The Research Prizes 2024 are awarded to Marieke Kuijjer (NCMM) for outstanding research in cancer and Peder Langeland Myhre (Klinmed) for outstanding research in cardiovascular diseases. Each prize amounts to one million kroner and will be awarded in Gamle festsal on 29 October.
The Blix Family Fund for the Promotion of Medical Research awards prizes to young researchers under 45 years old in the fields of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In celebration of the foundation's 40th anniversary, they have decided to award two prizes this year.
Cardiology research prize
Professor Peder Langeland Myhre receives the cardiology research prize.
Only seven years after his doctoral thesis, he became a professor at the Institute of Clinical Medicine. Myhre is one of five work package leaders at the K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cardiac Biomarkers.
The young professor researches clinical heart failure, particularly cardiovascular biomarkers. The use of biomarkers enables early detection of cardiovascular diseases, often before symptoms appear. They help identify individuals at high risk of heart problems so that preventive measures can be implemented. Myhre's research has uncovered significant gender and ethnicity differences. Using proteomics, he has identified promising biomarkers for new treatment methods.
In addition to his primary focus on heart failure, his research has contributed to two clinically significant findings, one about Omega-3 supplements and another about the heart impact of COVID-19.
Myhre was the first author of a major study that found that Omega-3 supplements do not have a heart-protective effect after a heart attack, leading to the current understanding that Omega-3 does not prevent heart disease.
During the pandemic, Myhre was quick to plan and conduct several internationally high-profile studies related to the heart impact of COVID-19, both in the acute phase and long-term consequences. The main finding from the study is that COVID-19 likely does not affect the heart more than comparable viruses.
Parallel to fewer hospitalisations for cardiovascular diseases, a decline in flu cases was observed in Norway. The study that Myhre was part of linked this observation.
The award committee highlights his dedication, his impressive list of publications, and his efforts that, despite his young age, make him an outstanding researcher in cardiovascular medicine.
Cancer research prize
Group Leader Marieke Kuijjer receives the cancer research prize for outstanding research that contributes to the understanding and combat of cancer through the integration of computational methods and cancer biology.
The aim of Kuijjer's research is to illuminate the molecular mechanisms that drive cancer development and heterogeneity. She is a pioneer in developing methods to model gene regulatory networks in individual patients. Her interdisciplinary approach provides new insights and innovative solutions in cancer research.
One of her significant contributions has been developing methods to understand tissue-specific gene regulation, allowing us to see how cancer arises and develops in different types of tissue. This can help find more targeted treatment methods by identifying molecular targets that can be attacked with drugs.
Kuijjer leads a research group at NCMM, the Kuijjer Group. Her group is interdisciplinary and combines elements of computer science, network science, and biomolecular research.
One of her significant contributions has been developing methods to understand tissue-specific gene regulation, allowing us to see how cancer arises and develops in different types of tissue. This can help find more targeted treatment methods by identifying molecular targets that can be attacked with drugs.
She has published numerous groundbreaking studies, including works that identify key drivers in different types of cancer, such as glioblastoma (one of the most aggressive and malignant types of brain cancer), colorectal cancer (cancer that begins in the colon or rectum), and leiomyosarcoma (a rare type of cancer arising from smooth muscle cells found in various parts of the body’s soft tissues, including the uterus, gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, and skin).
Fundamentally, Dr Kuijjer's work helps us understand the complex biological networks in cancer, enabling the development of better, more individualised treatment methods.
Faculty leadership congratulates
Dean of Research Jan G. Bjålie and Dean Hanne Flinstad Harbo warmly congratulate these two skilled young researchers on their well-deserved prizes. Langeland has already contributed to an increased understanding of heart failure and optimised treatment. Kuijjer is a pioneer in developing computational methods to model gene regulatory networks in individual patients. It will be exciting to follow this research further. Congratulations!