NorTrials strengthens its team with pediatric expertise

Sigrun holds a degree in cell biology from the University of Bergen (UiB) and a PhD in cancer research, also from UiB. She has since 2017 been involved in various clinical research projects at Haukeland University Hospital. Since 2019, she has served as coordinator at the NorPedMed secretariat – the research network for pediatric medicines. In 2022, she was appointed as the European Correspondent for Norway in ECRIN, representing the Norwegian clinical research infrastructure network, NorCRIN. Sigrun is also the Norwegian representative in the European Conect4Children (c4c) network and one of three coordinators at NorTrials Brain Health.

As previously mentioned by NorTrials (Children are not small adults - NorTrials), children are not small adults. They can react differently to medications, yet over 50% of treatments administered to children are "off-label" due to a lack of clinical trial data specifically for them. It is widely agreed that excluding children from clinical trials is unethical. In 2007, the EU introduced the Pediatric Regulation to ensure better documentation of safety and efficacy for medicines intended for children, aiming to increase their availability. Norway implemented this regulation in 2017.

The national pediatric community and NorTrials have had a common goal to attract more pediatric clinical trials to Norway. Given that pediatric research spans various disciplines, it was deemed appropriate to integrate a qualified resource into NorTrials' coordinating unit rather than establish a separate center.

"When a 20% part-time position was established within the unit, Sigrun Margrethe Hjelle, with her extensive national and international experience, was a natural choice," said Signe Øien Fretland, head of NorTrials' coordinating unit.

"We are very pleased to have Sigrun join the team to focus on maintaining and expanding the national network she has helped build through NorPedMed. With her experience in ECRIN and c4c, she will also serve as an effective representative for Norway and NorTrials on the international stage. Sigrun will continue her employment at Haukeland University Hospital, emphasizing her national role via NorTrials in advocating for pediatric studies across all hospitals within Norway.

"I am grateful for the trust placed in me and look forward to taking on this role, collaborating with the rest of the team in NorTrials' coordinating unit," said Hjelle. "We have a collaborative plan for our work ahead, and I am particularly eager to connect with all pediatric departments nationwide. It is crucial that we bring more pediatric studies to Norway and ensure that more children have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials, regardless of their location”.