Gro Owren Nygaard

  • Group leader, Consultant of Neurology, Researcher; MD, PhD
  • +47 230 27142

Gro Owren Nygaard has a medical degree from University of Oslo (UiO) from 2004 and a PhD from 2016. She worked as a general practitioner at the emergency care unit in the city of Oslo until she started specializing in neurology at Oslo University Hospital in 2008. She started her PhD project on early Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the summer of 2011 and has since then combined clinical work and research, focusing on MS. 

Project/Research interest:
Gro Owren Nygaard is the group leader of “Therapeutic trials and vaccine studies in multiple sclerosis (MS)” and the project leader of several large clinical research projects. 

She initiated and is currently leading “NOR-MS”, a national researcher-initiated clinical therapeutic trial comparing two high-efficiency disease modulatory therapies (DMTs) (cladribine and rituximab). 

The COVID19 pandemic caused concern that people with MS treated with high-efficendy DMTs would not have sufficient vaccine responses and might be vulnerable for complications or a severe course of COVID19. Nygaard therefore initiated the national clinical study “Nevrovax” inviting all people with MS in Norway to evaluate vaccine responses. 

Nygaard is the local principal investigator of another national clinical study, OVERLORD MS, comparing two other DMTs, rituximab and ocrelizumab.

She is involved in a research project evaluating persons with MS who have travelled abroad for hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) , SAFE MS,  and coordinates research related to persons who are treated with HSCT at OUH.

She is currently the main supervisor for three PhD candidates: Mathias Herstad Øverås (NOR-MS), Lars Lande Skattebøl (NOR-MS) and Tilde Harridsleff Rasmussen (Nevrovax). 

 

Publications 2024

Nygaard GO, Holmøy T (2024)
Norwegian health service should offer stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 144 (2)
DOI 10.4045/tidsskr.23.0770, PubMed 38349100

Publications 2023

Tran TT, Vaage EB, Mehta A, Chopra A, Tietze L, Kolderup A, Anthi A, König M, Nygaard G, Lind A, Müller F, Nissen-Meyer LS, Magnus P, Trogstad L, Mjaaland S, Søraas A, Midtvedt K, Åsberg A, Barratt-Due A, Medhus AW, Høivik ML, Lundin K, Karlsen RF, Dahle R, Danielsson K et al. (2023)
Author Correction: Titers of antibodies against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 correlate with levels of neutralizing antibodies to multiple variants
NPJ Vaccines, 8 (1), 4
DOI 10.1038/s41541-023-00600-6, PubMed 36697432

Wolf AS, Ravussin A, König M, Øverås MH, Solum G, Kjønstad IF, Chopra A, Holmøy T, Harbo HF, Syversen SW, Jørgensen KK, Høgestøl EA, Vaage JT, Celius EG, Lund-Johansen F, Munthe LA, Nygaard GO, Mjaaland S (2023)
T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination differ by disease-modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis
JCI Insight, 8 (12)
DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.165111, PubMed 37159281

Publications 2022

König M, Torgauten HM, Tran TT, Holmøy T, Vaage JT, Lund-Johansen F, Nygaard GO (2022)
Immunogenicity and Safety of a Third SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Dose in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Weak Immune Response After COVID-19 Vaccination
JAMA Neurol, 79 (3), 307-309
DOI 10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.5109, PubMed 35072702

Nygaard GO, Torgauten H, Skattebøl L, Høgestøl EA, Sowa P, Myhr KM, Torkildsen Ø, Celius EG (2022)
Risk of fingolimod rebound after switching to cladribine or rituximab in multiple sclerosis
Mult Scler Relat Disord, 62, 103812
DOI 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103812, PubMed 35462167

Riise J, Meyer S, Blaas I, Chopra A, Tran TT, Delic-Sarac M, Hestdalen ML, Brodin E, Rustad EH, Dai KZ, Vaage JT, Nissen-Meyer LSH, Sund F, Wader KF, Bjornevik AT, Meyer PA, Nygaard GO, König M, Smeland S, Lund-Johansen F, Olweus J, Kolstad A (2022)
Rituximab-treated patients with lymphoma develop strong CD8 T-cell responses following COVID-19 vaccination
Br J Haematol, 197 (6), 697-708
DOI 10.1111/bjh.18149, PubMed 35254660

