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The role of virus in the etiology of autoimmune diseases.

International Symposium. November 4. 2025.


Time: 12:00-18:30

Organizer: Oslo Diabetes Research Center and ENT1DEP Study Group

Venue: Auditorium Cancer Center Ullevål, Building 11, Oslo University Hospital (OUS), Street address: Kirkeveien 166, Oslo


Program


12:00 – 12.05. Welcome and introduction: Senior Professor Knut Dahl-Jørgensen


12.05. 12.35: Keynote lecture:

New insights in the pathogenetic mechanisms in autoimmune diseases. A role for exogenous agents?

Professor Ludvig Sollid, Director. Institute of immunology, OUS and UiO.

 

12:35-13:55

Current evidence for the role of enterovirus and other viruses in autoimmune diseases and the availability of target organ tissues for examinations.

Chairperson: Professor Sara Hammerstad, OUS

Type 1 diabetes: Professor Knut Dahl-Jørgensen. (15 minutes)

Endocrinology: Professor Sara Hammerstad (15 minutes)

Gastroenterology: Professor Ketil Størdal, OUS (15 minutes)

Reumatology: Senior researcher Guro Løvik Goll, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo. (15 minutes)

American (nPOD) and European tissue repositories. Sarah Richardson, Exeter, UK (20 minutes).

 

13:55 - 14:30. Refreshments.

 

14.30 – 14.50: Keynote lecture:

Targeting Epstein-Barr virus Infection for Treatment and Prevention of Multiple Sclerosis.

Dr. Gro Owren Nygaard, Dept of neurology, OUS. (20 minutes)

 

14:50 – 16:00

Methods for detection of persistent low-grade viral infections.

Chairperson: Professor Heikki Hyöty, Tampere, Finland

PCRs, VirCapSeq, in-situ hybridization, EM, proteomics:  Heikki Hyöty (30 minutes)

Detection of live viruses in tissues: Professor Antonio Toniolo, Varese, Italy. (20 minutes)

Detection of antiviral tissue responses: Professor Sarah Richardson, Exeter, UK. (20 minutes)

 

16:00- 16:15 – Short break

 

16:15 – 16.40 Keynote lecture:

Chairperson: Professor Øyvind Molberg, UiO and OUS.

New aspects of the immune system in autoimmunity and antiviral defense.

Dr. Federica Vecchio. Cochin Institute INSERM, Paris (25 minutes)

 

16:40 – 18:05

New strategies for treatment and prevention of Autoimmune diseases.

Chairperson: Sara Hammerstad

Antiviral treatment/Combination treatment: Knut Dahl-Jørgensen (15 minutes)

New antivirals: Professor Denis E. Kainov, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway (20 minutes)

Enterovirus vaccine: Professor Heikki Hyöty, Univ. Tampere (20 minutes)

Possible multivalent vaccines for treatment and prevention: Professor Gunnveig Grødeland, OUS, (20 minutes).

 

18:05 – 18:30

Short debate: Chairperson: Knut Dahl-Jørgensen

  1. New ideas for research focus?

  2. Can target tissues from many AIDs be adequately compared?

  3. How can collaborative studies of the role of enterovirus and other viruses in autoimmune diseases be organized and funded?

  4. Do we need an international study group?


18:30

End of meeting

Earlier Event: September 25
Thursday Meeting