The projects have worked with a wide range of solutions within health-related life sciences such as a novel treatment of Glioblastoma (brain cancer), a new strategy for vaccines against seasonal infectious disease, new therapies against fibrotic diseases, breast cancer and Alzheimer and we will learn about a novel Organ-on-Chip system.
– The SPARK Norway program has proven to be the most successful innovation initiative in life sciences at the University of Oslo since its launch in 2018. We have worked systematically to develop an innovation ecosystem that facilitates the establishment of new companies and businesses, and to encourage and make it easier for young researchers to pursue an entrepreneurial path, said Per Morten Sandset, who is in his final year of two terms as Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation.
The completion was celebrated in a ceremony to honour the graduating projects.
The director of SPARK Norway, Morten Egeberg, said that he is impressed by the progress the projects have made; outstanding research is the foundation of the projects, and during their time in the innovation programme, all of them have developed a more business-oriented mindset and understanding. The results so far have also exceeded all expectations. Ten startup companies have been established, and four more are on the way. Two projects have reached clinical testing, and the projects are bringing in more than three times the amount that the University of Oslo invests through funding mechanisms as a consequence of their participation in SPARK Norway. He also took the opportunity to thank Agnete Fredriksen for always being willing to share her experiences so that other innovators can benefit, and for the establishment of the Vaccibody Innovation Award.
Winner of Vaccibody Innovation Award 2024
The project leaders pitched their business idea in front of a jury consisting of Agnete Fredriksen from Nykode (formerly Vaccibody), Michael Engsig, Nykode and Per Morten Sandset from the University of Oslo. They were all strong candidates, however Esmaeil Dorraji with the project p95HER2-CAR T cell targeting metastatic breast cancer on-Target, but no off-Tumor won.
The award was created in 2020, when the founder of Vaccibody, Agnete Fredriksen, won the Research Council of Norway's Innovation Award. She donated the prize money of NOK 500,000 to SPARK Norway. From 2021, these funds have be used to award a prize of NOK 100,000 to the most innovative SPARK Norway project. The prize money will help the project further in the commercialization phase after the programme period in SPARK Norway is over.
About the innovation programme SPARK Norway
Since the beginning, UiO:Life Science has admitted 46 projects to SPARK Norway. The programme will guide the projects to further develop ideas in health-related life sciences, so that they benefit patients and society. Each project receives a mentor, guidance and project coordinator in addition to funding. Read more about SPARK Norway
Graudated projects
- Novel Treatment for Patients with Glioblastoma
Project leader Alexandra Dukic - Broadly reactive vaccines against seasonal infectious disease
Project leader Kristin Lunder Klausen - Tankyrase inhibition for therapy of fibrotic diseases
Project leader Shoshy Alam Brinch - p95HER2-CAR T cell targeting metastatic breast cancer on-Target, but no off-Tumor
Project leader Esmaeil Dorraji - Targeting the TREM2-receptor for Alzheimer’s disease therapy
Project leader Lars Nilsson - rOoC (revolving Organ-on-chip platform)
Project leader Aleksandra Aizenshtadt