CCBIO Junior Scientist Symposium

The CCBIO Junior Scientist Symposium represents an integrated part of the CCBIO Research School for Cancer Studies. This is a seminar series that aims to improve scientific interaction and networking among junior researchers.

Overview of the Junior Scientist Symposia

The participants are very satisfied with these seminars. We receive comments on the high level of the research and presentations, as well as the positive side of getting to know colleagues in other CCBIO research groups. The small-talk goes lively in the breaks, suggesting that new and fruitful research collaborations might get started here.

Vladan Milosevic and Mari K. Halle are the current academic responsible for CCBIO901.

Read the Course description for CCBIO901. 

Dates for the fall term 2025 are to be announced.

Below you can find the programs of current and earlier symposia, back to and including 2020. For details of older symposia, we refer to the Annual Reports (see front page, Publications).

Current and previous symposia

June 2025

When: June 6, 2025, at 09.00-13.15
Where: Auditorium 4, BB-building

Mari Kyllesø Halle and Vladan Milosevic are coordinators of the junior seminars, and are planning and chairing these meetings. 
 

Program

09.00-09.15  Introduction

09.15-10.00  Keynote lecture by Lars A. Akslen: "CCBIO crossroads - a brief history and how to navigate the future"

10.00-10.20  Coffee break 

10.20-10.45  “Intracellular signaling signatures in the monocytic compartment distinguish acute myeloid leukemia from healthy peripheral blood and bone marrow” by Oriol Castells Marin

10.45-11.10  “Optimizing Proteomics Workflow for Low-input micro-dissected fixated FFPE human kidney tissue” by Sammy Choi

11.10-12:00   Lunch (free of charge, register within June 2nd at 11.00) 

12:00-12:25  Dynamic 3D in vitro Model of Kidney Disease” by Marthe Alvestad

12:25-12:50  “Molecular characterization of the cell types in the mouse liver using Smart-seq2 single-cell RNA-sequencing” by Lars Muhl

12:50-13:00  Concluding remarks 

February 2025

Chairs: Mari Kyllesø Halle and Vladan Milosevic

When: February 27, 2025, 09:00-13:00

Where:  Meeting room, HBE, Glasblokkene, Blokk 8, U1etg, U364, Auditorium

Program:

09.00-09.15: Introduction

09.15-10.00: “Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Oncology: The Indian traditional medicine Ayurveda in Cancer Prevention and Therapy” Keynote lecture by Vandana Ardawatia

10.00-10.20: Coffee break 

10.20-10.45: “Establishing patient-derived organoid models for studying high-risk cervical cancer” by Oda Fløtre

10.45-11.10: “ctDNA-based Liquid Biopsy for Monitoring Pediatric Cancer Progression” by Reidun Æsøy

11.10-12:00 Lunch (free of charge, register within February 24th at 11.00) 

12:00-12:25: “Costs of Care for Children with Severe anaemia in Malawi, Kenya and Uganda” by Grace Wezi Mzumara

12:25-12:50: “Tooth Root Resorption – Prevalence, Treatment Outcome, Diagnostic challenges by Clinicians and Role of Artificial Intelligence” by Nivedita Sinha

12:50-13:00: Concluding remarks 

December 2024

Chairs: Mari Kyllesø Halle and Vladan Milosevic

When: December 5, 2024, 09:00-13:00

Where:  Meeting room, HBE, Glasblokkene, Blokk 8, U1etg, U364, Auditorium

Program:

09.00-09.15 Introduction 

09.15-10.00 “From the Keys to the Notes: Music and Science in Harmony” Keynote lecture by Manuel Carrasco Fernandez

10.00-10.20 Coffee break

10.20-10.45 “Development of osteogenic and angiogenic bioinks for the 3D bioprinting of a co-culture design” by Åshild Johansen

10.45-11.10 “Blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer's disease - applying imaging mass cytometry to spatially profile brain tissue” by Marta Kaminska

11.10-12.00 Lunch (free of charge, register within December 2nd  at 11.00) 

12.00-12.25 “Preclinical development of novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting mutated FLT3 in acute myeloid leukemia” by Inga Kirstine Flaaten Motzfeldt

