Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark at the Sahlgrenska Academy competes in the category of “lifetime achievement”, one of five categories in the EU inventors price. Fifteen European inventors have been nominated in a variety of research areas. Per-Ingvar Brånemark is nominated for his development of osseointegration, a method aimed at anchoring the prosthesis directly to bone.

Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark is one of the pioneers of osseointegration and began to develop the method in the early 1960s. He discovered that titanium is not repelled by the body but instead integrated with the surrounding bone tissue. The discovery was used initially to treat surgically implanting the dental titanium implants, known as the Brånemark screws, – a treatment that has spread across the world and raised the quality of life for millions of people. The method has since been further developed and currently used osseointegration also include leg-arm and facial prosthetics, and anchorage of hearing aids.

Broke down barriers

Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark stresses that the close link between academia and the Sahlgrenska Hospital, as it was called back then, is one of the factors behind his successful research.
- When I began researching in 1961, I saw an opportunity to break down the boundaries between basic research and clinical activities. The cooperation has worked very well, both in relation to my colleagues and in relation to the patients who have been the basis for my research, “said Per-Ingvar Brånemark, which is still active in the field.

According to a press release from the European Patent Office judged entries based on invention, technology, economic impact and social relevance. The inventor’s prize was awarded by the EPO and the European Commission for the first time in 2006. This year also involved the EU Presidency, Hungary, and the winners will receive their prize in Budapest May 19

Click here for the original story in Swedish from the Sahlgrenska University website

Sahlgrenska University Hospital is according to a recent survey the best University Hospital in Sweden when it comes to guiding and teaching its interns.

Every year the Swedish organization SYFL conducts a survey where medical interns can grade their workplace. This year roughly 1000 interns participated in the survey.

Sahlgrenska I.C. would like to congratulate Sahlgrenska University Hospital on this achievement.

Postgraduate Specialist Program in Orthodontics:
Program start: August 2011
Deadline for applications: December 2010
Notification regarding admission interviews will be made before the end of January.
We cannot answer any inquiries regarding the application process or status of your application during this process.

Postgraduate Specialist Program in Periodontology:
Postponement of intake.
Deadline for applications and program start to be decided, updates will be presented soon.

On the 25th of November Mats Olsson from Karios Future presented the latest discoveries about the values and opinions of future health consumers at Sahlgrenska I.C:s yearly Christmas event.

The study Mats presented is called “Opinion Hälsa” and it is a long term study that Sahlgrenska I.C. recently started to contribute to along several other companies and organizations in the healthcare industry. In 2010 the study focused on the values of future health consumers and in 2011 it will focus on partnership for innovation in the healthcare industry.

Kairos Future is an international research and consulting firm that helps companies understand and shape their futures. To find out more please visit: www.kariosfuture.com

A study on the 25 years of Swedish experience of heart transplants from Sahlgrenska University Hospital has won the “Läkartingens” price in the category “best original study”. Two out of three heart transplants in Sweden have been performed in Gothenburg.

Today the survival rate after one year is above 90%, after 10 tears around 60% and after 20 years around 30%. The survivability among children has increased significantly.

Click here to read the “Läkartidningen” article in Swedish

On the 2nd of September 2010 researchers at the Centre of Orthopaedic Osseointegration (COO) and the orthopaedic clinic at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Mölndal presented a study that, for the first time, shows the results of treatment using prostheses attached to titanium implants in the bones of patients with above-the-knee amputations. It reveals that the treatment improves function and quality of life in nine out of ten patients.

“Attaching prostheses directly to the bone with an implant has long been an unattainable vision, and this has been in development for more than 20 years. But we are now seeing the international breakthrough for this revolutionary treatment,” says Brånemark, one of the authors behind the study, who explains that work is now underway on treating other amputations such as fingers and arms.

Please click here for the full story from The Sahlgrenska Acedemy

Anders Lygdman has been hired as our International aidcoordinator from November 1st 2010. Anders Lygdman comes from a role as Country Manager with responsibility for all of Diakonias business in Somalia. Anders Lygdman was responsible for five different projects during 2010 and work manager for 25 people. The business has included a budget of 22 million SEK.

-We are very happy that Anders now is here with the experience that he represents, says Marika Qvist VD Sahlgrenska I.C.

Anders begin his work by immediately do a follow-up trip to Rwanda between 16-25 of November together with Human Bridge.

Mail address to Anders is: anders.lygdman@vgregion.se

Kjartan Birgisson have found his rhythm again. Kjartan got a new heart through a transplant on Sahlgrenska University hospital in Gothenburg. The course of the event got intense and for a moment it was a person without a heart who laid there on the operating-table.

Kjartan has tried to remain positiv to his illness and learned to trust the experts. Now he look forward to play golf and badminton again.

Report from icelandic newspaper

Sahlgrenska I.C. started aid activities on behalf of the owner Region Västra Götaland on the first of January 2008, as a two-year project. The function was made permanent from the 15 December 2009. Marika Qvist, CEO of Sahlgrenska I.C: has the following to say about the international aid program.

- The work has gone well and it seems that international aid is growing. There is great demand in other countries for the medical materials exchanged in Region Västra Götaland, says Marika Qvist.
Every year, lots of so-called discarded materials are sent to various recipients. Among the materials transported abroad since its inception two years ago, the following was included:
• 300 beds
• 200 wheelchairs.
• 100 tables.
• Thousands of kilograms clothing and textiles.
Added to that are also chairs, microscopes, respirators, crutches, medical equipment and examination lamps.

- We have good cooperation with Human Bridge, which both verify that what is sent is in good condition and that the material reaches the destination, says Marika Qvist.
She adds:
- We know that aid work brings many good things.

Marika Qvist says, that the medical material, among other things, increase the quality of care and save lives in the recipient countries. The work raises the quality of life for many people, while the anti-corruption and provide better conditions, which is a security for the recipient.

- In addition, we know that this goes against the brain drain in the recipient and gives a saving of environment and resources, “says Marika Qvist.

The recipient countries include Ethiopia, Ukraine, Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia, Moldova, Tanzania and Congo. – Human Bridge is responsible for transportation costs, unless the recipient has not possibility when material is passed out from Sweden. Logistics takes care of me and besides all other advantages of course also gives the goodwill to the Region Västra Götaland, “says Marika Qvist.

Are there other countries that can receive care materials no longer used in health care in Region Västra Götaland?
- Yes, certainly. As I see it is the need for this material decommissioned inexhaustible, says Marika Qvist.

Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy run the risk of gradual deterioration in their cognitive abilities. Surgical treatment generally puts an end to seizures but can have a negative effect on memory. However, there is no further deterioration in memory, and some patients may even recover some of their memory capacity, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska.

For the full story in English please visit: http://www.sahlgrenska.gu.se/english/news_and_events/news/News_Detail//epilepsy-surgery-has-good-effect-.cid937313