Through external funding, Hilde Ørbo had the opportunity to immerse herself in one of the world's strongest rheumatology research environments. For Ørbo, her stay abroad in Boston was both a professional breakthrough and a personal experience that she will take with her.
Through the Young Researchers Program (YRP), she received support to further develop and complete projects she worked on during a ten-month research stay in the United States. The stay provided new expertise, strong collaboration partners, and concrete research results.
Research on vaccines and cancer risk
Ørbo works on vaccine response and efficacy of vaccines in patients with rheumatic disease who use immunosuppressive medications. During her stay abroad, she also worked on cancer risk and cancer mortality in immunosuppressed patients.
– I mainly work on how vaccines work in patients with rheumatic disease who are on immunosuppressive treatment. During my stay, I also got to delve into cancer risk, especially cervical cancer and lymphomas, she says.
The original project was about cervical cancer, cell changes and the effect of HPV vaccine in patients with rheumatic disease. During the stay, the project portfolio was expanded to include other forms of cancer.
Strong traditions in Boston
The purpose of the stay was to learn epidemiological research methods, which are essential for analyzing large data sets that follow patients over time.
– I wanted to learn how to study causal relationships at the group level in large, longitudinal materials. It's something this environment is world-leading in.
Ørbo was affiliated with Professor Dan Solomon's research group at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University. Professor Solomon has had a long-standing collaboration with REMEDY, and his group has a long tradition of high-level clinical rheumatology research.
“The department celebrated its 50th anniversary while I was there. That says a lot about the level and continuity,” she says.
New knowledge and higher quality of projects
During her stay, Ørbo took several courses at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, focusing on study design and statistical methods. She also received close supervision in her daily work.
– I learned a tremendous amount about how to design and conduct good studies. The projects would never have gotten this far in such a short time without the help and guidance I received there from Professor Solomon and his group.
The stay resulted in three scientific articles that only lack some additional registry information, with a fourth in the works. In addition, she participated in several projects in Solomon's research group.
– The results from one of my projects were presented as a separate lecture during the European Rheumatology Congress in Barcelona in June, she says.
An international professional network
The stay also provided access to a broad international network.
– I have established a collaboration both with Solomon's group and with colleagues from, among others, South Korea and Japan, who conduct research at a very high level.
Ørbo plans to build on the projects developed in Boston, and envisions several new research projects based on the work started there.
A demanding but inspiring work culture
The encounter with the work culture in the United States made an impression.
– In general, the work culture is tougher than in Norway. The feedback is more direct, and work-life balance is seen as something very European.
At the same time, she gained a unique insight into how researchers in other parts of the world work.
– I got to know colleagues from Japan and South Korea well, where the requirements are even tougher. It makes me grateful for the framework we have at REMEDY, but also aware that you can stretch further than you think.
A stay full of experiences
Their stay in the United States was also rich in experiences outside of work. Hilde and her husband took the opportunity to explore the country.
– We got weekend trips to New York, I attended the American Rheumatology Congress in Washington DC, and we traveled across the United States from Florida to California.
Her husband also spent a month and a half big-wall climbing in Yosemite National Park.
The stay coincided with the presidential election in the United States, which left its mark on everyday life.
– It was a particularly challenging time to experience. We received monthly reminders to always carry ID and documentation, and several colleagues lost research funding because the field they were researching suddenly became controversial.
Hospitality and everyday moments
What perhaps made the biggest impression were the people.
– I was received incredibly warmly. We made friends from all over the world that I hope to have for the rest of my life.
She highlights small everyday moments: neighbors who showed up, spontaneous conversations, and a Christmas on Cape Cod.
