Research, Organisation, and Strategy

Research at UCCC is coordinated by the Research Committee, composed of experts from both the hospital and the university. The research is continuously evaluated by an external Scientific Advisory Board.

Research Committee

The Research Committee is responsible for preparing and advising on research-related matters. Its duties include planning and monitoring research development, revising the Centre’s research strategy and action plan, and compiling an annual report of the Centre’s research activities.

Chair
Eva Tiensuu Janson, Professor of Medicine, Vice-Rector of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Domain at Uppsala University

Members

Arja Harila, Professor of Paediatrics
Marika Nestor, Professor of Biomedical Radiation Sciences
Patrick Micke, Professor of Pathology
Gunilla Enblad, Professor of Oncology
Sören Lehmann, Professor of Haematology
Gustav Ullenhag, Professor of Cancer Immunotherapy
Jakob Hedberg, Associate Professor of Surgery
Peter Stålberg, Professor of Surgery, Chair of the Doctoral Education Committee
Tobias Sjöblom, Professor of Experimental Cancer Research
Masood Kamali Moghaddam, Professor of Molecular Tools
Lena Wettergren, Professor of Nursing with a focus on Cancer Care
Ingrid Glimelius, Director of the Centre, Professor of Oncology and Epidemiology
Christina Kawati Stenberg, Head of Clinical Research and Development Unit
Alex Molasiotis, Professor of Nursing, Derby

Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)

The SAB is an external body tasked with evaluating and advising the Centre. The board focuses on clinical and basic cancer research, with an emphasis on the quality of scientific output, clinical relevance, societal impact, and research conditions. SAB consists of 5-6 members with expertise in clinical research, cancer care, and nursing.

Members of UCCC's SAB:

• Carl-Henrik Heldin, Senior Professor of Molecular Cell Biology, Uppsala
• Kjetil Söreide, Professor of Surgery, Stavanger
• Per Eystein Lönning, Professor of Oncology, Bergen
• Anne Couvelard, Professor of Pathology, Paris
• Sirpa Leppä, Professor of Oncology, Helsinki

Research Strategy

The overarching goal of UCCC’s cancer research is to conduct internationally recognised research at the highest level to improve understanding of cancer biology, develop new treatments, and enhance cancer care. Several goals have been established to advance research at UCCC. These goals help prioritise activities and direct available funding. While we receive significant research funding from national foundations such as the Swedish Cancer Society, we aim to increase applications for international funding, particularly from the EU.

In summary, the goals aim to:

• Increase the number of peer-reviewed publications in high-ranking journals, with continued focus on publishing clinically relevant studies.
• Increase the number of clinical trials.
• Increase the proportion of patients participating in clinical trials, with outreach activities directed primarily towards Healthcare region Mid Sweden, but also towards other parts of Sweden and internationally.
• Maintain a large number of PhD graduates in the field of cancer.
• Maintain a large number of researchers in the field of cancer.
• Increase national and international (EU) research funding in the cancer field.
• Increase and simplify the use of samples from our biobank.
• Ensure research is conducted in all areas of cancer.
• Improve reporting in national quality registers.
• Utilise national quality registers in combination with other national registers for research and development.
• Implement Clinical Academic Groups as a tool to deepen collaboration between basic researchers and clinical researchers.