Academic ceremony

Margareta Persson and Leif Lundblad made honorary doctors
At this spring’s conferment ceremony in Stockholm City Hall, honorary doctorates were awarded to Margareta Persson and Leif Lundblad, both of whom are influential and leading figures in their respective fields. They were moved and proud to receive their hats, diplomas and tributes in the form of a cannon salute and applause from a packed Blue Hall. “My thoughts go to my dad today, he would’ve been so happy and proud,” said Margareta Persson after the ceremony.

Meet the student marshals at the spring doctoral degree conferment ceremony
On Friday, 16 May, the spring doctoral degree conferment ceremony took place in the Blue Hall at Stockholm City Hall, where newly conferred doctors and honorary doctors was celebrated. Medical students Nora Khatibi and Gottfrid Rehnman were two of the evening’s marshals. Here, they share insights into their roles – and how they prepare for the ceremony.
Grants, prizes and donations

SEK 80 million from the government in special support for precision medicine
The government is funding Genomic Medicine Sweden (GMS) with SEK 80 million in 2025. The special support will be used, among other things, for continued investments in the sustainable development and implementation of precision medicine in cancer care. Richard Rosenquist Brandell, professor at KI and director of GMS, describes the initiative as an important investment in the future of healthcare.

Tim Bergling Foundation funds digital training in suicide prevention among the young
A four-year grant from the Bergling Foundation will provide support to Karolinska Institutet’s digital training initiative to help medical students be better at identifying and responding to suicidal children and young adults.

Olle Kämpe gets extension as Wallenberg Clinical Scholar
In 2025, five Wallenberg Clinical Scholars have been granted an extended grant for another five years. Among these is KI researcher Olle Kämpe, who will thus receive support for a total of ten years for his research into the causes of autoimmune diseases.

Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation extends support for research on obesity-related diseases
Congratulations to Mikael Rydén who has been granted an extension as Wallenberg Clinical Scholar. The extension from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation means three million SEK per year for five years for his research.
The Conversation

Why the eyes are the mirror of breathing
New research has discovered a fundamental mechanism that affects pupil size - our breathing. The pupil is smallest when we breathe in and largest when we breathe out - something that could affect vision. In The Conversation, the researchers explain the implications of this.

How fluoride may be linked to poorer cognition in children

Nine reasons why the myth that vaccines cause autism persists
From a research perspective, there is little left to discover about vaccines used in long-standing nationwide vaccine programmes, such as polio, measles, and rubella. So why do suspicions that vaccines cause autism remain? Professor Sven Bölte presents nine reasons in The Conversation.

More articles from KI researchers published in The Conversation
From cold-resistant genes to face masks, Karolinska Institutet researchers contribute to the global public discourse on a range of topics through our collaboration with the international news site The Conversation.
Selected top publications
How cells adapt to stress and poor nutrition
Pelechano et al, Molecular Cell, May 2025
New research shows how tetracycline antibiotics impair T cell function
Rorbach et al, Nature Communications, May 2025
Study maps the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease
Ludvigsson et al, Nature, April 2025
More effective cooling methods after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
Awad et al, Intensive Care Medicine, April 2025
New discovery about circular RNA and wound healing
Niu et al, Advanced Science, April 2025
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