12.25-12.50 “Targeting WRN helicase in MMR-deficient endometrial cancer ” by Otilie Klokk

12.50-13.00 Concluding remarks 

June 2024

Chairs: Mari Kyllesø Halle and Vladan Milosevic

When: June 6, 2024, 09:00-13:00

Where:  Meeting room, HBE, Glasblokkene, Blokk 8, U1etg, U364, Auditorium

Program:

09.00-09.15: Introduction  

09.15-10.00: “Navigating the system” Keynote lecture by Geir Olav Løken 10.00-10.20: Coffee break 

10.20-10.45: “Prognostic signature based on mitochondria quality control proteins for the prediction of lung adenocarcinoma patients survival” by Anna Gorbunova

10.45-11.10: “Targeting Homology Repair Deficiency in Breast Cancer” by Synnøve Yndestad

11.10-12:00 Lunch (free of charge, register within June 3rd at 11.00)   

12:00-12:25: “Casting vs 3D-Bioprinting of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications” by Masoumeh Jahani Kadousaraei 

12:25-12:50: “Precision medicine in children's cancers” by Constance de Montlaur

12:50-13:00: Concluding remarks 

February 2024

Chairs: Mari Kyllesø Halle and Vladan Milosevic

When: February 1, 2024, 09:00-13:00

Where:  the conference room, BB-building 

Program:

09:00-09:15   Introduction

09:15-10:00   Hege Berg, keynote lecture: “Clinical implementation of multi-omics methodology in cancer diagnostics”

10:00-10:20   COFFEE BREAK

10:20-10:45   Oleksii Nikolaienko: “The role and inheritance of BRCA1 epimutations”

10:45-11:10   Ryan Dunkel: “Pre-Clinical and Phenotypic Characterization of a Novel CAR T Therapy for B-cell Lymphoma Malignancies”

11:10-12:00   LUNCH BREAK (Lunch is free of charge)

12:00-12:25   Katrin Kleinmanns: “Advanced Preclinical Models to Investigate Promising Drugs targeting Resistant Subpopulations in Ovarian Cancer”

12:25-12:50   Sturla Magnus Grøndal: “Mapping Disease Landscapes: CyTOF Applications in Oncology and Fibrosis” 

12:50-13:00   Concluding remarks

December 2023

Chairs: Mari Kyllesø Halle and Vladan Milosevic

When: December 6, 2023, 09:00-13:00

Where:  B302, Sentralblokka, Haukeland University Hospital. 

Program:

09.00-09.15: Introduction 
 
09.15-10.00: “My Path in the World of Cancer Research” Keynote lecture by Professor Daniela Costea
 
10.00-10.20: Coffee break 

10.20-10.45: “Preclinical development of novel therapeutics in Mantle Cell Lymphoma” by May Eriksen Gjerstad

10.45-11.10: “Sjögren's syndrome- Assessment of salivary gland manifestations and their association with renal disease” by Hanne Borge

11.10-12:00 Lunch (free of charge) 
  
12:00-12:25: “Brain-derived blood exosomes - a potential for new biomarkers in multiple sclerosis: Pilot study results from relapsing MS patients under anti-CD20 therapy” by Shamundeeswari Anandan

12:25-12:50: “Spatial analysis of the cancer tissue microenvironment using mass cytometry imaging technologies” by Rezvan Ehsani

12:50-13:00: Concluding remarks 

June 2023

Chairs: Mari Kyllesø Halle and Vladan Milosevic

When: June 8, 2023, 09:00-13:00

Where:  B302, Sentralblokka, Haukeland University Hospital. 

Program:

09.00-09.15: Introduction  

09.15-10.00: “Let’s talk about bioinformatics….” Keynote lecture by Dimitrios Kleftogiannis 

10.00-10.20: Coffee break 

10.20-10.45: “Corneal vascularization associated with a novel PDGFRB gene variant” by Titas Gladkauskas

10.45-11.10: “Visualization and establishment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patient-derived xenografts (PDX)” by Mireia Mayoral Safont 

11.10-12:00 Lunch 

12:00-12:25: “Detecting Imperfect Homology at Structural Variant Breakpoints in Cancer” by Rose Meng Gold

12:25-12:30: Concluding remarks 

February 2023

Chairs: Mari Kyllesø Halle and Vladan Milosevic

When: February 2, 2023, 09:00-13:00

Where:  B301, Sentralblokka, Haukeland University Hospital. 

