NEW STUDY Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, have found a microRNA that regulates functions in a group of immune cells. The study, which was recently published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, shows the great importance of microRNAs in the immune system. Protection against infections in humans is dependent on proper regulation of the immune system. When the regulation of the immune system fails, the immune…
Low physical capacity second only to smoking as highest death risk
NEW STUDY. A 45 year study in middle-aged men, at Sahlgrenska Academy, has shown that the impact of low physical capacity on risk of death is second only to smoking. The research is published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. “The benefits of being physically active over a lifetime are clear,” said lead author Dr Per Ladenvall, a researcher in the Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy…
Calcium Supplements Linked to Dementia Risk in Women
NEW STUDY. A new study from the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, shows that calcium supplements may be associated with an increased risk of dementia in older women who have had a stroke or other signs of cerebrovascular disease. The research is published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Cerebrovascular disease is a group of disorders that affect blood flow in the brain. These diseases, including…
Promising drug for the most serious complications in premature children
CLINICAL TRIAL. A new drug based on research at the University of Gothenburg seems to be able to prevent both stroke and severe lung disease in children born extremely prematurely. In a smaller first study in which the drug was administered to premature children, the risk of these complications was cut in half. “This is the first time that a medical intervention was found to have such a great effect…
Research colleagues training hard for the Swimrun World Championships – Web TV
SPORTS. Maria Frånlund and Ralph Peeker are Urologist colleagues at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and also research colleagues at the University of Gothenburg. They are also partners in Swimrun – an extreme sport that combines swimming in open water with long-distance running on land. Right now, Maria and Ralph are training hard for the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Utö in the Stockholm archipelago. The competition is the world championships of Swimrun, with 750…
GU researchers : “General TBE vaccination should be introduced”
PUBLIC DEBATE. It is time to consider to subsidize vaccinations against TBE, and the cost effectiveness of introducing TBE vaccine in the national vaccination program should be investigated. This is stated by several researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy and School of Business, Economics and Law in an article in Läkartidningen. The article, published on August 1, was written by Professor Tomas Bergström and Associate Professor Peter Norberg, at the Department of…
Birgit Thilander has passed away
Professor emerita Birgit Thilander has died at the age of 92. She was active in research until the very end. Birgit Thilander received her professorship in orthodontics in 1969, and was the first female professor at both the Institute and within dentistry in Sweden. During her research career Birgit Thilander produced more than 200 original articles. Several of these have since been rewarded with prestigious awards. In her resesearch she was mainly driven by her…
The colon is defended from bacteria by a self-sacrificing sentinel cell
A lone Sentinel cell monitors and coordinates the defense of the entrance to the colon’s most sensitive parts. The Sentinel cell detects nearby bacteria and signals to a line of defensive cells to send out a cascade of mucus to push away the invaders. As a final self-sacrificing action the cell commits suicide and ejects itself into the intestinal lumen. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, have discovered…
GPCC initiates standardization work for patient participation in healthcare
RESEARCH THAT IMPACTS. This fall, the Swedish Standards Institute (SIS) will launch a new European standardization secretariat to develop clear guidelines for patient participation in person-centered care, following an initiative from the Centre for Person-Centred Care, at the University of Gothenburg – GPCC. At the same time, it is also clear that the GPPC is extended for another six years. There is an enormous need for a common viewpoint on…
New information on animal research on the university web
RESEARCH COMMUNICATION. University of Gothenburg has now published a lot more information on animal research on its website. The reader will meet some of the scientists who use animals in their research at the university, and the page provides answers to most of the public’s questions. So far, the webpage is only available in Swedish, but an English version is underway. If you receive questions about animal research, feel free…
No admissions to three specialist nursing programs at the University of Gothenburg this fall
EDUCATION. The University of Gothenburg has lost its degree awarding powers for the specialist nursing programs specializing in surgery, oncology and psychiatric care, since The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) determined that there were deficiencies in educational quality. The result does not affect current students, however, it means that fall admissions are stopped. Work on correcting the noted deficiencies is already underway, and targets the university regaining its degree awarding…
University of Gothenburg will be present in Almedalen
INTERACTION. University of Gothenburg attends the political week in Almedalen to show commitment and take responsibility for the development of society. Research that in various ways contribute to new approaches and solutions to national and international problems are presented, and the University raise and discuss education and research issues. All seminars organized by the University of Gothenburg will be live streamed online, making them available to all intrested parties. The…
Lena Oxelmark new Head of Department for Clinical Training Centre (KTC)
NEW MISSION. In order to develop its operations and tie it closer to teachers, programs and program managers, the Institute of Health and Care Sciences has appointed a Head of Department for the Clinical Training Center (KTC). It’s Lena Oxelmark, who is a senior lecturer at the institute combined with the position as a nurse at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, who has management experience from the healthcare sector. Currently, Lena Oxelmark…
VR to evaluate the quality of clinical research
ALF FUNDS. The government has commissioned the Swedish Research Council to evaluate the quality of clinical research in the seven universities counties – an evaluation that will affect the distribution of resources within the ALF-system. The evaluation will mainly be based on bibliometric data and on peer review of scientific publications. The result of the evaluation shall form part of the basis for the allocation of funds under the ALF…
A great day for Swedish research – Max IV inaugurated
INFRASTRUCTURE. On June 21, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and H. M. the King inaugurated the synchrotron facility MAX IV in Lund. The synchrotron facility has the most brilliant X-ray light in the world, which allows one to study molecules and materials at atomic level, even better than before. More than 2000 scientists from around the world annually are expected to conduct experiments in the lab. The Swedish Research Council is…
What happened after the press release?
RESEARCH COMMUNICATION. According to our own researchers, a press release often leads to far more than just “15 minutes of fame” in the media buzz. For example, new research collaborations, easier ability to get funding and speaking engagement offers. Such were the results of a survey that was submitted to all researchers and doctoral students that had collaborated in a press release from Sahlgrenska Academy, in 2015. The survey was…
Louise Adermark is one of nine Gothenburg researchers who received grants from the Brain Foundation
GRANTS. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have shown that repeated use of nicotine leads to changes in the neural circuitry of the brain that remain even several months after quitting smoking. Now Louise Adermark, one of the nine Gothenburg researchers who is now receiving support from the Brain Foundation, hopes to find a completely new type of treatment to reduce the risk of relapse of nicotine addiction. Nine researchers…
How much you weigh as a teenager is linked to your risk of heart failure in early middle age
NEW STUDY. Research that followed more than 1.6 million Swedish men from adolescence onwards between 1968 and 2005 has shown that those who were overweight as teenagers were more likely to develop heart failure in early middle age. Surprisingly, the increased risk of heart failure was found in men who were within the normal body weight range (a body mass index of 18.5 to 25) in adolescence, with an increased…
Higher doses of antidepressants are associated with better treatment response
NEW STUDY. In contrast to what has previously been claimed, low doses of antidepressants are clearly less effective than higher ones. This is the principal finding of a new study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The authors also suggest that antidepressants, when used at an optimal dose, are considerably more effective than usually assumed. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are antidepressants influencing the…
Future Faculty: Young researchers, where are you?
YOUNG RESEARCHERS. You have received your PhD but you don’t have a permanent position as a researcher yet – join Future Faculty. It is completely free and there are no requirements for membership, and at the same time Future Faculty can do a lot for you and other young researchers. Future Faculty has been at Sahlgrenska Academy since 2006. Although the organization has approximately 250 members, they know there are…