–?We are delighted to be recognised as an “excellent” group due to our high publication rate and the quality of our research. This gives us the inspiration to carry on our work, says Christine Henriksen, professor and section leader for Clinical Nutrition.
At the Section for Clinical Nutrition at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, the University of Oslo, they carry out research on how diet can prevent chronic diseases and be used in treatments. A panel assembled by the Research Council of Norway (NFR) recently gave their feedback on the EVALMEDHELSE evaluation.
Research of great impact
The international panel placed emphasis on the strong international position and the high quality of the Section’s research. The Section’s staff has been involved in drawing up the new Nordic nutrient guidelines – work that has had a great impact in all the Nordic and Baltic countries, the panel stresses. The panel also points out that the research groups actively involve users.
–?The scientific and societal impact of the research at the Section for Clinical Nutrition is impressive and an evaluation of this calibre from EVALMEDHELSE makes us proud, says the head of the Institute, Philippe Collas.
Henriksen is pleased that the Section has been responsible for 300 publications over the last few years, but she makes it clear that they focus just as much on quality.
–?We are currently consolidating our efforts around three core areas of research: healthy ageing, cancer and malnutrition, and obesity and cardiovascular disease. Our aim is to maintain and develop our position at the forefront of research within these three areas. This means we are concentrating on fewer, but larger projects and this will probably mean that our publication rate may fall somewhat in the time to come, she explains.?
The dietary guidelines are very important
The Section is an active participant in the National Council for Nutrition and in shaping the basis for the dietary guidelines. The panel noted that these have had an effect on Norwegian dietary habits.
–?We have long traditions going back to K?re Norum’s time at the Section, but looking at the last five years, I would especially like to highlight Rune Blomhoff’s contribution to the development of new, Nordic nutrient guidelines, which were used to design the new Norwegian dietary guidelines - work that has been of great importance throughout the Nordic and Baltic countries, says Henriksen.
As regards the praise they have received for involving users, the section leader says that they carry out a large number of studies on both healthy and sick people.
–?We are fortunate that it is relatively easy to involve users in research on groups with specific diagnoses. For example, we collaborate closely with the Norwegian Cancer Society, the Patient Organisation for Familial Hypercholesterolemia FH Norway and the Norwegian Celiac Association. Collaboration of this kind is beneficial in that it makes our research relevant for patients.
The researchers can measure energy metabolism in participants both at rest and over time
The panel highlights the Indirect Calorimetry rooms (WRIC) as a unique core facility at UiO, where the researchers can study and measure energy metabolism in participants both at rest and over time.
–?This enables us to study how changes in body weight and specific meals affect energy metabolism. It has taken several years to build up our expertise in using this equipment and validating the rooms and we have now used the method in several research projects. If others envisage using this method in their studies, they are welcome to contact us, invites Christine Henriksen.
The Section will work on a strategy to submit larger research applications
The Section achieves a high score in the evaluation, but not the very highest level.
–?We are pleased about achieving the rating “excellent” but agree with the report on this point as we acknowledge that the highest level requires a larger proportion of EU funds and Lancet publications, says Henriksen.
The Section has seven professors and five other permanent members of staff. In addition, it has a number of postdoctoral fellows, research fellows and engineers. The report recommends a more hierarchical structure in the section, which they will now be considering.
The NFR panel also recommends that the Section increase its share of external funding.
–?Yes, the report is quite correct in this regard and we know that many others have received the same feedback. We have put our heads together and decided that we need a strategy for submitting larger research applications, both to the NFR and EU. The strategy will set out who will apply for what and when the application will be submitted, says the section leader.
Industry should become a more important collaborator
Further, the panel recommends more collaboration with industry. According to Henriksen, the Section did collaborate more with industry in the recent past but grants from that sector have fallen somewhat during recent years.
–?We are glad that the report recognises that collaboration with industry is important. Our former collaboration has for example resulted in healthier margarine products in the market and this has a great bearing on public health. As you can see, we are positive to strengthening our collaboration with industry and we regard the evaluation as a significant reminder of the potential that lies in that sector, assures Henriksen.
The Section is active in the media
Over the last five years, 150 students have gained a master’s degree and 27 research fellows have gained a doctorate in clinical nutrition at the Section.
–?Educating students in medicine and clinical nutrition is one of our most important tasks, which we carry out with pleasure. Both master’s and PhD candidates participate in our research with significant man-years. They bring new perspectives and positive energy into the research groups, comments Henriksen.
Another aspect that the Section receives recognition for is that they are highly visible in both conventional and social media.
–?We see it ?as part of the university’s mission to disseminate knowledge out into society, so this has been a deliberate strategy on our part. Media matters are always on the agenda both in the Section and in the leadership group and we have our own communication prize that is awarded every year, says Henriksen.
Three important publications:
- Meals with similar fat content from different dairy products induce different postprandial triglyceride responses in healthy adults: a randomized controlled cross-over trial
In this study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, the researchers found that high-fat meals containing different dairy products produced different responses to triglycerides, cholesterol and insulin in healthy people. - Using metabolic profiling and gene expression analyses to explore molecular effects of replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat- a randomized controlled dietary intervention study
In this article, published in the level 2 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers used metabolomics to describe what happens in cells when the fat content in the diet is changed. - Agreement between GLIM and PG-SGA for diagnosis of malnutrition depends on the screening tool used in GLIM?
In this article, the researchers compare different methods for mapping malnutrition. It was published in the high-profile journal Clinical Nutrition and has had an important effect on the further development of the criteria for malnutrition