In Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine (MRCRM), we aim to develop new cell-based therapies to repair or replace - to regenerate - tissues and cells damaged by disease or injury. Our research focus spans from biomedical to clinical research and clinical trials within the field of regenerative medicine, and our long-term aim is to offer patients new state-of-the-art therapies.
The goal of the Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine (MRCRM) is to support and strengthen the research environment within regenerative medicine in Bergen, with a particular focus on translating basic research into clinical studies that, in turn, will benefit the patients.
We envision the Centre as an umbrella for the scientific community within this research area, providing a common hub where new research collaborations and ideas can evolve and take the field to the next level.
We organize events for the community regularly.
The Centre is a strategic initiative from Haukeland University Hospital at Helse Bergen Health Trust and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bergen, financed by Trond Mohn Research Foundation for five years. MRCRM builds on an active research environment and the newly established Ex vivo facility at the Laboratory building at Haukeland. This laboratory is a high-grade cleanroom facility operating under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and will manufacture the cells for clinical trials affiliated with the Centre.
The initial research projects affiliated to the Centre, and recruited through a generous grant by the Trond Mohn Research Foundation are presented below.
The objectives of the MRCRM are to coordinate groundbreaking fundamental research, and give patients access to state-of-the-art therapies, initially in clinical trials but later as established advanced, personalized treatment, see below. We will achieve this by:
Being the hub for the scientific community
Supporting and promoting fundamental and translational stem cell research
Enabling clinical trials with advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) based on tissues and cells, employing the new GMP laboratory at Haukeland
Assisting in steering through the approval process by the Norwegian Medicinal Agency
Implementing novel therapies using ATMPs
Read more about our events and the MRCRM seminar series here.
Read more about the new clean-room cell production laboratory called the Ex vivo facility.
In August 2021, the Helse Bergen Health Trust and the University of Bergen established the Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine. Four research projects, recruited through grants from the Trond Mohn Research Foundation, comprise the initial scientific foundation of the Centre.
The Trond Mohn Research Foundation has generously supported the initiative with 30 MNOK, and the host institutions have contributed with in total 60 MNOK. The Helse Bergen Health Trust has also invested a considerable amount in the new “Ex Vivo” cell production facility, which will be operable at Haukeland University Hospital by the end of 2022.
The administrative unit of the Centre is located at the Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine in the Laboratory Building at Haukeland University Hospital. Still, our research is spread to dedicated laboratories and buildings around Bergen. Thus, so far this is a centre “without walls”.
The MRCRM Team
The appointed centre leader is Professor and MD Einar K. Kristoffersen, Head of the Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine at Haukeland University Hospital. He chairs the MRCRM Management group, which meets monthly to discuss strategic and practical issues.
The MRCRM Steering Group is chaired by the Helse Bergen deputy CEO Clara Gjesdal, and consists of representatives from the Helse Bergen Health Trust, the University of Bergen and the Trond Mohn Research Foundation.
An international Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) has been established and consists of representatives with high compentency on cell therapy and research centre development. The role of the SAB is to support and evaluate the Centre.
If you would like to join the Centre or be informed about MRCRM-related activities and upcoming events, send us an e-mail or see contact information below.
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Upcoming events
UniStem Day 2024
UniStem Day is the largest European event for dissemination and outreach of stem cell science and regenerative medicine towards high-school students. The event, coordinated by the UniStem Centre at the University of Milan, involves the collaboration of Universities and Research Centers all over Europe. This year marks a significant milestone as Norway joins the UniStem initiative for the first time.
MRCRM 2nd International Meeting on Regenerative Medicine 2024
The Mohn Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine invites you to join our second international meeting in Bergen. This year's conference promises to be an immersive experience, with topics focused on innovative cellular therapies, spanning from the development to clinical trials.
For the second time, one of Dr. Yamada's (aka @stemcell_art) stunning images of stem cells have been selected as the best scientific image of the month by Nature.
This beautiful image of dental-pulp derived neuronal cells was published in Nature, February 2024.
Grand opening of the new Mohn Research Centre for Psychotic Disorders
Last week was the opening of the Mohn Research Centre for Psychotic Disorders, a significant milestone in mental health advancement. The new research centre is headed by Professor Erik Johnsen, one of the principal investigators at the MRCRM.
Shuntaro Yamada is a new Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Bergen
On March 11, 2024, Shuntaro Yamada will begin his new position as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Clinical Odontology, University of Bergen (UiB). He will use the expertise obtained through his PhD work and focus on dynamic cell culture techniques, using bioreactors to engineer a bone-like environment for safer and more efficient regenerative therapy research.
For the second time, one of Dr. Yamada's (aka @stemcell_art) stunning images of stem cells have been selected as the best scientific image of the month by Nature.
What should one do when bones in the mouth disappear?
It's about bones, stem cells, and the stimulation of growth factors in tissue when the dentist and postdoctoral researcher Siddharth Vivek Shanbhag (38) explains his research. Last week, he received the Health West Young Researcher Award for his studies on bone defect regeneration.
Erik Johnsen heads the newly established Mohn Research Centre for Psychotic Disorders
Why do people with severe mental disorders have a lifespan 15-20 years shorter and significantly lower quality of life than the general population?
The newly established Mohn Research Centre for Psychotic Disorders in Bergen will investigate this and take action. With the goal of improving treatment outcomes, the Trond Mohn Foundation and Helse Bergen are jointly contributing 58 million Norwegian kroner to support this research, with the foundation allocating 25 million kroner over a five-year period.
Establishing 'blue-print' Good Manufacturing Practice protocols for gene therapy
In this project, led by Einar K. Kristoffersen, researchers in Bergen and Oslo are cooperating to develop template protocols for manufacturing gene-edited cells to be used in patient treatment.
Using stem cells for clinical treatment of osteonecrosis
In the OsteoStem project, led by Kamal Mustafa and Evelyn Neppelberg, the researchers are evaluating the safety and efficacy of stem cells in the treatment of bone defects in patients with osteonecrosis.
In this project, led by Cecilie Bredrup and Stian K. Almeland, the researchers are using mesenchymal stem cell transplantation to heal wounds of the eye and skin.
People with psychotic disorders have a significantly shortened life expectancy compared to the rest of the population, which is a significant problem this research centre aims to address. The Mohn Research Center for Psychotic Disorders has the ultimate goal of conducting patient-centred research to improve mental and physical health, thereby reducing the risk of premature death.
Reconstruction of mandibular bone using stem cells and biomedical engineering approaches
In the StemBoneReg project, stem cell therapy combined with biomaterials is used to reconstruct the mandibular bone. This strategy has already been proven successful for alveolar bone reconstruction in an early phase clinical trial. The pro...