NORD-ACT

NORD-ACT was founded in 2024.

The goal is to have a network where researchers within obstetrics and gynecology in the Nordic countries can escalate their research from national to international by establishing collaboration between relevant research groups and clinics in the countries concerned.

Participating countries at foundation are Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland.

Relevant studies for NORD-ACT rely on participation of more than one country within the alliance. Preferable studies are multicenter clinical trials, i.e. relying on clinical resources, but registerbased observational studies can be supported.

The NORD-ACT steering committee includes NFOG members from each country representing the national research networks or appointed by the national society.

 

NORD-ACT does not:

– Decide whether a project should or should not be implemented, but to assess whether a project is suitable for and will benefit from being part of the network.

– Change a project‘s purpose or design.

– Wish to gain ownership or co-autorship in projects within NORD-ACT.

 

 

Policy

Purpose

NORD-ACT aims to:

• Facilitate Nordic collaboration in studies in Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Increase the opportunity for clinics in respective countries to participate in international clinical research
• Improve the evidence base for care in Obstetrics and Gynecology

The network

NORD-ACT is a research network under NFOG, independent of industry and authorities. All women‘s clinics in respective countries are welcome to participate. The structure consists of a steering committee in combination with national research networks or groups.

Tasks

NORD-ACT‘s fields of activity are 1) facilitating individual multicenter studies, 2) providing a platform for exchange of experiences from the national networks and research groups and 3) work for an improved research infrastructure and better premises for research in the Nordic countries and internationally.

Studies supported by NORD-ACT are facilitated by the network but run by individual resarch groups.

The main tasks of the steering committee are to have overview of planned and ongoing studies relevant for clinics in the other Nordic countries and facilitate contact between study groups and clinics in the Nordic countries. In studies part of the NORD-ACT the aim is to facilitate infrastructure work, give advice on application proceedures in studies actual for the network and give feedback on trial protocol.

The steering committee

The NORD-ACT steering committee includes two NFOG members from each country representing the national research networks or appointed by the national society.

All representatives should be part of the respective national research network or society and have academic experience with at least PhD. The term of office is 4 years, and a maximum of 12 years. New members are appointed from the national network or society of his/her country.

The steering committee has meetings at least two times per year and during the NFOG Congress. The aim is to have a two-day onsite meeting at least every second year. A chair person and a vice-cha are appointed within the steering committee.

Chair person

The steering committee appoints a chair person from among the members for a mandate period of 2 years, and a maximum of 6 years. The intended chair is vice-chair for at least one year. The chair position rotates between the Nordic countries. After end of the chair period, the chair person can continue as a member of the steering committee.

The chair person is responsible for scheduling and sending out agenda for the committee meetings.

Vice Chair

Preferably, the vice chair becomes chair person after at least one year as vice chair. The chair and the vice chair should represent different countries as the chair position should rotate between the Nordic countries.

The vice chair is secretary.

Changes in the policy document

Changes in the policy document only take place after a steering committee meeting where a simple majority of all members of the steering committee support the suggestion. In case of even numbers, an extra vote will be given to the chair.

 

 

Members of the steering committee

 

Denmark

Christina Vinter

Lead Obstetrician, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Denmark
E-mail: christina.vinter at rsyd.dk

Julie Glavind

Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
E-mail: julie.glavind at clin.au.dk

 

Finland

Hannele Laivuori

Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
Chief physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
E-mail: hannele.laivuori at tuni.fi

Ilkka Kalliala

Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki University and University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
E-mail: ilkka.kalliala at hus.fi

 

Iceland

Heiðdís Valgeirsdóttir

Chair
Obstetrician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
E-mail: heiddisv at landspitali.is

Jóhanna Gunnarsdóttir

Obstetrician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Landspitali – the University Hospital of Iceland
Associate professor, Department of medicine, University of Iceland
E-mail: johagunn at hi.is

 

Norway

Ingvil Krarup Sørbye

Senior Consultant OBGYN, Department of Obstetrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
Professor, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
E-mail: isorbye at ous-hf.no

Trond Melbye Michelsen

Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
Professor, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
E-mail: t.m.michelsen at medisin.uio.no

 

Sweden

Sophia Brismar Wendel

Vice Chair, Secretary
Obstetrician, Department of Women‘s Health, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Associate professor, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
E-mail: sophia.brismar at ki.se

Verena Sengpiel

Obstetrician, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for clinical sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
E-mail: verena.sengpiel at obgyn.gu.se

 

Links to the national networks

Denmark: Danish ObGyn Intervention Trials, DOIT

Finland: Finnish Clinical Research Network of Gynecology and Obstetrics, SNAKTU

Iceland: The Icelandic Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, FÍFK

Norway: NORBIRTH

Sweden: The Swedish network for national clinical studies in Obstetrics and Gynecology, SNAKS

 

Meeting Time Points

2025:

August 20 (1 hr) at 4-5 pm CET – online

August 24 (2 hrs) at 4-6 pm CET – Sunday at the NFOG Congress – in person

 

Contact: research at nfog.org