Our vision is to research the pathogenesis of respiratory disease to find targets for future therapy for our patients with chronic lung disease.
Closely integrated with the Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, the Bergen Respiratory Research Group conducts currently conducts clinical and translational research on asthma, COPD, lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, obstructive sleep apnea, tuberculosis, pneumothorax, covid-19, empyema, inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy. Members of the research group also contribute in several clinical trials the Department of Thoracic Medicine participate in, on asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease and lung cancer. The Department of Thoracic Medicine administres the Norwegian Registry for Long Term Mechanical Ventilation (LTMV), as well as local registries on OSA and severe astma.
Although the research group has migrated its interests from mainly focusing on obstructive lung diseases in the general population, to studies on all aspects of clinical lung disease, it has kept its tradition for sound epidemiological study design and educating its members in advanced statistical analyses.
A major research interest the last 10 years has been the role of the oral and respiratory microbiome in chronic lung disease. Researcher Randi Bertelsen and her BRuSH group are focusing on the role of the oral microbiome in lung health. Professor and group leader Tomas Eagan and his co-workers have focused on the lower respiratory microbiome in the MicroCOPD, MicroILD and the MicroLC studies.
The research group has many collaborators, and several researchers who contribute also in other research groups. Professor Bjørn Bjorvatn conducts leading research on sleep related disorders, including research on obstructive sleep apnea together with the BRRG. Professor Tehmina Mustafa with her Tuberculosis Research Group conducts part of her research at and with the Department of Thoracic Medicine. The research unit for health surveys led by Professor Francisco Real aids researchers at the University of Bergen and Haukeland University Hospital conducting observational studies on a diverse number of health issues, including the ECHRS IV by Professor Cecilie Svanes' greeness, air pollution and health research group.
The Bergen Respiratory Research Group traces its historic roots to the epidemiological studies initiated by now Professor Emeritus Amund Gulsvik.
Since the 1980s, several large general population studies were performed in Bergen and Hordaland, with numerous research papers and PhDs produced.