Elite diabetes scientist to the University of Bergen
Diabetes researcher Valeriya Lyssenko will join the University of Bergen. Her main goal is creating new treatments for diabetes patients.
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“Joining the University of Bergen (UiB) gives me unique possibilities and access to excellent resources, The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study being one example,” says Valeriya Lyssenko.
Lyssenko has participated in world-leading research environments with a special focus on diabetes, and has several strong publications on her résumé, both as co-author and first author. She is an expert on genetics and research of multifactorial polygenic diseases.
Lyssenko is looking to find flaws in several genes. Early intervention in treatment of diabetes is key, as is researching diabetes in a family perspective.
“I want to discover new treatments for diabetes, for patients of all ages. Setting big goals is important,” Lyssenko says.
A perfect fit
“Lyssenko’s approach is one we would like to apply in our research centre as well, ”says Pål Rasmus Njølstad, professor at the Department of clinical science and KG Jebsen Centre for Diabetes Research at UiB.
Njølstad is a holder of an ERC Advanced Grant, which helps to facilitate the important research at the centre. ERC Advanced Grants are given to established researchers of world class, by the European Research Council.
“Lyssenko is a perfect fit for the KG Jebsen Centre,” Njølstad says.
Strengthening research collaborations
Lyssenko will have an important role in the KG Jebsen Centre, and is currently planning laboratory facilities she will need in her research.
Njølstad has previously met Lyssenko at Lund University in Sweden, where she has been part of Lund University Diabetes Centre, described by Njølstad as one of the best of its kind in the world.
“I think our cooperation with Lund University will be strengthened by Lyssenko joining UiB,” says Njølstad.
Lyssenko is currently involved in projects in both Sweden and Denmark, as well as her planned cooperation with the KG Jebsen Centre.
The centre’s main goal is to find a cure for diabetes.
“As a clinician, I want to give something back to my patients. My hope for the future is that everyone will have a treatment suited for them,” says Njølstad.
Calling and financing
- Calling, or kalling in Norwegian, is a type of appointment to academic posts in Norway, without any prior advertising of the post.
- This type of appointment is made pursuant to section 6-3 (4) of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, which stipulates that “When special grounds so indicate, the board may itself make academic appointments without prior advertisement of the vacancy. Such appointments may not be made if more than one member of the board objects to this.”
- The Norwegian parliament, Stortinget, granted the University of Bergen an extra NOK 13.7 million for 2015.This allocation is to be used to create a strong research environment.
- An equivalent amount will be made available by the Bergen Research Foundation (BFS) is supporting the programme with a similar amount, NOK 13.7 for 2015.
- In total the Toppforsk programme, under which the Valeriya Lyssenko appointment has been made, will be funded to the amount of NOK 137 million over a five-year period. This amount will be funded half by the government and half by BFS.
