Bård Hoff, Steffen Bugge and Svein Jacob Kaspersen from the Department of Chemistry at NTNU and Eirik Sundby from the Department of Technology at HIST came up with the best idea at NTNU this year.

In the idea competition "Gullegget", arranged by NTNU for the first time, about 50 ideas were considered by NTNU Technology Transfer Office (TTO). It was the possible cancer cure that won first prize.
 

Steffen Bugge, Bård Hoff, Rector Torbjørn Digernes, Svein Jacob Kaspersen and Eirik Sundby. As the owner of TTO, NTNU Rector Torbjørn Digernes handed out the prize.
- This is an important part of our mission for society, he said. - Through commercialization of ideas, society gets good use of the knowledge we produce. It is also very satisfying that this project shows that cooperation with HIST bear fruit.
Photo: Per Henning / NTNU
 
Prevents cell mutation
Bård Helge Hoff and the research group have studied a type of kinase inhibitor. Kinases is an enzyme class that affects the activities of other enzymes. The Kinases convey signals and control complex processes in cells. In some cancers, these kinases are overactive by being in high numbers or they contain mutations. This means that the cancer cells can grow rapidly.
 
The research group has found a way to inhibit the signals a certain type of kinase sends out, so that cancer cells do not get evolved. Although the project is at an early stage, the group hopes that the molecules that are detected can be used in future cancer treatment.

Billion Dollar Market
 Kinase inhibitors themselves are not new, but the challenge is that the body develops immunity to the treatment. A new kinase inhibitor would be an attractive addition to the market, which already amounts to about $30 billion annually in the U.S. alone.
 
Community Missions
Arranging Idea Competitions like Gullegget is one of the ways NTNU works to stimulate values and highlight the knowledge produced at the university in the best interests of society.
 
The prize money the research group won will be used to further develop the project. Among other things, the idea will be patented and that requires significant financial funds.
 
The ideas should be visible
- This is very gratifying for the NT faculty, says Åse Krøkje, vice dean for research at the faculty. - There have already been several good ideas from our research, but the potential is still huge. I hope that activities such as TTO's idea competition can contribute to the further development of more good ideas.

As spring arrives earlier for every year, the normal food supply does not peak along with the breeding seaon like before. This is a challenge for the great tit but research shows that population growth has not been affected by climate change.

Read more here:

Klimatøff kjøttmeis tåler tidligere vår (forskning.no - In Norwegian)

Population Growth in a Wild Bird Is Buffered Against Phenological Mismatch
(Science magazine)

The Technoport awards is an annual event held by NTNU and SINTEF. Olav Erga has conducted research for 50 years on the separation of harmful gases from emissions and was awarded for his substantial work contributing to a "Green Economy".

Winners at the 2013 Technoport Awards. Photo: Max Eckbo Hallqvist/Technoport

Read more and see video:

Technoport Awards winners 2013 (Technoport official web site).
Olav Erga - Winner Technoport Award for Applied Technology 2013 (YouTube video)

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