NorTrials Kick-off Meeting, 20th May 2022
NorTrials was launched on 20th May 2022. The event took place at Hotel Bristol in Oslo, with an audience consisting of around 90 people from the pharmaceutical and medtech industry, health trust employees and other stakeholders. Almost as many followed the event by streaming.
Talks
State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng from the Ministry of Health and Care Services made the official launch and gave an enthusiastic speech about the opportunities NorTrials provide.
Siv Mørkved from Central Norway Regional Health Authority provided insights into the history and development of NorTrials. Terje Rootwelt, chair of the NorTrials board and CEO of Southern and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, emphasized that collaboration between health trusts and industry is a win-win and should be encouraged. Karita Bekkemellem, CEO of the Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry in Norway, shared the enthusiasm and thanked the health authorities for the realization of NorTrials.
After the talks, it was time for the six NorTrials centers to present themselves:
- Brain and neurology: Haukeland University Hospital
- Autoimmune diseases/inflammation: Stavanger University Hospital
- Cancer: Oslo University Hospital
- Cardiovascular: Akershus University Hospital
- Medical Devices: St. Olav University Hospital
- Gastrointestinal disorders: University Hospital of North Norway
Finally, a panel consisting of three representatives of the NorTrials board, Terje Rootwelt (chair), Anders Flatla and Thorbjørn Halvorsen, representing the regional health authorities, the pharmaceutical industry and medtech industry, respectively, shared their views on NorTrials and the way forward. The audience had the opportunity to ask questions to the panel and the NorTrials center leaders.
There was a good atmosphere throughout the meeting and we all hope that NorTrials will live up to the high expectations!