BEaBiRD - Bergen group of Epidemiology and Biomarkers i Rheumatic Disease

​About BEaBiRD

BEaBiRD, Bergen group of Epidemiology and Biomarkers in Rheumatic disease is a research group localised at the Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital. The group is closely associated with the Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen.

During the last 15-20 years, major changes in the treatment of rheumatic diseases have led to reduced morbidity and a better prognosis for patients with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoporosis. However, the disease course and prognosis vary significantly between patients and we lack proper instruments for differentiating patient groups with different expected disease course and response to medical treatment. 

Field of research

Working in the interface between clinical and laboratory research, BeaBIRD has two major research areas. Firstly, we study epidemiology and long-term outcome of rheumatic disease and osteoporosis using disease specific function-related outcomes, as well as complications, joint surgery, cardiovascular disease and death. Secondly, we study biomarkers in rheumatic disease investigating serological, cellular and intracellular biomarkers in patients with inflammatory joint disease and osteoporosis. 

Data sources

Our large data sources, such as the Norwegian Arthritis Registry and the Bergen Sjögren cohort, as well as biological material collected in the Biobank for Rheumatic Diseases Western Norway, form the pillars of our research along with the know-how represented by our rapidly growing team of experienced as well as young researchers. Furthermore, we benefit from a longstanding cooperation with the Broegelmann Research Laboratory. 

Our ultimate goal is, by means of patient subgrouping, to enable individualised patient treatment of diseases such as RA, osteoporosis, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

We are grateful for the invaluable support from the GC Rieber Funds, in terms of grants from Johanne Marie Rieber Martens Allmennyttige Fond.

Contact information

Department of Rheumatology
Haukeland University Hospital
5021 Bergen

Bjørg-Tilde Fevang
E-mail: bjorg.tilde.svanes.fevang@helse-bergen.no  
Telephone +47 55 97 54 23

Johan G. Brun
E-mail: johan.gorgas.brun@helse-bergen.no 
Telephone +47 55 97 54 22

BEaBiRD members

Researchers

• Johan G. Brun, professor, MD, PhD
• Bjørg-Tilde S. Fevang, associate professor, MD, PhD
• Clara B. G. Gjesdal, associate professor, MD, PhD
• Anne-Kristine H. Halse, associate professor, MD, PhD
• Ellen M Apalset, MS, PhD
• Sonia Gavasso, MSc, PhD

PhD candidates

• Lucius Bader, MD
• Hilde H. Nordal, MD
• Tone W. Nystad, MD
• Maria Jonsson, MD
• Daniel Hammenfors, MD

Other research fellows:

• Lene Brekke, MD
• Anja Hjelle, MD
• Christian Alsing, MD
• Haris Causevic, MD
• Eli Brodin, MD
• Anja Røym, MD
• Silje Helland Kaada, MD
• Merete Valen, MD
• Liv Turid Bertelsen, MD
• Tor Magne Madland, MD, PhD
• Solveig Hauge, MD, PhD
• Karstein Haldorsen MD, PhD

Collaborating researchers

• Roland Jonasson, professor, MD, PhD, Boregelmann Research laboratory
• Roald Omdal, professor, MD, PhD
• Christian Vedeler, professor, MD, PhD, Dept Neurol
• Einar Kristoffersen, professor, MD, PhD, Dept Immunol
• Bjørn Tore Gjertsen, professor, MD, PhD, Director of Research, H.U.H. and Head Signalling-targeted therapy group
• Andreas Diamantoupolos, MD, PhD
• Glenn Haugeberg, professor, MD, PhD, head of Department of Rheumatology, Martina Hansen's Hospital

Laboratory technicians and research nurses:

• Tove Hatletveit
• Signe Lise Hjertaker
• Jane Trengereid
• Mariela Pina Ayala
• Jeanett Helen Hetland

Requirements for admission to research data

Research

Major focus areas and projects

Epidemiology and long term outcome

1. Epidemiology and diagnostics in Sjögren’s syndrome (head Johan G. Brun)
2. Epidemiology and long term outcome in chronic inflammatory joint disease (head Bjørg-Tilde Fevang)
3. Epidemiology of osteoporosis in patients undergoing fractures (head Ellen Apalset)

Biomarkers in rheumatic disease

1. Biomarkers in early and established inflammatory joint disease (head Clara Gjesdal)
2. Biomarkers in osteoporosis (head Ellen Apalset)
3. Cell signalling in inflammatory joint disease (head Sonia Gavasso)

Our affilitations

Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital
The Norwegian Arthritis Registry - NorArthritis
The Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen

Our research partners

• The Broegelmann Research Laboratory (BRL) 
• Neurology Research Laboratory and Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Competence Centre
• The Norwegian Arthritis Registry 
• The Norwegian Arthroplasty Register 
• The Department of Clinical Immunology, Stavanger University Hospital (head prof. Roald Omdal)
• Bjørn Tore Gjertsen’s Signalling-targeted therapy group within the Centre of cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO) 
• The Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies (NOREPOS)
• The Norwegian Capture the fracture initiative (NoFract) 
• Bevital with professor Per Magne Ueland
• The Norwegian Cardiovascular Disease Registry (NCVDR)
• The Cause of Death Registry (CoDR)  
• Norwegian musculoskeletal research network MUSS (council member)   
• The National Institute of Nutrition and seafood research (nifes)
• Diakonhjemmet Hospital (through several multi-centre studies)
• The Department of Immunology Haukeland University Hospital
• The Department of Rheumatology, Helse Førde HF

Publications