K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology

Genetic epidemiology is the discipline where scientists study many people’s genetic material at the same time, comparing the variation they find with differences in health and illness. One of the main goals of the research is to use this new knowledge to improve the prevention and treatment of diseases.

We have a good point of departure for studying genetic epidemiology in Norway. The combination of large-scale population surveys, modern biobanks and good health registers makes it possible to study a number of health conditions at the same time.

Rapid advances have been made in recent years in the development of technology that makes it possible to digitalise genetic material. Together with increasingly powerful computers, this makes it possible to study connections at completely new levels of precision.

Research on population data is dependent on the population’s trust. We therefore make strict demands of ourselves as regards data security and correct use of research data. Among other things, all use of data must be approved by research ethics committees, all analyses must be performed on secure computers and researchers must undergo ethical certification before being granted access to data.

The centre, which was established on 1 July 2016, is led by Professor Kristian Hveem. It is part of the Department of Public Health and Nursing at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

The KG Jebsen centre for Genetic Epidemiology is funded by the Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Foundation, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at NTNU and the cooperative body for the Central Norway regional health authority and NTNU.