The year was characterized by high research activity, new projects, important milestones and solid external funding.
Caption: Marthe K. Brun was honored with HM the King's Gold Medal for her doctoral degree in biological medicines. The research has resulted in new guidelines for the treatment of patients with inflammatory joint disease. Photo: Jarli&Jordan
“We combine specialized knowledge with interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure that new insights can be quickly put to use for the benefit of patients,” says Professor Espen A. Haavardsholm. He heads the research center REMEDY and is head of research at Diakonhjemmet Hospital.
Many projects, improved infrastructure and solid financing
– The most important thing is the people who put in a lot of effort every day to develop new knowledge, says Haavardsholm.
The research is based on close collaboration across disciplines, where employees from across the organization contribute to common results.
– It is also crucial that patients support the research, he emphasizes.
He also points out that research has received better conditions, including through the opening of a new biobank and new office space .
Evaluation of the research gave a high score
In 2025, the rheumatology research community at Diakonhjemmet Hospital received feedback from the Research Council's national professional evaluation of medical and health research , EVALMEDHELSE.
The evaluation provides both an overall picture of Norwegian health research and institution-specific assessments, including assessments of specific research groups. The evaluation showed very high academic quality, while also identifying areas with potential for improvement.
– The evaluation shows what we do well and where we can improve, says Haavardsholm.
The results have been actively used to clarify strategic priorities, strengthen research environments and further develop research.
Financing
Diakonhjemmet Hospital further strengthened its research by awarding funds for internal fellowship positions for the first time. One project at REMEDY received funding. The START study follows patients with early arthritis.
Towards the end of the year, researchers associated with REMEDY at Diakonhjemmet Hospital received significant results in the competition for regional research funds from the South-Eastern Health Ministry . Eight projects were awarded more than NOK 40 million for the next few years. The projects range from clinical studies to the development of healthcare services, digital patient processes and personalized medicine use. Seven of the projects originate from Diakonhjemmet Hospital, while one originates from Oslo University Hospital.
Three doctoral degrees based on clinical issues
During the year, three doctoral degrees were completed at REMEDY. All of them were based on issues that are important for patient care.
Emil Eirik Kvernberg Thomassen's research showed that digital follow-up can be a useful and desired alternative to traditional treatment for rheumatic disease.
Karen Holten showed through her thesis how patient-reported data can contribute to more targeted treatment for arthritis.
Hege Johanne Magnussen's research provided insight into what task sharing in the treatment of hand osteoarthritis means for patient participation and standardization of health services.
New treatment course for hand osteoarthritis
During the research year, a large randomized controlled trial was published in The Lancet Rheumatology. The multicenter study compared occupational therapist-led treatment with traditional rheumatologist-led treatment for hand osteoarthritis. The study included 374 participants.
– We found that the patients who met with an occupational therapist at the first consultation had just as good an effect. They were also just as satisfied as those who first went to a rheumatologist. The difference was the cost. It was lower if they met with an occupational therapist first, explains Professor Ingvild Kjeken. She has led the study for the eight years it has been ongoing.
The researchers developed the Happy Hands together with user collaborators in a parallel project. Patients reported less pain and better function after using the app for 12 weeks. This was confirmed in subsequent studies. They also reported greater confidence in everyday life.
The project group developed a new patient course based on the two studies. It is based on two main strategies; 1) treatment of hand osteoarthritis starts with patients using the Happy Hands app; 2) if further measures are needed, the patient is referred for consultation with an occupational therapist in the specialist health service.
The patient pathway will now be implemented in Norway with research funding from HSØ.
Innovation in patient follow-up
Researchers at Diakonhjemmet Hospital have also published the first study to systematically compare three ways of following up patients with axial spondyloarthritis, 1) digital, 2) patient-directed and 3) traditional follow-up. It shows that many patients with stable disease can have fewer regular check-ups, without worsening disease control. Both digital home follow-up and patient-directed follow-up worked as well as regular check-ups in person, over 18 months.
“More personalized follow-up can give patients greater flexibility and at the same time save resources,” says Professor Nina Østerås. She led the study together with Senior Consultant Inger Jorid Berg.
The study is published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases and shows that new follow-up models can be a good alternative for many – provided that patients receive help quickly if the disease worsens.
New international guidelines
During the research year, a comprehensive and important international work led by Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold was completed and published: ERS/EULAR clinical practice guidelines for connective tissue diseases associated interstitial lung disease . The guidelines provide standardized, evidence-based recommendations for screening, evaluation, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases and pulmonary manifestations .
