Research interests
Chronic infections and immunity
Persisting infections trigger a variety chronic inflammatory states as is the case for rheumatic disorders. The last couple of decades, immune mechanisms have been characterized that inhibit effective immune responses specific to a antigens from the persisting microbe.
Our research group has focused on two dominant but quite different pandemic infections, namely HIV infection and tuberculosis. Understanding the balance between effective and inhibitory signals for effective immunity or therapeutic vaccines is key for new treatment options.
Specific inhibition of immune responses to the microbe is complex, hard to measure in a standardized way and difficult to translate into their relevance in vivo. Using in vitro protocols to measure antigen-specific immune inhibition, we found for example huge differences in HIV-specific response patterns and found that they helped to predict responses to a therapeutic HIV p24 vaccine candidate.
While the overall prognosis of HIV infection is now amazingly improved by antiretroviral therapy, our group now focus on better understanding and therapeutic approaches for effectively treated patients who still maintain immunopathological “scars” that is linked to higher risks of complications.
Vaccine research on influenza
As partner in a K.H. Jebsen centre of excellence for influenza vaccine research, we now prepare for a phase I clinical study of a pandemic influenza DNA vaccine using the UiO-developed Vaccibody platform, in collaboration with Gunnveig Grødeland, Institute of Immunology.
Sepsis – hyperacute infection
This life-threatening infection is substantially different mechanistically from chronic infections. Sepsis is still poorly understood with treatment alternatives similar to 30-40 years ago. Our hypothesis is that sepsis, crudely defined, is in reality several different pathophysiological endotypes.
Our research group now conducts the ambitious SEPSOMICS study, starting inclusion, clinical characteristics and follow-up as well as advanced biobanking starting within 15 minutes at arrival to the Emergency dept. on patients with suspected sepsis.
A multiomic approach both for the host response and the microbial side is possible by the clinical team (Aleksander R. Holten and Christian Prebensen) and bioinformatic expertise (profs. Manuela Zucknick og Jukka Corander) with international collaboration with world-leading investigators profs. Kenneth Baillie, UK og Tom van der Poll, The Netherlands.
Background
- 2019 - to date - Head of Institute, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
- 2013 - 2018 - Head, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital
- 2010 - 2013 - Division Head of Research, Oslo University Hospital
- 2007 - Professor of Medicine in Infectious Diseases
- From 2002 - Established immunology research lab within the clinical department
- 2000 - Senior consultant at Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital
- Board certified specialist in Internal medicine and Infectious Diseases. Four years of training in Microbiology.
- 1989 - DMSc in Immunology, Medicine at UiO, later postdoc assignments
- 1982 - MD at University of Oslo