Stein Ørn

Stein Ørn is a Professor of Cardiology at the University of Stavanger and a senior researcher at Stavanger University Hospital's Department of Cardiology. With an MD and PhD, he has established himself as a leading researcher in exercise cardiology and cardiac biomarkers.

• University of Stavanger - Professor since February 2016
• Stavanger University Hospital - Continuous position since 1996
• University of Bergen - Associate Professor (2013-2014)
• University of Oslo - Medical degree (1987-1994)

Professor Ørn's research primarily focuses on cardiac responses to exercise, particularly the diagnostic implications of exercise-induced cardiac biomarker elevations. His groundbreaking NEEDED study has demonstrated that patterns of troponin elevation following endurance exercise can help identify individuals with occult coronary artery disease. His work extends to cardiac imaging, where he has developed innovative machine learning approaches for automatic scar assessment in cardiac MRI.

His publication record shows consistent output in high-impact cardiology journals, with recent work exploring the relationship between exercise intensity, cardiac biomarkers, and underlying cardiovascular conditions. His research has important clinical implications for athlete screening protocols and understanding the cardiovascular effects of endurance exercise.

Professor Ørn leads an active research group focusing on:

• Cardiac biomarker dynamics during exercise
• Advanced cardiac imaging techniques
• Machine learning applications in cardiology
• Heart failure prognostic markers
• Risk stratification in athletes

His research has received substantial attention in the field, with over 6,600 citations across his 144 publications, demonstrating significant impact on cardiovascular medicine and exercise physiology.