Nyhedsbrev / Newsletter December 2024
Nyheder og information fra instituttet / News and information from the department
See English version below
Kære alle
Julen nærmer sig, og det betyder, at årets sidste nyhedsbrev fra instituttet er landet i jeres indbakke.
Inden vi går på juleferie, vil jeg gerne sige tak for jeres kæmpestore indsats i løbet af året – både for jeres store engagement i uddannelsesarbejdet og for indsatsen indenfor forskning og udvikling. Også stor tak for jeres bidrag til udviklingen af forskningskulturen på instituttet.
I dette nyhedsbrev kan I blandt andet læse om Healths nye afdeling, der yder støtte til Healths og regionshospitalernes forskere, om retningslinjerne for brug af forsøgsdyr i undervisningen og lidt om International Staff Office.
Rigtig god jul og godt nytår
Health Forskningsstøtte er klar til at hjælpe med fondsansøgninger
Health har etableret en ny afdeling for forskningsstøtte, og tre medarbejdere sidder allerede nu klar til at hjælpe forskere og administrativt personale med fondsansøgninger. Afdelingen er ny, og planen er, at den skal tilbyde en mere specialiseret støtte til forskerne i ansøgningsprocessen. Du kan blandt andet kontakte afdelingen, hvis du har brug for feedback på ansøgninger, identifikation af relevante nationale og internationale fonde eller rådgivning om ansøgningsstrategi og budgettering. Vær opmærksom på, at alle forskere på Health OG alle regionshospitaler, Præhospitalet, Psykiatrien og DEFACTUM kan få rådgivning hos Health Forskningsstøtte.
Læs mere om afdelingen, der ledes af funktionschef Anne Cathrine Thorup.
Tak for jeres vigtige arbejde for en bedre forskningskultur
Før sommerferien bad vi i institutledelsen alle fagmiljøer om at give den lokale forskningskultur et kritisk eftersyn med lokale fokusgruppemøder, hvor unge forskere fik taletid i et trygt og lukket rum. Processen har ført til en række lokale indsatser, der især kredser om klare karriereveje og forventningsafstemning med nærmeste leder. Institutledelsen har fået tilbagemeldinger fra omkring 30 fagmiljøer og ser frem til de sidste – nogle er stadig i proces. Når den udvidede lederkreds har delt de første erfaringer i starten af 2025, finder vi en måde at videns dele på, så alle interesserede kan få indsigt og inspiration. Som bekendt er det aldrig for sent at blive den afdeling, man kunne have været.
Brug for forsøgsdyr ved kurser – ingen må være i tvivl
Vi har for nylig haft en episode, hvor der i et af fagmiljøerne blev anvendt forsøgsdyr til undervisning uden den nødvendige lovhjemmel. Episoden blev afsæt for en opdatering af hjemmesiden, hvor I kan læse om rammerne for den undervisning, der inkluderer brug af forsøgsdyr. Tjek hjemmesiden – ingen må være i tvivl: https://clin.medarbejdere.au.dk/dyrefaciliteter/kurser-paa-forsogsdyr
Jeg vil benytte lejligheden til at understrege, at forsøgsdyr til kurser kun er en mulighed hos os, når andre undervisningsmetoder, fx video, ikke giver samme praktiske kompetence. Derfor afvikler vi fortsat færdighedskurser for læger samt kurser i bl.a. kirurgi, robotkirurgi og laparoskopi med brug af forsøgsdyr. Men derudover er principperne om reduction, refinement og replacement, også kaldet 3R GRUNDLOV, også på IKM.
Ophør af samarbejde med kinesiske sekventeringsvirksomheder
På baggrund af konkrete forespørgsler skal jeg understrege, at ALT samarbejde med kinesiske gen-sekventeringsvirksomheder er ophørt. Beslutningen er truffet af Aarhus Universitet på baggrund af et ændret risikobillede i forhold til datasikkerhed og for at undgå, at danske genom-data ender i Kina. Beslutningen betyder blandt andet, at indkøb af sekventeringsydelser hos BGI-gruppen, og dens datterselskaber er ophørt, og det er derfor nødvendigt at finde fx europæiske eller amerikanske alternativer på området.
