Medi-sam Education is now developing a new calculation model for the distribution of ALF funds linked to clinical placements (VFU) for medical students at the undergraduate level. The model aims to clarify the clinical intrusion and in a transparent way describe how ALF funds for teaching are distributed to different activities. Through information on the number of students per semester as well as days in clinical activities and allocated teaching time, the total intrusion within each activity is calculated. Affected course leaders have received a pilot survey, which will form the basis for a shadow budget for 2022. The plan is that funds will be distributed based on this model for 2023. Read more on ALF Västra Götaland’s website: www.alfvastragotaland.se/utbildning/

Akademiliv congratulates Lars Palmqvist on his professorship! His research team is investigating genetic changes and the mechanisms that lead to the development of blood cancer, especially acute myeloid leukemia, which is the most common acute leukemia in adults but which can also affect children. The research is very much about identifying the cellular mechanisms that are affected by the genetic changes seen in blood cancer. The goal of the research is to eventually identify new and more goal-oriented ways of treating these diseases, what is often now called precision medicine. Lars Palmqvist has been teaching clinical chemistry but also pathology in the medical program for many years.
Website: https://www.gu.se/en/research/lars-palmqvist

From Friday 16 April, it is possible to apply for research funding in this spring’s ALF calls:

• ALF project funds 2022–2024
• ALF project funding for younger researchers 2022–2024
• ALF funds for supplementary study in connection with HTA

The application is made electronically in Researchweb, with the last application date being Tuesday June 1st.

New for this year! Signing of project agreement with BankID / Mobile BankID.

For more information about the announcements with associated guidelines and assessment criteria, see ALF Västra Götaland’s website.

The University of Gothenburg’s doctoral committee (GUDK) is now conducting a survey on how PhD students at the university have been affected by the pandemic. The ambition is to map the consequences of the pandemic and compile an overview of how covid-19 has affected doctoral students at GU. The results are to be discussed with the University management to ensure that high quality education is maintained. The survey is anonymous, and takes about 5-7 minutes to answer. Here you can answer the survey: https://samgu.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5ySQusIxya59OyW

There are still stricter restrictions in place regionally and at the university, due to the pandemic. The planning for the autumn is in full swing and there is a need for a common focus, although it is currently not possible to predict the situation when it comes to infection levels, and what restrictions will prevail when the autumn term starts. The university management will announce a new policy decision in April.

A report from the trade union ST and Sweden’s united student unions, SFS, now shows, among other things, that every second PhD student does not take a holiday and every fourth person works overtime several days a week. Just over a third of the respondents state that they have difficulty thinking about anything other than their doctoral work, and almost one in five have sleep problems several times a week. The survey is based on a survey answered by almost 1000 PhD students at eight universities, among them the University of Gothenburg. Here you can read the report “Hur mår doktoranden?” (in Swedish): https://st.org/rapport-hur-mar-doktoranden

On March 25, the Cancer Foundation opened its announcements, funding for research projects, research months for clinics, and funding for the implementation of a planning meeting. The deadline for these is April 29. For more info see here.
In 2021, the Cancer Foundation also plans to announce two additional application rounds, Fellowship in prevention research (opens 3 May, deadline 15 June) and Projects in radiation treatment research (opens 3 May, deadline 17 Aug). See more info here.

The Swedish Research Council (VR) has published a new report (available in Swedish only), which follows up previously granted grants for employment as a part-time researcher in a clinical environment. VR wanted to have it investigated whether the grant achieves the goal: to enable staff working in the health care system to combine their work with research. The report shows that the there is a positive view among heads of departments, but that there are challenges, such as difficulties in prioritizing research in health care. Here you can read the report from the Swedish Research Council (in Swedish.

A new book, written by Mikael Landén, professor of general psychiatry with a special focus on women’s mental illness at the University of Gothenburg, is about to be published. The book, “Galenskapen – en bok om vetenskap” (Madness – a book about science), provides, among other things, a historical review of medical history, from bleeding and exorcism to neuroleptics and psychotherapy. In an interview on Swedish Radio, Mikael Landén says that he hopes the book will contribute to a better understanding of what evidence really is, especially among decision-makers and healthcare professionals.
Hear the radio interview (in Swedish): https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/ny-bok-om-galenskap-och-diagnoser-genom-tiderna

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has announced that the current restrictions and recommendations due to the pandemic still applies. The announcement does not entail any changes to the restrictions that have been decided by Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg. Among other things, employees must work from home, with the exception of those with tasks that require physical presence at the workplace. Also, all teaching and examination must take place digitally and from home, unless there are special reasons. In April, the Vice-Chancellor will make a new decision of direction for the autumn term 2021.
Read further in the Staff Portal.