This article originally appeared on the NCMM website:  https://www.med.uio.no/ncmm/english/news-and-events/news/2022/new-centre-of-excellence-immunotherapy.html

NCMM congratulates Associate Investigators Prof Johanna Olweus and Prof Karl-Johan Malmberg on receiving a Centre of Excellence. The Centre of Excellence scheme gives Norway’s best researchers the opportunity to organise their research activities in centres that seek to achieve ambitious scientific objectives through collaboration. The research conducted at the centres must be innovative and have major potential to generate ground-breaking results that advance the international research frontier.

Immunotherapy has been a huge breakthrough in cancer treatment over the last decade. However, it is currently only effective against a small number of cancer types.The new centre, Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (PRIMA), will focus on personalized immunotherapy and explore how to adapt even better immunotherapy cancer treatments. Emma Haapaniemi is part of the core group of researchers that will be working with Prof Olweus and Prof Malmberg on developing immunotherapy treatments against several types of cancer that could benefit even more patients than before.

Jens-Petter Berg, the Pro-Dean for Research from the Medical Faculty, is excited about the potential of this research:

 – The technique they are developing is not only important for cancer, but also for autoimmune diseases and rare, congenital diseases. There is hope for developing better treatment for these.