BEaBiRD - Bergen group of Epidemiology and Biomarkers i Rheumatic Disease

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 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. Furthermore, improvements in imaging methods have significantly changed diagnostics leading to the discovery of new disease subgroups (e.g. large vessel vasculitis in GCA) and even entirely new diseases. 

Field of research

Working in the interface between clinical and laboratory research, BeaBIRD has two major research areas. Firstly, we study epidemiology, disease phenotypes and long-term outcome of rheumatic disease, as well as fertility, cardiovascular disease, cancer and death. Secondly, we study biomarkers in rheumatic disease investigating serological, cellular and intracellular biomarkers in patients with inflammatory joint disease. 

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. Lately, local and national cohorts for selected systemic rheumatic diseases are also being established.

Our ultimate goal is to improve diagnostics and care for patients with chronic inflammatory joint diseases, giant cell arteritis, IgG4-related disease 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.

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

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
• Lene Brekke, MD, PhD
• Sten Daniel Hammenfors, MD, PhD
  
• Solveig Hauge, MD, PhD
  

PhD candidates

• Christian Lillebø Alsing, MD, LIS, Haraldsplass 
  
• Hans Kristian Skaug
  
• Jens Vikse
• Marie N. Olsen
  
• Sanaa S. Said

Other research fellows and researchers:

• Haris Caucevic, MD
• Anja Røym, MD
• Tor Magne Madland, MD, PhD
• Karstein Haldorsen MD, PhD
• Hilde Nordal, MD, PhD
  
• Elisabeth Mæland, MD
  
• Gudrun D. Sigmo
  
• Eli Brodin
  

Collaborating researchers

• Anne Isine Bolstad
  
• Stein Atle Lie
  
• Andreas Diamantopoulos, MD, PhD 
  
• Glenn Haugeberg
  
• Gunnstein Bakland
  
• Marianne Wallenius, MD, PhD
  
• Helga Midtbø, MD, PhD
• Kjell Arne Johansson
• Karl Ove Hufthammer
  
• Gunnstein Bakland, MD, PhD, UNN
  
• Randi Julie Tangvik, UiB
  
• Katrine Norheim Brække, MD, PhD, SUS
  
• Anna Maria Hoffmann-Vold, MD, postdoc, UiO
  
• Øyvind Molberg, MD, prof, UiO
  
• Jörg Assmuss, MSc, UiB
  
• Jannicke Igland, MSc, prof, UiB
  
• Karen Minde Fagerli, MD, PhD, Diakonhjemmet sykehus
  

Laboratory technicians and research nurses:

• Tove Hatletveit
  
• Mariela Pina Ayala
• Jeanett Hetland
  
• Åshild Aakre
  

Guidelines for admission to research data - BRoWn (pdf - in Norwegian)

Guidelines for admission to research data - NorArthritis (pdf - in Norwegian)

Major focus areas and projects

Epidemiology and long term outcome

1. Epidemiology and diagnostics in Sjögren’s syndrome (head Johan G. Brun / Daniel Hammenfors)
2. Epidemiology and long term outcome in chronic inflammatory joint disease (head Bjørg-Tilde Fevang)
3. Epidemiology of systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (head Bjørg-Tilde Fevang)

Biomarkers in rheumatic disease

1. Biomarkers in early and established inflammatory joint disease (head Anne-Kristine Halse)
   

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

• The Broegelmann Research Laboratory (BRL) 
• The Norwegian Arthritis Registry 
  
• The Norwegian Arthroplasty Register 
• The Department of Clinical Immunology, Stavanger University Hospital (head Katrine Brække Norheim, MD, PhD)
  
• The Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies (NOREPOS)
• The Norwegian Capture the fracture initiative (NoFract) 
• The Norwegian Cardiovascular Disease Registry (NCVDR)
  
• The Cause of Death Registry (CoDR)  
• 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
  
• Haraldsplass Deaconess University Hospital
  
• Department of Clinical Dentistry, UiB
  
• The Mnazi Mmoja hospital, Zanzibar
  
• Center for Ethics and Priority Setting, UiB
  
• Haugesund Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases
  
• Forskning- og utviklingsavdelingen, GC Rieber Oils AS
  
• Forskningsgruppen Sykdomsrelatert underernæring, Senter for ernæring, K1, UiB
  
• Oslo University Hospital, department of Rheumatology, Dermatology and Infectious Diseases (ongoing multi-center studies)
  
• University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine
  
• Hospital of Østfold, department of Rheumatology
  

See our publications