Kåre Berg
Encyclopedia
Kåre Ingmar Berg was a Norwegian MD, professor in medical genetics
, physician-in-chief and well-cited researcher.
. He graduated as MD in 1957 and dr.med. in 1964 at the University of Oslo
. From 1964 to 1967 he was a fellow researcher at Rockefeller University
, New York.
In 1967 he became the first professor in medical genetics in Norway at the University of Oslo. In 1976 he became head of department of medical genetics at Ullevål University Hospital
and held this position until retirement in 2002. In the period 1993-2002 he was physician-in-chief at the Center of Preventive Medicine at Ullevål University Hospital. As a head of department of medical genetics at Ullevål University Hospital, Berg was in many years leader of all genetic prenatal diagnostics in Norway. In addition, he was in charge of genetic counseling of the population of Oslo
.
, an inherited component in serum which increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. He maintained the research on Lp (a) throughout life. His other research was focusing on genetics in general and complex diseases like myocardial infarction in particular.
Kåre Berg published approximately 650 scientific works, including 10 books and one lexicon. He held more than 120 invited lectures at international meetings, and was invited guest lecturer in approximately 40 universities abroad. In several periods he was a scholar-in-residence at National Institutes of Health in the United States. He continued as a researcher and research mentor after becoming a professor emeritus.
from 1987 to 1996 and member of the Norwegian biotechnology advisory board from 1991 to 1998. From 1995 he was a member of the committee of ethics in the Human Genome Organization, and from 2005 as deputy chairman. He was a member of the editorial board for several international journals and editor-in-chief in Clinical Genetics from 1970 to 1997. He was elected as a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
in 1974, and member of the board from 1975 to 1988.
He was also a member of the board in the Sigurd K. Thoresen Foundation for education and research for inherited diseases from the start in 1977 and chairman from 1994 until he died. He was a member of the board for the Nansen Fund.
Medical genetics
Medical genetics is the specialty of medicine that involves the diagnosis and management of hereditary disorders. Medical genetics differs from Human genetics in that human genetics is a field of scientific research that may or may not apply to medicine, but medical genetics refers to the...
, physician-in-chief and well-cited researcher.
Education and positions
Kåre Berg was born in HammerfestHammerfest
is a city and municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The municipality encompasses parts of three islands: Kvaløya, Sørøya, and Seiland. Hammerfest was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
. He graduated as MD in 1957 and dr.med. in 1964 at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. From 1964 to 1967 he was a fellow researcher at Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is a private university offering postgraduate and postdoctoral education. It has a strong concentration in the biological sciences. It is also known for producing numerous Nobel laureates...
, New York.
In 1967 he became the first professor in medical genetics in Norway at the University of Oslo. In 1976 he became head of department of medical genetics at Ullevål University Hospital
Ullevål University Hospital
Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital was opened in 1887. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of the Oslo University Hospital.Ullevål has more than 8,600 employees. 940 of them are doctors and 2,400 nurses. With a total of 1,200 beds Ullevål, admits some 45,000 patients per year and its...
and held this position until retirement in 2002. In the period 1993-2002 he was physician-in-chief at the Center of Preventive Medicine at Ullevål University Hospital. As a head of department of medical genetics at Ullevål University Hospital, Berg was in many years leader of all genetic prenatal diagnostics in Norway. In addition, he was in charge of genetic counseling of the population of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
Research
In the early days of his career Kåre Berg discovered the Lipoprotein(a)Lipoprotein(a)
Lipoprotein is a lipoprotein subclass. Studies have identified Lp as a putative risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke....
, an inherited component in serum which increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. He maintained the research on Lp (a) throughout life. His other research was focusing on genetics in general and complex diseases like myocardial infarction in particular.
Kåre Berg published approximately 650 scientific works, including 10 books and one lexicon. He held more than 120 invited lectures at international meetings, and was invited guest lecturer in approximately 40 universities abroad. In several periods he was a scholar-in-residence at National Institutes of Health in the United States. He continued as a researcher and research mentor after becoming a professor emeritus.
Commissions and honorary posts
Berg was an adviser in genetic diseases and medical ethics in the World Health Organisation from 1973. From 1986 Berg headed the WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Control of Hereditary Diseases. Berg was member of the permanent committee for International Congresses in Medical Genetics in the period 1981-1996 and the president of the committee in 1991-1996. He was a national delegate in ethic committees in the European CouncilEuropean Council
The European Council is an institution of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, currently Herman Van Rompuy...
from 1987 to 1996 and member of the Norwegian biotechnology advisory board from 1991 to 1998. From 1995 he was a member of the committee of ethics in the Human Genome Organization, and from 2005 as deputy chairman. He was a member of the editorial board for several international journals and editor-in-chief in Clinical Genetics from 1970 to 1997. He was elected as a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
in 1974, and member of the board from 1975 to 1988.
He was also a member of the board in the Sigurd K. Thoresen Foundation for education and research for inherited diseases from the start in 1977 and chairman from 1994 until he died. He was a member of the board for the Nansen Fund.