Synnøve Magnussen
Job description
Associate Professor in Biomedicine in the Tumour Biology Research Group.
My teaching mainly encompasses MBI-1105 - Basal Biochemistry for the Laboratory Medical Science students and MBI-3004 - The Biology of Cancer for the Masterstudents in Biomedicine. I also supervise Bachelor-, Master-, and PhD-students.
Error rendering component
Research interests
Magnussen's research focuses on tumour biology, with a particular emphasis on the tumour microenvironment and tumour immunology.
A key area of interest lies in understanding how tolerance towards food and microbes is developed and maintained, and whether oral cancer exploits these natural processes to facilitate cancer immune escape. While it is widely believed that the intestines play a central role in building tolerance to ingested substances and microbes, Magnussen hypothesizes that the oral cavity also contributes significantly to the development of tolerance.
Magnussen is actively involved in the multicenter research project, the NORwegian Oral Cancer study (NOROC). This study aims to identify prognostic markers that can be integrated into clinical practice to enhance treatment strategies for oral cancer patients.
Magnussen's previous research experience includes work on extracellular matrix proteins, proteolytic enzymes, and the mechanisms of cancer invasion and metastasis in breast cancer as well as head and neck cancer.
Teaching
Magnussen currently teaches primarily biochemistry at the bachelor's level and cancer biology at the master's level, where she serves as a lecturer, supervisor, and examiner:
Course leader, lecturer, supervisor, and examiner for MBI-1105 Basic Biochemistry in the Biomedical Laboratory Science program (2023–).
Lecturer and examiner for MBI-3004 The Biology of Cancer in the Master's program in Biomedicine (2018–).
Magnussen has been involved in teaching-related activities since 2005, including student laboratories, study groups, seminars, and examination work at the bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels. She has supervised bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD student projects for several years. Magnussen also has experience as a course leader.
Member of research group / centre
Member of project
CV
2022- Associate Professor in Biomedicine - TBRG, IMB, UiT
2018-2024 Research group leader for the Tumour Biology Research Group (TBRG), IMB, UiT
2022 - Research stay (3 mo) - Max Planck Institute/EIMI, Münster, Germany in Professor Friedemann Kiefers lab. Project: Oral mucous glands as facilitators of cancer immune escape
2018-2022 Researcher - TBRG, IMB, UiT. Project: High endothelial venules - master regulators of the immune infiltrate in oral cancer
2015-2016 Research stay (1 yr) - Biological Research Centre in Professor Istvan Krizbai’s lab, Szeged, Hungary. Project: Breast cancer brain metastasis
2015-2018 Post Doctoral Fellowship - TBRG, IMB, UiT. Project: The metastasis-promoting protein Nephronectin: distribution and mechanisms of action.
2011 - Research stay (1 mo) - Uppsala University, BMC, Sweden in Professor Staffan Johansson’s lab. Project: TIRF microscopy of adhering oral cancer cells
2009-2015 Doctoral Research Fellow (PhD) in Tumour Biology, supervisor Professor Gunbjørg Svineng. Project: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma – Role of the Plasmniogen Activation System in Tumour Progression