The guidelines address key clinical questions with the goal of improving and harmonizing patient care, filling a knowledge gap in a field with a high burden of disease and wide variation in clinical practice.
The work has been developed by a multidisciplinary international group of rheumatologists, lung specialists, radiologists, pathologists and user collaborators.
Patient participation
User participation has long been an important part of research at the hospital.
In 2025, patients, clinicians, and researchers came together to prioritize the most important research questions going forward. The result was a publication in which prevention, rapid diagnosis, and more personalized treatment were ranked highest.
Early in the year, the Norwegian translation of EULAR's recommendations for involving user contributors in rheumatology research published.
For the second time, a course on user participation in medical and health research organized for doctoral candidates, experienced researchers and user participants. REMEDY, UiB and several major research centers were behind it.
– This provides a common framework for collaboration between researchers and user contributors, says Haavardsholm.
Professional recognition
Marthe Kirkesæther Brun was awarded the King's Gold Medal for her research. The award is given for scientific work of particularly high quality. Brun's research has already changed the treatment of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases in Norway.
Eirik Ikdahl has received the Scandinavian Rheumatology Research Award for his work in mapping and preventing additional diseases in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Ida Kristin Bos-Haugen was appointed professor at the University of Oslo.
Helga Sanner was appointed professor at the University of Oslo.
Anna-Birgitte Aga received the award for best abstract at the annual meeting of the Norwegian Rheumatological Association.
Mads Sundet received the award for the year's best free lecture from the Norwegian Orthopaedic Association, in the ankle and foot category, for the lecture County differences in the incidence of ankle prosthesis and arthrodesis surgery between 2008 and 2024.
Lars Eilertsen received the award for best lecture in the Shoulder and Elbow during the orthopedic autumn meeting, with the lecture, 101 primary Nexel elbow prostheses .
Marius Nøren received the award for best paper at the 14th National Research Conference on Musculoskeletal Health (MUSS).
Politics, communication and public debate
Dissemination, beyond the purely academic meeting places, was also an important part of the research work in 2025.
During Arendal Week , researchers, authorities and politicians agreed on the need for patient apps in the health service.
The Minister of Health visited the hospital later in the year, and the need for faster approval of patient apps was again raised – as in the previous year.
Researchers also contributed to the public debate through articles and reports in various media, including on job slippage , digital follow-up, and sustainable health services.
Professional meeting places
REMEDY was widely represented with lectures and posters at EULAR 2025 in Barcelona. In June, the Green Congress was organized with highlights from EULAR in a climate-friendly setting. Several also participated at the 40th Scandinavian Rheumatology Congress (SCR) in Malmö. The REMEDY conference brought together 130 participants for two days of professional exchange. Many from the hospital contributed to the Physiotherapy Congress. Researchers also participated in the OARSI Congress in South Korea.
RECONNECT organized a seminar on decentralized clinical trials, and REMEDY's Young Researcher Program brought together early-career researchers at Oscarsborg. The dialogue seminar at Diakonhjemmet Hospital focused on medications and coping, while the MUSS conference in November became a major interdisciplinary meeting place for musculoskeletal health.
Several international collaborations strengthened during the year
REMEDY hosted the general assembly of the EU-funded project SQUEEZE, in which over 60 researchers, clinicians and patient representatives from Europe participated.
Rikke Helene Moe is EULAR's Vice Director for HPR. In 2025, fruitful committee meetings and meetings with EULAR national presidents were held in Norway for the first time.
The center also had a visiting professor in 2025. The internationally renowned professor, Désirée van der Heijde, contributed several lectures on clinical trials and research methodology. Professor Kim Bennell took over as REMEDY's visiting professor in 2025.
Great interest in the media
Throughout the year, research at REMEDY was covered in the media and professional press. Topics such as rheumatology, osteoarthritis, work and digital follow-up received good visibility.
– Media coverage also helps ensure that new knowledge reaches patients, healthcare professionals and decision-makers early, says Haavardsholm.
A year that points forward
– With high academic activity, solid external funding and strengthened infrastructure, 2025 was a year of important steps forward, summarizes Haavardsholm.
The goal is to develop knowledge that is actually put to use, and that contributes to better, more accurate and more sustainable healthcare services – for the benefit of patients.
See also REMEDY's annual reports