Kender du International Staff Office?
International Staff Office (ISO) hjælper i forbindelse med rekruttering, onboarding og fastholdelse af internationale medarbejdere. Afdelingen tilbyder rådgivning og støtte til internationale forskere, ph.d.-studerende, gæsteforskere, men også deres partnere og familier. Derudover står ISO bag en række arrangementer, der finder sted i løbet af hele semesteret. Som international medarbejder kan du blandt andet gennem ISO få billetter til koncerter, opera, musicals, familieteater og film med livemusik i Musikhuset. De første billetter tilbydes til nyankomne internationale medarbejdere og deres familier, hvorefter invitationen sendes ud til alle på ISO’s mailingliste.
Læs mere om International Staff Office og tilmeld dig deres mailingliste.
Venlig hilsen
Jørgen Frøkiær
Dear All
Christmas is approaching, and that means the final newsletter of the year from the department has arrived in your inbox.
Before we head off for the holidays, I would like to thank you for your tremendous efforts throughout the year – both for your strong commitment to educational work and for your contributions to research and development. A big thank you as well for your role in developing the research culture at the department.
In this newsletter, you can read about Health’s new department that provides support to researchers at Health and the regional hospitals, the guidelines for using laboratory animals in teaching, and some information about the International Staff Office.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Health Research Support is ready to help with grant applications
Health has established a new research support department, and three employees are already available to assist researchers and administrative staff with grant applications. The department is new and aims to provide more specialized support to researchers during the application process. You can contact the department for feedback on applications, identification of relevant national and international funding opportunities, or advice on application strategy and budgeting.
Note that all researchers at Health and all regional hospitals, Prehospital, Psychiatry, and DEFACTUM can seek advice from Health Research Support.
Read more about the department, led by Function Manager Anne Cathrine Thorup.
Thank you for your important work toward a better research culture
Before the summer break, the department leadership asked all academic environments to critically examine their local research culture through focus group meetings where young researchers could speak freely in a safe and private setting.
This process has led to several local initiatives, particularly focused on clear career pathways and alignment of expectations with immediate supervisors. The department leadership has received feedback from approximately 30 academic environments and looks forward to receiving the remaining ones – some are still in progress. Once the extended leadership group shares their initial experiences in early 2025, we will find a way to share insights broadly, so everyone interested can gain inspiration. As always, it’s never too late to become the department we aspire to be.
Using laboratory animals in courses – No room for doubt
We recently had an incident in one of the academic environments where laboratory animals were used in teaching without the necessary legal authorization. This prompted an update to our website, where you can find the framework for teaching involving laboratory animals. Check the website – no one should be in doubt: https://clin.medarbejdere.au.dk/dyrefaciliteter/kurser-paa-forsogsdyr
I want to take this opportunity to emphasize that laboratory animals for courses are only an option when other teaching methods, such as videos, do not provide the same practical competencies. Therefore, we continue to hold skills courses for doctors as well as courses in areas such as surgery, robotic surgery, and laparoscopy involving laboratory animals. Beyond this, the principles of reduction, refinement, and replacement – also known as the 3R Constitution – remain fundamental at IKM.
Termination of cooperation with Chinese sequencing companies
In response to specific inquiries, I would like to stress that all collaboration with Chinese genome sequencing companies has ceased. This decision was made by Aarhus University due to a changed risk landscape regarding data security and to prevent Danish genome data from being accessed in China. This means, among other things, that the purchase of sequencing services from the BGI Group and its subsidiaries has stopped, necessitating the use of European or American alternatives.
Do you Know the international staff office?
The International Staff Office (ISO) provides assistance with the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of international staff. The department offers advice and support to international researchers, PhD students, guest researchers, and their partners and families. In addition, ISO organizes various events throughout the semester. As an international staff member, you can access tickets to concerts, operas, musicals, family theater, and films with live music at Musikhuset through ISO. Priority is given to newly arrived international staff and their families, after which invitations are sent to everyone on ISO’s mailing list.
Read more about the International Staff Office and sign up for their mailing list.
Best regards
Jørgen Frøkiær