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University of Bergen
Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO

Research groups

Across the different core programs, several areas of research and specific projects have been initiated at CCBIO, focusing on mechanisms of tumor-microenvironment interactions and tumor progress, discovery and validation of tumor biomarkers, and clinical studies.

A historic photo: CCBIO's first principal investigators, from the start in 2013. From the left: Bjørn Tore Gjertsen, James B. Lorens, Karl H. Kalland, Anne Chr. Johannessen, Lars A. Akslen, Rolf K. Reed, Helga B. Salvesen†, Oddbjørn Straume, Donald Gullberg.
Photo:
Tove Lise Mossestad

Main content

CCBIO has 4 research teams and programs:

Team 1: Mechanisms of Tumor-Microenvironment Interactions

The aim of this program is to examine how tumor cells interact with the surrounding and supporting microenvironment with different cell types such as fibroblasts, immune cells, vascular cells and stem cells embedded in the complex extracellular matrix. This team consists of the Principal Investigators McCormack, Kalland and Gullberg (photo) and their groups.

The members of team 1 standing in the Bergen Natural History Museum.
Photo:
CCBIO/Ingvild Festervoll Melien

Team 2: Discovery of Cancer Biomarkers

The aim of this program is to explore and validate different classes of biomarkers in tissue samples from human patient cohorts and clinical trials material. Currently, the investigators take advantage of the recently established technology of IMC (imaging mass cytometry) by which panels of multiple biomarkers are simultaneously linked to specific tissue compartments in parallel with functional interrogation. The studies also map associations with clinico-pathologic phenotypes as well as prognostic and potentially predictive properties. This team consists of the Principal Investigators Akslen (CCBIO director) and Lorens and their groups, and the Associate Investigators Costea, Krakstad, Wik, Strell and Engelsen (Lorens, Strell and Engelsen not present in the photo).

Members of team 2 in the Bergen Natural History Museum.
Photo:
CCBIO/Ingvild Festervoll Melien

Team 3: Clinical Applications and Trial Studies

The aim of this program is to perform clinical trials with associated biomarker studies, and to promote novel findings on markers and treatment targets for clinical implementation and change of practice. This team consists of the Principal Investigators Straume, Gjertsen (CCBIO co-director) and Associate Investigator Bjørge.

The team 3 members standing in the Bergen Natural History Museum.
Photo:
CCBIO/Ingvild Festervoll Melien

Team 4: Health Ethics, Prioritization and Economics

  • CCBIO PI Roger Strand (ethics)   PubMed publications
  • CCBIO Associate Investigator John Cairns (health economics)
  • CCBIO Associate Investigator Ole Frithjof Norheim (prioritization)

The aim of this program is to perform studies on the ethics, economics and priority challenges of the biomarker field, to contribute towards improved education of CCBIO scientists in this dimension of their work, and to ultimately influence public debate and policy making in the expanding area of biomarkers and targeted therapy. This team consists of Principal Investigator Strand, as well as Associate Investigators Norheim and Cairns.

The members of team 4 standing in the Bergen Natural History Museum.
Photo:
CCBIO/Ingvild Festervoll Melien

In addition, Bioinformatics is an important intersecting research area at CCBIO:

20.10.2023