Program:

09.00-09.15: Introduction  

09.15-10.00: “My insights on making the jump: transitioning to academic independence?” Keynote lecture by Harsh Dongre   

10.00-10.20: Coffee break   

10.20-10.45: “Drug discovery of small molecules against prostate cancer” by Yaping Hua  

10.45-11.10: “Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models as preclinical tool for investigation of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)” by Angela Sofia Geros Mesquita   

11.10-12:00: Lunch  

12:00-12:25: “Mitochondria transfer from the microenvironment promotes oxidative metabolism and invasion of glioblastoma” by Shannon Moreino  

12.25-12:50: “The role of CEL in pancreatic disease“ by Ranveig Seim Brekke  

12:50-13:00: Concluding remarks  

December 2022

Chairs: Mari Kyllesø Halle and Vladan Milosevic

When: December 8, 2022, 09:00-13:00

Where:  B302, Sentralblokka, Haukeland University Hospital. 

Program:

09.00-09.15: Introduction  

09.15-10.00: “Added value of international mobility?” Keynote lecture by Camilla Krakstad  

10.00-10.20: Coffee break  

10.20-10.45: “Actinomycin D treatment in patients with NPM1- mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other myeloid malignancies in Impress Norway” by Irini Ktoridou-Valen 

10.45-11.10: “Breast cancer of the young points to age-related phenotypes” by Rasmus Humlevik 

11.10-12:00 Lunch (free of charge)  

12:00-12:25: “Impact of cell death on glioblastoma, its tumor microenvironment and immune response” by Ege Solel  

12.25-12:50: “Emotional eating and changes in dietary patterns linked to psychological distress and worries“ by  Elaheh Javadi Arjmand 

12:50-13:00: Concluding remarks  

October 2022

Chairs: Mari Kyllesø HalleCornelia Schuster and Vladan Milosevic

When: October 6, 2022, 09:00-13:00

Where:  B301, Sentralblokka, Haukeland University Hospital. 

Program:

09:00-09:15   Introduction

09:15-10:00  “Multiplex profiling of the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer – Unlocking the power of mass cytometry” Keynote lecture by Vladan Milosevic

10:00-10:20   Coffee break

10:20-10:45  “Tumour-fibroblast interactions in squamous cell carcinomas” by Harsh Dongre

10:45-11:10  “Mimicking clonal architecture in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)” by Tara Dowling

11:10-12:00   Lunch

12:00-12:25  “Graviclot; Changes in coagulation activation in pregnancy and the puerperium in women with mild risk factors for venous thromboembolism” by Margunn Bye Tøsdal

12:25-12:50  “Establishment of peritoneal dECM scaffolds for culture of ovarian cancer organoids” by Christiane Helgestad Gjerde

12:50-13:00   Concluding remarks

May 2022

Chairs: Maria Lie Lotsberg and Hanna Dillekås. 

When: May 12, 2022, 09:00-12:45

Where: A hybrid solution with onsite participation in Auditorium Glasblokkene (Haukelandsbakken 15), or in Zoom. 

Program:

09.00-09.15: Introduction

09.15-10.00: Keynote lecture by Henriette Christie Ertsås: “Of course, you would never publish in a predatory journal... or would you?”

10.00-10.35: Coffee break

10.35-11.00: Amalie Fagerli Tegnander: “Low Anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) relates to aggressive tumor features in breast cancer”

11.00-11.45: Lunch (free of charge, register within May 9th at 11.00)

11.45-12.10: Maria Kathrine Tveitarås: “Suppression of breast cancer metastasis by targeting tumour hypoxia?”

12.10-12.35: Lena Hansen: “Fantastic antibodies and where to find them” 

12.35-12.45: Concluding remarks

March 2022

Chairs: Maria Lie Lotsberg and Hanna Dillekås. 

