Lene Frost Andersen took up her post as leader of the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences back in January 2017. In the New Year, she hands over the key to her office to Philippe Collas. What are the memories that especially stick in her mind from these eight years?
– The pandemic, answers Frost Andersen. She says that she was impressed by how the teachers threw themselves into the challenge and rapidly devised new teaching methods. In particular since not all the teaching could be conducted online, as for example dissection and other practical subjects.
– In addition, our competent members of staff in the administration and specialist sections spared no effort in their support of these rapid changes. For a while, the pandemic had a detrimental effect on research, but everyone worked constructively in order to make some progress. I remember the pandemic well, but at the same time, it feels a long way off. It is the most vivid of my memories because, in spite of the circumstances, it went well, she says.
Pleased to have seen through the establishment of the new laboratory animal unit
Another area that the outgoing leader remembers well is that she, in collaboration with the Faculty administration, at last managed to restructure the Department of Comparative Medicine – a process that had been ongoing for a long time and that several of her predecessors had also worked on. From now on, the Department of Comparative Medicine at IMB will operate as the laboratory animal unit serving the whole of UiO.
– I was also very glad that we managed to refurbish the two eldest of our three dissection rooms. This was absolutely necessary for both the teaching and the teachers, since the number of medical students has steadily been on the increase, says Frost Andersen.
According to the Head of the Institute, the number of students has increased by 40 during her time in office. And next year, even more will become students at IMB.
– This is a challenge because our buildings and facilities are the same as before the increase and because the medical students’ study schedules are complicated and difficult to adjust to the larger number of student groups.
Better at communicating research
Another aspect that she thinks has changed a good deal during her period of office is how research is communicated.
– I feel that we are now a lot better at communicating and IMB’s researchers have become more visible in the media in general. This was particularly evident during the pandemic, when we managed to profile some strong communicators such as Anne Spurkland and Arnoldo Frigessi, says Frost Andersen.
Good collaboration in the management group
Some years before her tenure, IMB was reorganised and the many different units were amalgamated to form the present four departments at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences. One of her major tasks has been to get the new organisation up and running, including a new financial model whereby each department has responsibility for its own budget and results.
– As the head of such a large institute as IMB, it is impossible to act as leader at all levels. Many areas of responsibility are therefore delegated to the four heads of department and I then discuss matters in my own management group, where we examine strategy, development and broad disciplinary themes together. I have greatly appreciated the collaboration in the management group, says the head of the institute.
She emphasises that as a new leader at the start of your tenure, all the support you receive from a professional administration and staff in the specialist sections is invaluable. In addition, it has been nice to get to know so many people across all departments, something that a professor working in one place often does not experience.
Not much that has given her sleepless nights
Frost Andersen has faced a number of challenges during her time as head of the institute, for example, IMB has received many enquiries about the extensive collection of skeletons housed at the institute. But she assures us that in general, not much that has happened during her period of office has given her sleepless nights.
– The management group has by and large managed to find solutions to the challenges that have occurred, says the outgoing leader.
During her period of office, she has been at pains to avoid are too many rematches.
– My policy has been to listen and be open for suggestions, but then to make a decision and carry through what has been decided on, says Frost Andersen.
Returns to the research bench
The professor will now be returning to the research projects she has been working on at the Department of Nutrition. The Dean of the Faculty, Hanne Flinstad Harbo, gives her a send-off with these words:
– Lene Frost Andersen has been a hard-working Head of IMB, lifting the quality of both research, teaching and communication. Our collaboration has been good and constructive. I wish her all the very best for the major research projects that she will be working on going forward.
Finances pose a future challenge
Frost Andersen reveals that the institute’s financial position has been good and stable during her tenure but in the future, as with elsewhere in the university sector, it will be an area of particular focus. The institute’s finances have also been affected by the fact that the University’s Estate Department transferred responsibility for so-called "user equipment" to the various institutes.
– These were expenses that we didn’t previously have. Some of this equipment is very expensive and since we don’t know in advance when things will go into disrepair, we can suddenly be faced with very big bills. As well as other future economic challenges, good financial management will be an important area of focus for the new leader, she says.
An energetic leader who is good at listening
In the New Year, Philippe Collas will be the one to tackle all these challenges as the new leader of IMB. He is full of praise for his predecessor.
– Frost Andersen has been a fantastic leader of the institute for eight years – ready to listen, well prepared, full of energy and a lot of good advice, and usually an infectious laughter. Setting up the Department of Molecular Medicine under her leadership has been motivating and enriching. I wish her all the very best with her research and with new challenges that lie ahead!