The blood supplies in the Region Västra Götaland need to be replenished immediately in order to be able to keep the emergency operations going and maintain preparedness for trauma and disaster situations. The most acute deficiency is O positive blood, but also A positive blood is at alarmingly low levels. You can donate blood at the regular blood centers in Nordstan and at Frölunda Torg. You may book an appointment to donate blood or become a blood donor. Bookings are made on 031-342 20 40 (phone hours weekdays 08-17 and Saturdays 09-15). It is also possible to stop by at the drop-in to see if there are times available. If you have been vaccinated recently, you need to wait for something to do with blood donation.

In consultation with infection control physician Leif Dotevall, the faculty management has decided that the graduation ceremonies that will take place shortly will be given in digital form. The decision entails an adjustment after risk assessment according to the prevailing risk assessment template, and is based on the large increase in covid infection in society. Students who now graduate from four of Sahlgrenska Academy’s programs are affected: the medical program, the dentist program, the nursing program and physiotherapist program.

In April, a call of ALF funds for clinical treatment research opens. The aim of projects should be to influence clinical practice or to answer questions raised in HTA report. Each application must relate to a clearly defined project. The grant is normally three years and the funds will be paid out in January 2023. Please note that approval from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority is required at the time of application. The call is open April 15 – June 1, 2022. The application is made electronically in Researchweb. Eligible are researchers holding a PhD and employed in Region Västra Götaland or at the University of Gothenburg. For more information, see ALF Västra Götaland’s website (Swedish only).

The communication unit at the university’s central administration has created a digital Christmas card that employees may distribute in various ways, for example in your e-mail signature during the Christmas leave. You can find the Christmas card here: https://play.gu.se/media/0_1pku9xu9

The Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office offers the course “Writing a competitive application for the Swedish Research Council starting or consolidator grant”. The course will provide concrete tips for your application, and the opportunity to work with it together with research advisors. The course runs for two full days, Friday January 14, and Tuesday January 18. Requirements for participation are that you have a draft of your application. Registration and information: research.support@sahlgrenska.gu.se.

 

 

A bug that involves a type of vulnerability has been detected in the Apache Log4j software, which is used in many services and applications worldwide, including the university. The vulnerability creates an opportunity for hackers to compromise the IT systems that use the software. Right now, the IT unit is scanning computers and systems that are affected by the vulnerability in order to update and prevent intrusions. This means that a number of servers, clients and applications may be temporarily unavailable. At present, no signs of intrusion have been detected. More information about the work of updating applications and servers is gathered at driftinfo.gu.se.

The Association Vetenskap & Allmänhet‘s annual survey VA-Barometern shows a record level of Swedes’ confidence in researchers at universities and colleges. Confidence has long been high and stable, but those who answer that they have a great deal of confidence have increased in recent years, and are this year greater than ever before. Just under one in four (23 per cent) aged 16–29 answer that they want to work as researchers in the future. Medicine is the research area that most people are interested in.

Athletes at the elite level at Riksuniversitetet Göteborg (RIU; ‘National University Gothenburg’) have the opportunity to combine their sports with higher studies in order to be able to prepare for life after their sports career. To be able to offer best guidance, a group of study counselors with a special focus on dual careers has been formed at the University of Gothenburg. The purpose of the group is to share knowledge and to develop working methods that study counselors can use in conversations with students who combine higher education with a sports career. At present, there are six faculties represented in the group, including Fereshteh Erfan, study advisor at Sahlgrenska Academy.

It was Leo Stockfelt won Pontus Wasling’s new book ‘Knaster’ in Akademiliv’s raffle. Congratulations! You will receive the book in the mail.