When: March 10, 2022, 09:00-13:00

Where: Hybrid solution with in-person attendance at Auditorium 4, BBB, and digitally through Zoom.

Program:

09.00-09.15  Introduction

09.15-10.00  Keynote lecture by Professor Klaus Pantel: “Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation”

10.00-10.30  Coffee break

10.30-10.55  Christina Engebrethsen: “Personalized treatment for HR+/HER2- locally advanced breast cancer”

10.55-11.20  Sturla Grøndal: “Studying cell population dynamics in kidney fibrosis with mass cytometry”

11.20-12.00  Lunch

12.00-12.25  Sina Takle: “Pipeline for spatial analysis of the tumor microenvironment”

12.25-12.50  Maria Omsland: “Investigation of a Nilotinib resistant CML cell line”

12.50-13.00  Concluding remarks

November 2021

Chairs: Maria Lie Lotsberg and Hanna Dillekås. 

When: November 11, 2021, 09:00-12:15

Where: Digital event in Zoom.

Program:

09.15-09.20: Introduction

09.20-09.45: Calum Leitch: “Drug development for acute myeloid leukaemia”

09.45-10.05: Coffee break

10.05-10.30: Stein-Erik Gullaksen: "Single cell immune and signaling profiles of chronic myeloid leukemia: modulation of cell population and intracellular signaling early after start of therapy"

10.30-10.55: Amalie Fagerli Tegnander: “AGR2 in breast cancer – part of the estrogen receptor-related cancer biology?”

10.55-11.40: Lunch break

11.40-12.05: Kala Chand Debnath: “Metabolic coupling between oral cancer cells and fibroblasts promotes a stem cell-like and migratory phenotype”

12.05-12.30: Elaheh Mahootchi: “GADL1 is a multifunctional decarboxylase with tissue-specific roles in β-alanine and carnosine production”

12.30-12.40: Concluding remarks

September 2021

Chairs: Cornelia Schuster and Maria Lie Lotsberg

When: September 16, 2021, 09:00-12:30

Where: Digital event in Zoom.

Program:

09.00-09.15: Introduction

09.15-10.00: Keynote lecture by Hege Avsnes Dale and Hans Olav Rolfsnes: "The Molecular Imaging Center – your local one-stop-shop for imaging cells, tissue and small animals"

10.00-10.15: Break

10.15-10.40: Kelly Marcela Velasco Pinto: "The SCHAD fatty acid oxidation enzyme in insulin secretion: Functional analyses of rare variants in human populations and a new murine model of congenital hyperinsulinism of infancy"

10.40-11.05: Stephanie Gisela Schwab: "Metastatic potential of systemic glioblastoma stem cell lines in vivo"

11.05-11.30: Break

11.30-11.55: Sushil Dhakal: "AXL inhibition enhances Type 1 interferon (IFN) response and potentiates chemo-immunotherapy"

11.55-12.20: Austin Rayford: "AXL targeting in the tumor immune microenvironment: translational insights from clinical trials"

12.20-12.30: Concluding remarks

June 2021

Chairs: Postdocs Cornelia Schuster and Maria Lie Lotsberg

When: June 17, 2021 at 09.00-12.15

Where: Digital event in Zoom.

Program:

09:00-09:05   Welcome

09:05-09:55   Keynote lecture by Gro Vatne Røsland: “Microbiota in health and diseases – a short overview”

09:55-10:15   Break

10:15-10.35   Cara Wogsland: “Advancing human cancer research with murine tumor models and mass cytometry"

10:35-11:05   Camilla Ekanger: “Human organotypic airway and lung organoids for the study of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and cytopathology”

11:05-11:25   Break

11:25-11:45   Stephanie Gisela Schwab: “Tracking of systemic glioblastoma stem cells in vivo”

11:45-12:05   Shayla Sharmine: “Liquid biopsy in follow-up of metastatic melanoma treatment”

12:05-12:15   Closing remarks

February 2021

Chairs: Postdocs Cornelia Schuster and Maria Lie Lotsberg

When: February 25, 2021 at 09.00-12.00

Where: Digital event in Zoom.