Tran TT, Vaage EB, Mehta A, Chopra A, Tietze L, Kolderup A, Anthi A, König M, Nygaard G, Lind A, Müller F, Nissen-Meyer LS, Magnus P, Trogstad L, Mjaaland S, Søraas A, Midtvedt K, Åsberg A, Barratt-Due A, Medhus AW, Høivik ML, Lundin K, Karlsen RF, Dahle R, Danielsson K et al. (2022)
Titers of antibodies against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 correlate with levels of neutralizing antibodies to multiple variants
NPJ Vaccines, 7 (1), 174
DOI 10.1038/s41541-022-00586-7, PubMed 36585405

Publications 2021

Holmøy T, Nygaard GO, Myhr KM, Bø L (2021)
Disease-modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 141 (8)
DOI 10.4045/tidsskr.21.0155, PubMed 34047171

Holmøy T, Nygaard GO, Myhr KM, Bø L (2021)
[Correction: Disease-modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis]
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 141 (10)
DOI 10.4045/tidsskr.21.0454, PubMed 34182741

Høgestøl EA, Ghezzo S, Nygaard GO, Espeseth T, Sowa P, Beyer MK, Harbo HF, Westlye LT, Hulst HE, Alnæs D (2021)
Functional connectivity in multiple sclerosis modelled as connectome stability: A 5-year follow-up study
Mult Scler, 28 (4), 532-540
DOI 10.1177/13524585211030212, PubMed 34259578

König M, Lorentzen ÅR, Torgauten HM, Tran TT, Schikora-Rustad S, Vaage EB, Mygland Å, Wergeland S, Aarseth J, Aaberge IAS, Torkildsen Ø, Holmøy T, Berge T, Myhr KM, Harbo HF, Andersen JT, Munthe LA, Søraas A, Celius EG, Vaage JT, Lund-Johansen F, Nygaard GO (2021)
Humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in multiple sclerosis: the relevance of time since last rituximab infusion and first experience from sporadic revaccinations
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 94 (1), 19-22
DOI 10.1136/jnnp-2021-327612, PubMed 34670844

Publications 2020

Brune S, Høgestøl EA, Cengija V, Berg-Hansen P, Sowa P, Nygaard GO, Harbo HF, Beyer MK (2020)
LesionQuant for Assessment of MRI in Multiple Sclerosis-A Promising Supplement to the Visual Scan Inspection
Front Neurol, 11, 546744
DOI 10.3389/fneur.2020.546744, PubMed 33362682

Publications 2019

de Rodez Benavent SA, Nygaard GO, Nilsen KB, Etholm L, Sowa P, Wendel-Haga M, Harbo HF, Drolsum L, Laeng B, Kerty E, Celius EG (2019)
Neurodegenerative Interplay of Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysregulation and the Retina in Early Multiple Sclerosis
Front Neurol, 10, 507
DOI 10.3389/fneur.2019.00507, PubMed 31156539

Høgestøl EA, Kaufmann T, Nygaard GO, Beyer MK, Sowa P, Nordvik JE, Kolskår K, Richard G, Andreassen OA, Harbo HF, Westlye LT (2019)
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal MRI Brain Scans Reveal Accelerated Brain Aging in Multiple Sclerosis
Front Neurol, 10, 450
DOI 10.3389/fneur.2019.00450, PubMed 31114541

Høgestøl EA, Nygaard GO, Alnæs D, Beyer MK, Westlye LT, Harbo HF (2019)
Symptoms of fatigue and depression is reflected in altered default mode network connectivity in multiple sclerosis
PLoS One, 14 (4), e0210375
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0210375, PubMed 30933977

Publications 2018

Lindland ES, Solheim AM, Andreassen S, Quist-Paulsen E, Eikeland R, Ljøstad U, Mygland Å, Elsais A, Nygaard GO, Lorentzen ÅR, Harbo HF, Beyer MK (2018)
Imaging in Lyme neuroborreliosis
Insights Imaging, 9 (5), 833-844
DOI 10.1007/s13244-018-0646-x, PubMed 30187265

Publications 2017

de Rodez Benavent SA, Nygaard GO, Harbo HF, Tønnesen S, Sowa P, Landrø NI, Wendel-Haga M, Etholm L, Nilsen KB, Drolsum L, Kerty E, Celius EG, Laeng B (2017)
Fatigue and cognition: Pupillary responses to problem-solving in early multiple sclerosis patients
Brain Behav, 7 (7), e00717
DOI 10.1002/brb3.717, PubMed 28729927

Nygaard GO (2017)
[In-hospital stroke]
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 137 (19)
DOI 10.4045/tidsskr.17.0634, PubMed 29043721

