE VICE-CHANCELLOR PROCESS. ”It’s overwhelming, but at the same time exciting and a great honour. I am also very humbled by this difficult assignment.” This is how the University of Gothenburg’s next Vice-Chancellor Malin Broberg describes her feelings as the long recruitment process is now coming to an end. The journey to the Vice-Chancellor position began one day in September last year. Malin Broberg, Dean at the Faculty of Social…
Remembering Fannie Gaston-Johansson
COMMEMORATIVE REMARKS. Professor Fannie Gaston-Johansson, a former member of the Institute of Health and Care Sciences, has passed away at the age of 84. Gaston-Johansson died in her home on January 7 this year after a period of illness, surrounded by her family. “Fannie has meant a great deal to the development of nursing, both its practical application and theory, for the University of Gothenburg and the Institute of Health…
New chance to speak up on research in Gothenburg
COLLABORATION. After last year’s successful Soapbox Science event during the International Science Festival Gothenburg, another is now coming up in April. Women and non-binary researchers in STEMM here in the city can sign up to give their presentations. Soapbox Science is a British notion inspired by Speakers’ Corner in London. Four at a time for one hour each, standing on wooden “soapboxes”, the researchers present their work. Every prepared, 15-minute…
New blood test differentiates neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease from other dementias
NEW STUDY. A new blood test that can track and follow the neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease – and exclude other dementias. That is an innovation now presented by researchers at the University of Gothenburg, together with colleagues in Italy and USA. In recent years, a lot of effort has been put on developing biomarkers in blood that could potentially help to diagnose and monitor Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Tau – one…
New podcast episode (in Swedish): First midwifery program on university level in the Congo
PODCAST. Throughout her life, Marie Berg, midwife and professor of nursing at the University of Gothenburg, has been deeply committed to women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hear her story in Akademiliv’s podcast. Together with other colleagues, Marie Berg is now establishing the first midwifery training at university level at the Université Evangélique en Afrique, in Bukavu. The fact that Marie and her husband Urban have had the…
Graduated students were celebrated with solemn ceremonies
STUDENT. The students who have now finished their studies take the step into healthcare, and begin their lifelong learning. Their graduation was celebrated with speeches, music and diplomas. In January, four courses in different programs graduated, which means that a number of new physiotherapists, doctors, nurses and dentists are ready to start their life’s journey in their healthcare profession. Friends for life One of the 121 newly graduated doctors is…
Applications and nominations for Pro-Vice-Chancellor position welcome
UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT. Interested parties can now apply for the position of Pro-Vice-Chancellor at University of Gothenburg. It is also possible to nominate candidates. The university is seeking a Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the term of office starting 1 July 2023. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor is the Vice-Chancellor’s deputy and should complement the Vice-Chancellor. With the vision A University for the World as the starting point, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor will assist the Vice-Chancellor in developing and further strengthening…
Films and webinar about AI-generated texts (in Swedish)
EDUCATION. The new AI technology can produce increasingly advanced texts. It has changed the game plan for the university’s teachers, especially when it comes to examinations. The PIL unit has produced two films (in Swedish) about the new technology and how teachers can relate to it. A webinar on the same theme will also be held on January 24 (in Swedish). In the first video, the AI service ChatGPT, which…
Ukrainian refugee hired as research assistant
WAR IN UKRAINE. Kateryna Fursa came to Sweden as a refugee from Ukraine in spring 2022. She has now been hired as a research assistant at the Institute for health and care sciences at University of Gothenburg. The arrangement benefits everyone. Kateryna can support herself and her children, and the project now has access to necessary skills. When explosions from Russia’s attacks began rumbling in Odesa in March 2022, Kateryna…
Majority of consultative assembly voted for Malin Broberg
VICE-CHANCELLOR PROCESS. The Vice-Chancellor candidate Malin Broberg received a majority of the consultative assembly votes at a meeting in Vasaparken. The result of the vote is now submitted to the University Board, which will decide on 20 January which candidate to propose to the government. The consultative assembly meeting on 11 January began with the Chair of the Board, Peter Larsson, giving a 30-minute account of the recruitment committee’s and…
Changes for examining committees as of 2023 – film from seminar available
RESEARCH EDUCATION. As of January 1, the Permanent Examining Board at Sahlgrenska Academy has ceased, which will bring about changes for a dissertation’s examining committee. A seminar describing these changes is now available as a film. Just before Christmas, Martin Lagging, Vice-Dean for Doctoral Education, and Khalil Helou, Academy Joint Director of Doctoral Studies, invited us to a seminar where they described these changes and answered questions. The seminar was…