Johanna Olweus heads a new research initiative under UiO’s umbrella programme on emerging technologies

On 11 June, Sigrun Aasland, Minister of Research and Higher Education, launched the University of Oslo’s research strategy on emerging technologies. This long-term initiative aims to bridge basic research and technological development, and the government has allocated 25 million NOK to the University of Oslo in 2026 and 50 million NOK annually from 2027 to support its development. The initiative will be evaluated in 2030.

Altogether, this technology initiative comprises eight new research projects. Johanna Olweus will lead the project AI-Facilitated Immune Receptor Engineering (AFIRE), which will establish an integrated, AI-driven technology platform for the development of a new class of soluble and cell-based immune receptors targeting intracellular proteins. AFIRE originates from the Centre of Excellence PRIMA (Precision Immunotherapy Alliance), and in addition to Johanna Olweus, the consortium counts six additional partners, including Jan Terje Andersen, Johanne Jacobsen, Fridtjof Lund-Johansen, Ludvig Munthe, June Myklebust (Faculty of Medicine) and Geir K. Sandve (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences).

Johanna Olweus says: “In the AFIRE consortium, our goal is to develop new technologies that will enable us to more rapidly identify novel immunotherapy targets on the inside of cancer cells and the immune receptor genes that allow us to direct treatment towards these targets. Groundbreaking technologies are required to generate entirely new datasets that will be essential to train AI. I am very happy and proud that our consortium is part of this important initiative on emerging technologies.”

Emerging technologies are future-oriented technologies with uncertain trajectories, but with the transformative power to create progress and real improvements for both individuals and society. They arise from groundbreaking basic research, in a dynamic interplay where research and technological development are closely intertwined.

UiO’s initiative is based on national research capacity in the following research and technology areas:

  • Life sciences and biotechnology
  • Advanced materials and quantum technology
  • Social sciences and technology
From left: Justin Wells, Arne Klungland, Jan Terje Andersen, Bjørn Jamtveit, Minister of Research and Higher Education Sigrun Aasland, Johanna Olweus, Henrik Sønsteby, Kristin Asdal, Unni Olsbye, Andreas Carlson and Stefan Krauss. Photo: Christoffer Hals/UiO

 

Relevant links:

UiO lanserer Norges nye satsing på fremvoksende teknologier - Universitetet i Oslo

Emerging technologies - University of Oslo

Johanna Olweus’ research group: OUH - Experimental Immunotherapy Group

PRIMA: Home - PRIMA

 
Scroll to top