Historical summary

Olav Torgersen, Professor in Pathology at Rikshospitalet proposes the idea of Janus. There is great skepticism in the research environments in Norway, and money was not allocated to the project.

Olav Torgersen is Chairman of Landsforeningen mot kreft (Norwegian National Organisation Against Cancer) and is authorized to start collecting serum samples from Red Cross blood donors in and around Oslo. The Steering Committee for Janus is established.

The Janus Serum Bank collects samples from donors who have developed cancer and been treated at the Norwegian Radium Hospital. Samples are taken prior to treatment.

Professor A. Pihl Chairman of Landsforeningen mot kreft (Norwegian National Organisation Against Cancer) takes over as Chairman of the Steering Committee.

Serum from studies in counties run by the National Health Screening Service are incorporated in the Janus Serum Bank. The samples are collected from 1972-1992.

The first scientific publication from the Janus Serum Bank.

Professor Egil Jellum, Rikshospitalet, takes over as Chairman of the Board.

The collection of serum from the Blood Bank in Oslo stops due to lack of finances.

The Janus Serum Bank is licensed, giving the Cancer Registry of Norway the responsibility of being data processor.

Increasing interest of using the Janus Serum Bank for research, both nationally and internationally

Serum collection from the Red Cross Blood Bank is resumed.

The Janus Serum Bank becomes officially owned by the Norwegian Cancer Society. The Cancer Society finances management of the Bank.

Administration of the Janus Serum Bank is transferred to the Cancer Registry. The sample collection ceases, except for specimens from the Radium Hospital. Utilization of the already collected material will have priority instead of collecting new samples.

The Janus Secretariat moves from Rikshospitalet to the Cancer Registry of Norway.

Establishment of a new Board with Ole-Erik Iversen as Chairman.

A new laboratory is established at the Cancer Registry.

The Special Issue part of the Cancer Registry’s annual report “Cancer in Norway 2008” is dedicated the Janus Bank: “The Janus Serum Bank - From sample collection to cancer research”

Randi Gislefoss defended her PhD degree based on long term stored specimens in the Janus Bank:
”Quality aspects of long-term stored samples. Studies in the Janus Serum Bank of Norway”.