Program:

09:00-09:05:  Welcome

09:05-09:25:  Lise Ingebriktsen: “Identification of an age-related breast cancer gene expression signature with strong prognostic value”

09:25-09:45:  Katrin Kleinmanns: “CD24-targeted intraoperative fluorescence image-guided surgery leads to improved cytoreduction of ovarian cancer in a preclinical orthotopic surgical model”

09:45-10:00:  BREAK

10:00-10:45:  Keynote lecture by Hrvoje Miletic: “Glioblastoma treatment resistance – is there a way out?”

10:45-11:15:  BREAK

11:15-11:35:  Irmelin Wilhelmsen Nilsen: “Cancer, imaginaries and sensation journalism”

11:35-11:55:  Hilde Lien: “Multiplex analyses of tumor heterogeneity in low-risk endometrial carcinomas“

11:55-12:00:  Closing remarks

November 2020

Chairs: Postdocs Cornelia Schuster and Maria Lie Lotsberg

When: November 26, 2020 at 09.00-12.15

Where: Digital event in Zoom. Access codes will be sent to the registered participants.

Registration: Use this registration link.

Program:

09:00 to 09:10  Welcome

09:10 to 09:55  Keynote lecture “Money and careers in science: where to start?” Yamila Cleuren

09:55 to 10:15  Break

10:15 to 10:35  “The prognostic value of MSI markers in endometrial cancer” Madeleine Myrvold

10:35 to 10:55  “The anti-tumor effect of cabozantinib on melanoma brain metastasis» Trond Are Mannsåker

10:55 to 11:25  Break

11:25 to 11:45  “Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in aggressive prostate cancer” Astrid Børretzen

11:45 to 12:05  “Differences in immune cell landscapes between hereditary and sporadic breast cancer" Cecilie Askeland

12:05 to 12:15  Closing remarks

September 2020

Chairs: Postdocs Cornelia SchusterKenneth Finne and Maria Lie Lotsberg

When: September 17, 2020 at 09.00-12.10

Where: Online event in Zoom

Program:

09:00-09:15  Welcome

09:15-10:00  Keynote lectures: «How may ELIXIR Norway help you analyse your data?», Christine Stansberg
«Centre for Digital Life Norway», Kari M. Ersland

10:00-10:20  BREAK

10:20-10:40  “The role of skin lymphatics in salt-sensitive hypertension”, Irene Matre Thowsen

10:40-11:00  “TAM receptor dynamics in melanoma therapy resistance”, Jing Kang

11:00-11:30  BREAK

11:30-11:50  “Metabolomic signatures that predict heart failure in rats”, Anne-Maj Samuelsson

11:50-12:10  “Role of obesity in development of breast cancer”, Anastasiia Rulina

 

April 2020

April 16th 2020 - was cancelled due to the pandemic situation.

January 2020

Thursday January 30 2020 at 10.00-14.00
Conference room 109F, BB-building (opposite the auditoria)

Postdocs Kenneth Finne and Cornelia Schuster are chairs. 

Program

10:00 – 10:05    Welcome

10:05 – 10:50    What is innovation, and how can my research become innovative? Yves Aubert

10:50 – 11:05    Coffee and tea break

11:05 - 11:25     The pan-RAF and SFK inhibitor CCT196969 effectively inhibits melanoma brain metastasis in vitroAgathe Reigstad

11:25 – 11:45    Understanding the role of Nestin in basal-like breast cancer: Generation of a Nestin KO TNBC cell line by CRISPR/Cas9 editingVandana Ardawatia

11:45 – 12:30    Lunch

12:30 – 12:50    Analyzing tumor vessels with artificial intelligenceReidunn Jetne Edelmann

12:50 – 13:10    Investigating the Role of Microglia in Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration Using Imaging Mass CytometryIda Herdlevær

13:10 – 13:30    Development and application of highly multiplexed imaging approaches in basic and translational Axl biology researchAustin Rayford.

13:30 – 13:35    Wrap up and concluding remarks

Last updated: 23.06.2025