Mohn Synergy Symposium 2024

In 2024, the Trond Mohn Research Foundation (TMF) celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of significant contributions to research in Bergen and beyond. This milestone coincides with the co-location of researchers from three prominent Mohn Research Centers on the 7th floor of the University of Bergen’s BBB research building, where the new Bergen Center for Medical Stem Cell Research is being established. To initate collaboration among these centers the first Mohn Synergy Symposium will be held on August 29, 2024. The event will feature presentations by leading researchers and is open to all.

29.
August
2024
  1. 29. Aug 2024, 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Time and place

When

  1. 29. Aug 2024, 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Where

Auditorium, Armauer Hansens hus Haukelandsveien 28, 5009 Bergen

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the Trond Mohn Research Foundation (TMF), a generous foundation that has supported and strengthened several research initiatives in Bergen and beyond.

As of this fall 2024, researchers from three Mohn Research Centers will co-localize on the 7th floor of the research building BBB at the University of Bergen, where a new Bergen Center for Medical Stem Cell Research is being established. Researchers from the Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine (MRCRM) and Mohn Research Centre for Psychotic Disorders (MRCP) are directly involved here, while researchers from the Mohn Research Center for the Brain (MRCB) will be the closest neighbors on the 7th floor of the BBB.

To explore opportunities for collaboration between these three research centers, which all have common interests in neuroscience, stem cells, and cell biology, we are excited to organize the first Mohn Synergy Symposium on Thursday, August 29. Here, we will delve into common research interests and supplemental methodological approaches while honoring TMF’s contribution to scientific initiatives and progress.

The symposium has two sessions, and it will be hosted by Dr. Frode Berven, Head of the Department of Biomedicine, and Dr. Christian Vedeler, Head of the Department of Clinical Medicine.

The first session includes an introduction of Bergen Center for Medical Stem Cell Research, greetings by the Trond Mohn Research Foundation and Haukeland University Hospital, and presentations of the three Mohn Research Centers by the three center leaders, Drs. Einar Kristoffersen, Erik Johnsen, and Clive Bramham. 

In the second session, some top researchers from the centers, Dr. Cecilie Bredrup, Dr. Kristen Brennand and Dr. Espen Hartveit, will speak about their work, methods, and some key findings.

The symposium is open to all, and no registration is required. From 11:30, enjoy light refreshments and mingle outside the auditorium at Armauer Hansens hus. 

Brain organoids

Photo: Sadaf Ghorbani and Novin Balafkan

On August 29th, 2024, three Mohn Research Centres will explore their shared interest in differentiating neuronal progenitor cells (left), organoids (right) and more to foster synergies that could lead to new scientific breakthroughs. 

Program

11.30 - 12.00│Mingle and light refreshments

12.00 - 12.05│Welcome and introduction of Bergen Center for Medical Stem Cell Research

  • Chairs: Prof. Christian Vedeler, Head of Dept. of Clinical Medicine, UiB and Prof. Frode Berven, Head of Dept. of Biomedicine, UiB

12.05 - 12.15│Greetings 

  • Representative from the Trond Mohn Research Foundation
  • Vibeke Vold, Head of Research, Haukeland Univ. Hospital

12.15- 12.50│Presentations by Mohn Research Centre Leaders

  • Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Prof. Einar K.Kristoffersen

  • Mohn Research Centre for Psychotic Disorders, Prof. Erik Johnsen

  • Mohn Research Centre for the Brain, Prof. Clive Bramham

12.55 -13.05│Short break

13.05 -13.55│Scientific presentations from the three Mohn Research Centers

  • Cecilie Bredrup, PhD, MD, Professor at Dept. of Clinical Medicine, UiB

  • Kristen Brennand, PhD, Professor at Yale University and postdoc Sadaf Ghorbani, PhD, visiting researcher at Yale (NB! digital presentation)

  • Espen Hartveit, PhD, Professor at Dept. of Biomedicine, UiB

13.55 -14.00│Closing remarks by Frode Berven and Christian Vedeler

 

More about the three Mohn Research Centres:

  1. Mohn Research Center for Regenerative Medicine (MRCRM), led by Professor Einar Kristoffersen ( https://www.helse-bergen.no/en/regenerative-medicine/)
  2. Mohn Research Center for Psychotic Disorders (MRCP), led by Professor Erik Johnsen ( https://www.helse-bergen.no/en/regenerative-medicine/mohn-research-centre-for-psychotic-disorders/)
  3. Mohn Research Center for the Brain (MRCB), led by Professor Clive Bramham with Nobel Laureate Professor Edvard Moser as co-lead (https://www.ntnu.edu/kavli/mohn-research-center-for-the-brain)

 

Welcome!

 

Best regards,

On behalf of Mohn Research Center for the Brain, Mohn Research Center for Psychotic Disorders and Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine 

The Founders and organizers of Mohn Synergy Symposium 

Gyrid Nygård, Farivar Fathian and Elise Aasebø