About us
A joint effort between university and hospital
Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research (SCCR) is a joint effort between the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg and the Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SU). SCCR is a cancer center focusing on translational cancer research, with the patient as a focal point. The long-term goal of the center is to improve the care of cancer patients by facilitating new scientific discoveries and translating these into clinical practice.
Cancer - a strategic research area
The center was formed in 2010 as an effect of cancer being designated a strategic research area at the University of Gothenburg, as well as being part of the government-supported strategic research program BioCARE.
It was together with colleagues at Lund University that cancer researchers in Gothenburg were awarded this research program, which the Swedish government had announced as a strategic initiative. Combined with co-financing from the vice-chancellor at University of Gothenburg, these funds then became the basis for the establishment of Sahlgrenska Cancer Center (SCC).
Göran Stenman served as SCC director from its inception until the middle of 2018, when instead Jonas Nilsson took over this position. When Jonas was given the opportunity to start a new research laboratory in Perth, Australia, the center needed a new director. This time, in February 2020, Mikael Nilsson accepted to take on this role.
From 1st of July 2020 Sahlgrenska Cancer Center officially changed its name to Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research. This change took place, since a center with the name Sahlgrenska Cancer Center was formed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital as part of the accreditation process for the hospital to become a Comprehensive Cancer Center. This process reached its goal on the 13th of May 2002, when the hospital's cancer center turned into the accredited Sahlgrenska Comprehensive Cancer Centre (SCCC).
An important hub for cancer research
Today the Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research is an important hub within cancer research, with actively research engaged clinicians from several areas, such as surgery, pathology, oncology, gynecology and urology.
Over the years the collaboration with the clinics at Sahlgrenska University Hospital has developed very well and has meant an attractive research environment for many to consider, not least for top researchers within the cancer field. The conditions for cancer research in Gothenburg has therefore improved significantly compared to the time prior to the founding of the center. The grants from the Swedish Cancer Society have for example both increased and become larger in recent years.
Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research (then Sahlgrenska Cancer Center) also got top marks in the evaluation from the Swedish Cancer Society, when they made an on-site visit three years after the center’s establishment.
Positive effect on research results
The establishment of Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research (former Sahlgrenska Cancer Center) has also had a very positive effect on the research results. The researchers of SCCR have for instance made a series of important and in some cases groundbreaking discoveries that have benefited cancer patients.
New biomarkers for faster and safer diagnosis and prognoses are examples of this as well as new target molecules, which can be used for future development of new cancer treatment. Innovative clinical trials, with cancer patients from Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SU) and elsewhere, have also been initiated and carried on by a couple of the center’s research teams.
Steering Committee
Chairman
Mikael Nilsson, MD, PhD, Director & Group leader at Sahlgrenska Cancer Center and Professor of Anatomy
Vice Chairman
Göran Stenman - DMD, PhD, Professor
Other board members
Karin Sundfeldt - MD, PhD, Professor, Consultant Ob & Gyn
Martin Johansson - MD, PhD, Professor, Chief physician
Claes-Olof Jönsson - MD, PhD, Associate Professor (external board member)
Helena Carén - PhD, Associate Professor (Adjunct research representative)
Michelle Kha - PhD Student (Adjunct PhD Student representative)
Management
Director
Mikael Nilsson - Professor
Administrative Staff
Research Administrator
Yael Zukovsky Fitoussi