Research centre

Centre for Cancer Biomarkers - ELSA research

Researchers at SVT are leading the research group on ELSA (Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of new technology) at the Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO) at UiB.

Main content

Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO) is a Centre of Excellence at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen.
The center is working on new cancer biomarkers and targeted therapy, and has particular focus on mechanisms that show how cancer cells are affected by the microenvironment in the tumors, and what significance this has for cancer proliferation and poor prognosis.

CCBIO’s research group on ELSA (Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of new technology) is led by a SVT team consisting of professor Roger Strand and researcher Anne Blanchard.

CCBIO PhD course

Since 2015, Blanchard and Strand have taught the PhD course CCBIO903 - Cancer Research - Ethical, Economic and Social Aspects. It has provided young cancer researchers with an opportunity to learn about and think through the many complex issues surrounding the developments in cancer research and cancer care.

In April 2018, their work with this course was presented at the 2nd HEIRRI conference in Vienna. The University of Bergen (and specifically the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities) was a partner of HEIRRI, "Higher Education Institutions and Responsible Research and Innovation", a 3-year Horizon 2020 project that developed didactic principles and materials for teaching RRI. In Blanchard and Strand's poster contribution, they highlighted the underlying double purpose of CCBIO903: To educate tomorrow's leaders in cancer research and cancer care, but in this way also transform the research culture and practice of CCBIO towards RRI. See the poster from the conference to the right.

More about SVT's CCBIO work

Read more about ELSA at CCBIO.
Read the book Precision Oncology and Cancer Biomarkers: Issues at Stake and Matters of Concern (2022), edited by Blanchard and Strand. The book is a result of their work in CCBIO and is open access.
Blanchard and Strand have previously published the book Cancer Biomarkers: Ethics, Economics and Society (2017) based on their CCBIO work.

Centre duration

2013-2023

Funding

Research Council of Norway (RCN) - Centre of Excellence scheme

Website

https://www.uib.no/en/ccbio

Poster from the HEIRRI conference in 2018.

Photo:

CCBIO

Tilknyttet innhold

Integrating ELSA into CCBIO

CCBIO’s ELSA team is a dedicated research group on the ethical, legal and social aspects of cancer biomarkers. The group’s model is that of “integrated ELSA”, namely to build ELSA awareness and capacity throughout the CCBIO by interaction both in the scientific venues and the governance bodies of...

Blackboard with crossword spelling keyword Excellence

What is Scientific Excellence?

Welcome to a CCBIO Special Seminar September 19th with the title "What is Scientific Excellence".

The Importance of Mentoring for Career Development

Save the date for a CCBIO Special Seminar October 3rd with the title "The Importance of Mentoring for Career Development".

The book cover of "Cancer Biomarkers: Ethics, Economics and Society"

First CCBIO book release

The ethics, economics and ELSA research groups of CCBIO are coordinating their research activities ever more. In April they published their first joint book volume "Cancer Biomarkers: Ethics, Economics and Society".

pop art illustration of people in dialogue, not agreeing.

The Science-Society Interface Discussed at FEBS Meeting in Barcelona

How do we achieve a real dialogue between Science and Society? What are scientists' responsibilities in this regard? These questions were discussed at a Round Table event 26 October 2017 at the "FEBS3+" conference in Barcelona, gathering biochemists and life scientists from France, Portugal and Spain.

Photocollage of photos relevant to ethics and prioritisation in the health service.

CCBIO903 course May-June 2017

CCBIO903 Cancer Research: Ethical, economical and societal aspects focuses on ethical, economical and societal aspects of cancer and cancer research and aims to equip PhD candidates with tools for systematic reflection on their own and related research as well as methods for assessing the cost...

Plenary discussion Sheila Jasanoff, Silvio Funtowicz and Alfred Nordmann. Chair: Roger Strand

Building the world we want to live in

Caroline Engen is a CCBIO PhD candidate who presented at the S.Net conference in Bergen. Her lecture was titled "Why Targeted Therapy May Not Work", and was part of the CCBIO session "The Transition from a Blockbuster Model to Personalised Cancer Therapy". We asked Caroline to walk us through a...

The transition from a blockbuster to personalised cancer therapy

CCBIO organized a special session with focus on the transition from a blockbuster to personalised cancer therapy at the S.Net conference recently held in Bergen.

The different speakers at the S.Net pre-conference event October 11th.

Reflections on ethics and social aspects in cancer research

11th October, CCBIO hosted a pre-conference event on the Ethical and Social Aspects of Cancer Research as part of the S.Net conference, of the Society for the Study of New and Emerging Technologies.

Image of young woman scientist in goggles against futuristic looking media screen.

Visit to the Initiative for the Humanistic Study of Innovation at Indiana University

14-15 January 2016, Roger Strand (SVT and CCBIO) took part in two events organized by the Initiative for the Humanistic Study of Innovation at Indiana University in Bloomington, US.

Roadsign Ethics in collage with biotehnology photo

UiB report on bioethics to be presented by the Council of Europe

The Council of Europe, with its 47 member states, has for years been involved in international efforts for human rights and bioethics. In particular, it is known for the so-called Oviedo Convention that outlines ethical principles for biomedicine.

CCBIO focuses on Ethics and Prioritization in new PhD course

The CCBIO Research School's new PhD course on the Ethical, Economic and Social Aspects of Cancer Research, CCBIO 903, is open for enlistment.

Signpost pointing towards Respect, Ethics, Honesty, Integrity and Society, on a background of a microscope picture of cancer cells.

S.Net Pre-Conference Event: Ethical and Social Aspects of Cancer Research

11 October at the BB-Building there will be an open CCBIO Special Seminar on Ethical and Social Aspects of Cancer Research. The event is open for all. We hope to achieve lively discussions between cancer researchers, doctors, students, ethicists, philosophers, social scientists, patients and citizens!

23.02.2024