– For me, this is exactly the project I have really wanted to work on and achieve. This was a fantastic Christmas gift! says Associate Professor Stian Orm the day after receiving the good news.
And the news came from the board of the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority. In Thursday's meeting, they allocated NOK 149 million in research funds to 86 different projects. The research funds are awarded to projects at the hospitals in the region and are intended to contribute to research in clinical environments.
The funded project originates from Innlandet Hospital, where Stian Orm is the project leader through his adjunct position. They will receive nearly NOK nine million over three years.
In addition to Stian, Associate Professors Karin Boson, Erik W. Skogli, and Carolien Konijnenberg from INN are involved, with the latter two also holding adjunct positions at Innlandet Hospital. Professor Krister Fjermestad from the University of Oslo and Anne Benedicte Skirbekk from Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital are also part of the team.
Aiming to bridge treatment gaps
The research group is about to embark on an extensive research project. They will conduct a clinical intervention study of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders aged 6 to 18 years.
– How will this be done in practice?
– Parents, the child or the adolescent will come to the clinic and describe the challenges they face in daily life. Based on this, the clinician will find a module or programme that specifically addresses the challenges they present, explains Stian Orm.
There are many possible examples of treatment.
– It could be anxiety treatment, guidance for parents or teachers on challenging behaviour, or social skills training. Participants will receive up to 16 sessions of talk-based therapy. What happens during the intervention is what we will research, says Stian.
– Why is this research important?
– We know that the prevalence of children and adolescents with autism is increasing significantly in Norway, and more and more are being diagnosed. At the same time, we know there is a substantial treatment gap when it comes to what we do after these children and adolescents receive a diagnosis, explains Orm.
– We currently do not have a good offer for treating mental health comorbidities in children and adolescents on the autism spectrum in Norway. This initiative we are starting now provides that. Now we can systematically treat these children and adolescents and conduct research on it.
Means a lot
Stian Orm has not been in the field of research for long. He defended his doctoral thesis in December 2023 and is excited about what lies ahead.
– For me, this is a mix of terror and delight. I am a new researcher, and it is, of course, a bit overwhelming to lead such a large project with so much funding early in my career, says an excited Orm.
The competition for the research funds awarded now is tough. 465 applications were submitted. Stian did not expect to receive the funding.
– I am very happy. This is indeed a recognition of the work we have put into the application and the expertise we have in the project group, he says.
But this also means a lot for the psychology community at the university.
– This is a recognition of the academic environment we have within neuropsychology and autism research. Additionally, it is also a recognition of the clinical expertise available at the department, says Ingeborg Flagstad, head of the Department of Psychology at INN.
The board at the university decided at their meeting on 13 November to proceed with an application to accredit a six-year professional psychology programme at INN.
The allocation from the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority is significant for this work, Flagstad believes.
– In relation to our plans to establish a professional psychology programme, it is important for us to showcase the clinical expertise that exists at the Department of Psychology. In this regard, the timing of this grant was perfect.
Regional research funds
The psychology academic environment is strategically working to enhance its research activity in collaboration with Innlandet Hospital.
– This collaborative project that we have now received support for is important in this effort and aligns with our strategy. Those of us with joint positions at INN and the hospital will work to strengthen the cooperation between the institutions, says Stian Orm.
All applications submitted to the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority were assessed based on criteria for scientific quality and expected benefit for patient treatment.
– We are very pleased with both the quality and the breadth of the applications. Good patient care is closely linked to research and professional development, says Terje Rootwelt, Chief Executive Officer at the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.
The academic assessment was conducted by six review committees consisting of highly qualified members recruited almost exclusively from international research environments.
Contact information:
- stian.orm@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 61 28 84 45
- ingeborg.flagstad@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 61 28 82 26