About the PaGE group

History and strategic goals

At its inception in 2018, the primary goal for PaGE was to become established as a research hub for psychiatric genetic epidemiology at Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital. Strategically, we set out to meet this goal with the following parallel approaches: 1) produce high quality research output, with an emphasis on visibility and impact; 2) seek funding for the recruitment of doctoral and postdoctoral fellows; 3) strengthen and develop national and international collaborative relationships.

Most recently, after becoming established as a research group with multiple independently-funded projects employing several research fellows, PaGE was in a position to set new strategic goals.

In 2021-2022, our objectives were set to:

1. develop the structure of the group to allow for further expansion; 
2. improve the quality and diversity of our research output; 
3. and increase the role of users in our work. 

The first of these objectives would be obtained by adding a permanent researcher position, which allowed the leadership responsibilities of the group to be shared. The second would be obtained by developing group-wide policies and practices for open and reproducible science, and by incentivizing the creation of tools and infrastructures to support research activities for group members and collaborators. The third would be approached via formal collaborations with user representative organisations, networks, and advisory boards.

Collaborations

PaGE researchers form an important part of the PsychGen Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Via the PsychGen centre, PaGE aims to foster collaborations between researchers across disciplines and countries in the field of psychiatric genetic epidemiology, in service of advancing knowledge about the role of genetic and environmental factors – and their interplay – in the development and progression of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions across the lifespan. Other important domestic collaborators include the PROMENTA and NORMENT groups at the University of Oslo.

Internationally, PaGE has a wide range of important collaborators, including University of Bristol, Cardiff University, University College London, Birkbeck University of London, Karolinska Institutet, Oxford Brookes University [all UK], University of North Carolina, Columbia University [both U.S.A], University of Queensland [Australia], University of Iceland, University of Copenhagen [Denmark]). Through these collaborations, we are able to develop more sophisticated and pertinent research questions, develop and apply state-of-the-art methodologies, access a wider array of data sources and ensure that different perspectives inform our research process.