We investigate the structure of the relative bicentralizer algebra B(N ⊂ M, ϕ) for inclusions of von Neumann algebras with normal expectation where N is a type III1 subfactor and ϕ ∈ N * is a faithful state. We first construct a canonical flow β ϕ : R * + B(N ⊂ M, ϕ) on the relative bicentralizer algebra and we show that the W * -dynamical system (B(N ⊂ M, ϕ), β ϕ ) is independent of the choice of ϕ up to a canonical isomorphism. In the case when N = M , we deduce new results on the structure of the automorphism group of B(M, ϕ) and we relate the period of the flow β ϕ to the tensorial absorption of Powers factors. For general irreducible inclusions N ⊂ M , we relate the ergodicity of the flow β ϕ to the existence of irreducible hyperfinite subfactors in M that sit with normal expectation in N . When the inclusion N ⊂ M is discrete, we prove a relative bicentralizer theorem and we use it to solve Kadison's problem when N is amenable.2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. 46L10, 46L30, 46L36, 46L37, 46L55.