The Tore Midtvedt Research Unit for Experimental Gnotobiology at the Department of Comparative Medicine (KPM), Rikshospitalet, was originally established in 2017. The facility has now undergone a major upgrade, and on December 11, 2025, the official opening of Experimental Gnotobiology 2.0 took place. The opening was conducted by Geir Teigstad, Director of Oslo Hospital Services.
What is gnotobiology?
Gnotobiology, meaning “known life” or “known microbiology,” is a field of research focused on understanding how defined microbial communities interact with their host.
It allows researchers to precisely control and manipulate the presence of microorganisms, ranging from animals with a complex but undefined microbiota to completely germ-free animals, or animals colonized with one or a few known microbial species.
By using germ-free and selectively colonized mouse models, gnotobiology provides powerful tools to uncover how the gut microbiota influences normal biological processes as well as the development of disease.
The new facility significantly reduces risk of contamination
Experiments involving gnotobiotic mice is resource-intensive and always involves a certain risk of contamination. With the upgraded Experimental Gnotobiology 2.0 unit, this risk is significantly reduced.
The new facility provides researchers with access to advanced technology and specialized expertise to investigate how the microbiota influences health and disease using gnotobiotic mouse models.
Importance for liver and bile duct disease research
Photo: UiO
“We as researchers at the Department of Internal Medicine Research and the Norwegian PSC Research Center are extremely pleased with the collaboration with Comparative Medicine and the enthusiasm the department has shown in establishing and further developing gnotobiotic research. The new unit is crucial for studying how gut bacteria actually influence biology in general, and in particular diseases of the bile ducts, which are our main focus”, Professor Johannes Roksund Hov says and adds:
“I am very pleased that Petra Hanzely, who is exceptionally talented and has played a central role in this work in my group, now has the opportunity to work with gnotobiotic research on a permanent basis.”.
Professor Hov has received two major grants from the European Research Council to study the role of gut bacteria in the development of severe liver diseases and has a well-established collaboration with the gnotobiotic unit.
Researchers are encouraged to get in touch
The Department of Comparative Medicine (KPM) aims to support research and encourages interested researchers to contact the unit to discuss practical arrangements. KPM offers expertise and services that enable new users to carry out projects even if they do not have prior experience or access to specialized equipment.
Although all hands-on handling and experiments involving gnotobiotic mice are performed by KPM personnel with specialized expertise, project planning and execution are carried out in close collaboration with the researchers.
KPM also offers support with grant applications and project implementation.
“Please contact us if you would like to explore the possibilities,” encourages Henrik Rasmussen, the Head of department.
Contact:
Department of Comparative Medicine – Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet
Scientific lead:
Gnotobiotic Unit: Petra Hanzely, PhD
Email: petra.hanzely@medisin.uio.no
Cell phone: 968 40 217
Head of Department:
KPM OUS: Henrik Rasmussen, DVM, PhD
Email: henrra@ous-hf.no
Cell phone: 986 62 323