Region Norrbotten

The research team at Region Norrbotten is dedicated to optimizing peri‑operative care by exploring new anesthesia protocols and pain‑management strategies.

• Evaluation of goal‑directed low oxygen concentration during surgery
• Reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting with novel anti‑emetic regimens
• Safety assessment of surgery under general anesthesia in diverse patient groups

Conducted by AnOpIVA at Sunderby sjukhus, the site currently supports 23 clinical trials with 25 investigators, emphasizing improved recovery and patient comfort.

Investigations focus on multidrug‑resistant urinary tract infections and respiratory bacterial diseases, aiming to identify effective oral alternatives and reduce antibiotic overuse.

• Oral step‑down therapy for ESBL‑producing Enterobacterales UTIs
• Comparison of phenoxymethylpenicillin versus no antibiotics for group A streptococcal‑negative tonsillitis
• Management of urinary tract infections caused by extended‑spectrum beta‑lactamases

The hospital’s antimicrobial stewardship program integrates these trials to improve infection outcomes while limiting resistance.

Studies aim to enhance maternal health by testing innovative approaches to labour and cervical disease prevention, including outpatient labour induction.

• Safety and effectiveness of outpatient induction of labour
• Impact of organised HPV vaccination and screening on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
• Evaluation of prophylactic strategies for pregnancy‑related complications

Collaborations with the Swedish cervical screening program enable population‑level assessments of vaccine impact.

The site conducts cutting‑edge trials on blood‑forming and lymphatic cancers, targeting mantle cell lymphoma and related disorders with novel targeted agents and immunotherapies.

• Combination of rituximab and ibrutinib in mantle cell lymphoma
• Acalabrutinib monotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Subcutaneous daratumumab for high‑risk smoldering multiple myeloma
• Epco‑ritamab with lenalidomide and rituximab in relapsed follicular lymphoma
• Hydroxyurea addition to standard therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia

These investigations seek to improve survival and quality of life for patients with hematologic malignancies.

Precision oncology drives research into solid tumors, with particular attention to non‑small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer bearing molecular alterations.

• HER2‑mutated advanced NSCLC treated with targeted therapy
• Adjuvant aspirin in colorectal cancer with PIK3CA mutations
• Stage II‑III colon and rectal cancer trials focusing on molecular profiling
• Evaluation of stereotactic body radiotherapy combined with durvalumab in early‑stage NSCLC

By integrating genomic data, the centre aims to tailor treatments and extend progression‑free survival for cancer patients.

Research addresses metabolic risk factors, exploring therapies for lipid disorders and early diabetes, including a comparison of type 2 diabetes treatments.

• Evolocumab plus standard lipid management after acute myocardial infarction
• SGLT2‑inhibitor versus metformin in early type 2 diabetes
• Dyslipidemia control strategies in high‑risk cardiovascular patients

These trials support a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular health and metabolic disease prevention.

The department evaluates innovative therapies for lung conditions, with a focus on advanced stereotactic body radiotherapy and supportive care during anesthesia.

• Durvalumab after SBRT for early‑stage NSCLC
• Post‑operative arterial oxygenation improvement with low‑oxygen anesthesia
• Management of severe acute tonsillitis affecting respiratory comfort

By linking oncology and respiratory medicine, the site seeks to enhance treatment outcomes for patients with lung disease.