National focus on cardiovascular research

Charlotte Björk Ingul, MD, PhD

Research coordinator UNIKARD

National group for medical and health-related research (NSG)

Strategical advisory group with following members: • The universities• Regional health regions • Norwegian Directorate of Health• Norwegian Institute of Public Health • Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services • Norwegian research council• University Colleges og user organistations• The Ministry of Health and Care Services and Minister of Research and

Higher Education have observatory status.

NSG was established in 2005. Samarbeidsorganet for Helse Midt-Norge RHF - NTNU has been in charge after Helse Sør-Øst 2010. Dean Stig Slørdahl, The medical faculty, NTNU, is leader for NSG.

NSG – three areas of priority

• UNIKARD: National research project run by National group for medical and health-related research (NSG)

• Three national priorities: • UNIKARD• Neuro North• Severe mental illness

Network and cooperation

• A priority area under NSG involves:– Organized as network of researchers within a topic– Cooperation across the regions, based on national

consensus– Cooperating about:

• Joint strategy • Utilisation of infrastructure • Implementation of research projects • Joint publishing • Professional and strategic meetings and conferences

Purposes

• UNIKARD: – Norwegian cardiovascular research should be

among the leading research environment worldwide

– Developing and follow up an overall strategy for heart and cardiovascular research in Norway

– Field of work: The total cardiovascular area and chain of research from basic research to clinical results

UNIKARD

• Improved cardiovascular research in Norway• Improved research organization • Increased cooperation nationally and

internationally• Emphasise on translational research

UNIKARD established

• NRC evaluation of clinical research in Norway: – Weaknesses were identified:

• The need for greater focus on national and international cooperation

• The need for stronger research management• The need for overall objectives and strategies for

research• Research built around individuals should give way in

favor of larger groups• Equipment and techniques should be available as

common resources

UNIKARD established

• Vice Deans for Research initiated a national focus on heart- and cardiovascular research (2004)

• Working committee provided recommendations for UNIKARD (2005)

UNIKARD

• Improved cardiovascular research in Norway• Improved research organization • Increased cooperation nationally and

internationally• Emphasise on translational research

UNIKARD main emphasis

– Epidemiological research, research registry– Heart failure– Thoracic- and vascular surgery

Organization UNIKARDNSG

NSG

Academic advisory groupAcademic advisory group

Department of coordinating

research environmet, NTNU v/ISB,

Øyvind Ellingsen

Department of coordinating

research environmet, NTNU v/ISB,

Øyvind Ellingsen

Research coordinator

Charlotte Björk Ingul

Research coordinator

Charlotte Björk Ingul

Responsible samarbeidsorgan

Helse Midt-Norge,

NTNU v/Stig Slørdahl

Responsible samarbeidsorgan

Helse Midt-Norge,

NTNU v/Stig Slørdahl

Academic advisory group

– Ole. M. Sejersted, chairman (UiO and South-eastern Norway Regional Health Authority (RHA)

– Rune Wiseth (NTNU and Central Norway RHA )– Maja-Lisa Løchen (UiTø and Northern Norway RHA)– Eva Gerdts (UiB and Western Norway RHA)– Lars Gullestad (UiO and South-eastern Norway RHA)– Signe Bang (The Research Council of Norway)– Grethe Tell (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)– Cecilie Risøe (Nasjonalforeningen, Hjerte-karrådet)– Truls Myrmæl (UiTø and Northern Norway RHA)

Members of the working committee for NSG

• Gudmund Marhaug, St Olav HF (leader)• Baard-Christian Schem, Helse Vest RHF• Sigbjørn Fossum, UiO• John-Bjarne Hansen, UiTø• Mari Nes, NRC• Camilla Stoltenberg, FHI• Monica Nortvedt, Høgskolen i Bergen

BudgetTotalt yearly budget is 3 mill NOK for the following period 1.9.2010 – 31.8.2015:

Norwegian research councilResearcher/coordinator (inkl 25 % overhead) 1 000 000 Operating budget UNIKARD 500 000Yearly allowance 1 500 000

Samarbeidsorganet Central Norway RHAForskningsmidler coordinator 350 000Postdoctor 800 000UNIKARD secretary 50 % 350 000Yearly allowance 1 500 000

Finances

• Projects for research must apply for own funding, for example from : – Samarbeidsorganene– The Research Council of Norway– The Health Autorities– EU– Voluntary organizations– Legathåndboka– Norwegian Health Association – Norwegian Institute of Public Health

UNIKARD• National area of priority support for multi-regional

cooperation: – NRC supports multi-regional cooperation project which includes at

least three health regions, and the applicants must be researchers affiliated NSGs member institutions.The projects must be based on the following fundamental factors:

• Joint financing• Control of own funds• Funding of own participation• Ownership and influence over process and results

– Economic:• Each institution contributes to each collaborative project with 1 million

NOK for 3 years• NFR contributes an additional 20 % of the project's total budget

UNIKARD can contribute with

– Network: National and international– Organize meetings

research, professional and network

– Overview of sources of funding– Assistance with writing applications for funding– Administrative support

UNIKARD administration

• Research coordinator, Charlotte Björk Ingul (50% administration, 50% research)

• Secretary, Mari Dyrset (50%)

• 2 postdoc– 100 % 3 years Arnt Erik Tjønna (exercise physiologist, ISB)– 50 % 4 years Ane Dale (cardiologist, ISB)

Success criteria

• Goals and criteria for success in a perspective of 5 years– Increased political understanding: Measured in terms of

economic support to the research area– Publications in highly ranked journals: The goal is that at

least one group will have exellent status, and that several research environment in Norway are of international standard

– Increased number of projects in the field of translational character

– Increased number of scientists at all levels within the field of heart- and cardiac research

www.unikard.org