Sowa P, Nygaard GO, Bjørnerud A, Celius EG, Harbo HF, Beyer MK (2017)
Magnetic resonance imaging perfusion is associated with disease severity and activity in multiple sclerosis
Neuroradiology, 59 (7), 655-664
DOI 10.1007/s00234-017-1849-4, PubMed 28585082

Publications 2016

Gustavsen MW, Celius EG, Winsvold BS, Moen SM, Nygaard GO, Berg-Hansen P, Lie BA, Zwart JA, Harbo HF (2016)
Migraine and frequent tension-type headache are not associated with multiple sclerosis in a Norwegian case-control study
Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin, 2, 2055217316682976
DOI 10.1177/2055217316682976, PubMed 28607748

Moen SM, Harbo HF, Celius EG, Sowa P, Nygaard GO, Beyer MK (2016)
[Not Available]
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 136 (19), 1608
DOI 10.4045/tidsskr.16.0826, PubMed 27790879

Moen SM, Harbo HF, Celius EG, Sowa P, Nygaard GO, Beyer MK (2016)
[Not Available]
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 136 (20), 1702
DOI 10.4045/tidsskr.16.0865, PubMed 27830899

Moen SM, Harbo HF, Sowa P, Celius EG, Nygaard GO, Beyer MK (2016)
[MRI in multiple sclerosis]
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 136 (16), 1373-6
DOI 10.4045/tidsskr.15.1361, PubMed 27637059

Moen SM, Harbo HF, Sowa P, Celius EG, Nygaard GO, Beyer MK (2016)
MRI- investigations in multiple sclerosis
Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen., 136 (16), 1373-1376

Publications 2015

Nygaard GO, Celius EG, de Rodez Benavent SA, Sowa P, Gustavsen MW, Fjell AM, Landrø NI, Walhovd KB, Harbo HF (2015)
A Longitudinal Study of Disability, Cognition and Gray Matter Atrophy in Early Multiple Sclerosis Patients According to Evidence of Disease Activity
PLoS One, 10 (8), e0135974
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0135974, PubMed 26280173

Nygaard GO, de Rodez Benavent SA, Harbo HF, Laeng B, Sowa P, Damangir S, Bernhard Nilsen K, Etholm L, Tønnesen S, Kerty E, Drolsum L, Inge Landrø N, Celius EG (2015)
Eye and hand motor interactions with the Symbol Digit Modalities Test in early multiple sclerosis
Mult Scler Relat Disord, 4 (6), 585-9
DOI 10.1016/j.msard.2015.08.003, PubMed 26590666

Sowa P, Bjørnerud A, Nygaard GO, Damangir S, Spulber G, Celius EG, Due-Tønnessen P, Harbo HF, Beyer MK (2015)
Reduced perfusion in white matter lesions in multiple sclerosis
Eur J Radiol, 84 (12), 2605-12
DOI 10.1016/j.ejrad.2015.09.007, PubMed 26391230

Publications 2014

Gustavsen MW, Celius EG, Moen SM, Bjølgerud A, Berg-Hansen P, Nygaard GO, Sandvik L, Lie BA, Harbo HF (2014)
No association between multiple sclerosis and periodontitis after adjusting for smoking habits
Eur J Neurol, 22 (3), 588-90
DOI 10.1111/ene.12520, PubMed 25041906

Gustavsen MW, Page CM, Moen SM, Bjølgerud A, Berg-Hansen P, Nygaard GO, Sandvik L, Lie BA, Celius EG, Harbo HF (2014)
Environmental exposures and the risk of multiple sclerosis investigated in a Norwegian case-control study
BMC Neurol, 14, 196
DOI 10.1186/s12883-014-0196-x, PubMed 25274070

Nygaard GO, Walhovd KB, Sowa P, Chepkoech JL, Bjørnerud A, Due-Tønnessen P, Landrø NI, Damangir S, Spulber G, Storsve AB, Beyer MK, Fjell AM, Celius EG, Harbo HF (2014)
Cortical thickness and surface area relate to specific symptoms in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Mult Scler, 21 (4), 402-14
DOI 10.1177/1352458514543811, PubMed 25139946

Publications 2001

Fremeau RT, Troyer MD, Pahner I, Nygaard GO, Tran CH, Reimer RJ, Bellocchio EE, Fortin D, Storm-Mathisen J, Edwards RH (2001)
The expression of vesicular glutamate transporters defines two classes of excitatory synapse
Neuron, 31 (2), 247-60
DOI 10.1016/s0896-6273(01)00344-0, PubMed 11502256

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