About BiO

The Biotechnology Centre of Oslo (BiO) is a centre for molecular biology, biotechnology and bioinformatics within the University of Oslo. The centre is devoted to research and post-graduate training.

The Norwegian government has introduced a major national funding program for functional genomics (FUGE) and the University has designated molecular biology, biotechnology and bioinformatics priority areas for the next years, a commitment in which BiO will participate as a prominent element.

To provide strategic leadership in the field, the Biotechnology of Oslo is being reorganized with focus towards functional genomics. Dr. Kjetil Taskén started as new centre leader in August 2003, and 7-8 new research groups (approx 100 people) are to be recruited internationally over a period of 5-6 years. Technological research areas will include proteomics and bioinformatics, molecular and cell biology, molecular imaging and biotechnology.

The groups in the reorganized centre will have an overall common research focus on various aspects of Cell Signalling and Cellular Communication to facilitate synergy and collaboration between the groups. The reorganized centre will also provide services within proteomics and bioinformatics.

The current BiO has approximately 60 staff including group leaders, postdoctoral scientists, Ph.D. fellows, students and technical and administrative staff. BiO presently hosts the research groups of Kjetil Taskén, Hilde Nilsen, Hans Prydz, Bernd Thiede, Farrukh Chaudhry and Ian Donaldson.