| Karolinska Institutet

Portrait of Björn Vennström in the woods looking happy

In memory of Björn Vennström (1948–2024)

Professor of developmental biology and former member of the Nobel Assembly Björn Vennström has passed away at the age of 75. He is survived by his wife Kristina, his children Karin and Anders and grandchildren.

Photo: Liza Simonsson

KI-Mayo Clinic

KI and Mayo Clinic celebrate 30th anniversary with conference on AI and health data

Researchers, doctoral students and students gathered in Solna on 16–17 October to mark 30 years of fruitful collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Mayo Clinic at their annual joint conference. The extremely popular and much-appreciated research conference with 600 participants, including 100 from the Mayo Clinic, centred this year on AI and health data.

Grants, prizes and donations

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KI to coordinate EU-funded initiative to combat global dengue epidemic

As part of the response to the escalating threat of a global dengue fever epidemic, a new interdisciplinary EU-funded research initiative has been established with KI as coordinator. The COMBAT project aims to develop solutions to manage and mitigate the dengue virus.

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Five KI researchers awarded grants from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the foundation Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. In this year's major round of research funding, the foundation's board of directors has decided to fund a total of 77 projects in the humanities and social sciences for a total of just over SEK 370 million. Five of these projects are run by researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

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Thuy Tran receives grant from Erling-Persson Foundation to develop method for hard-to-treat cancer

Thuy Tran's research group at Karolinska Institutet has been awarded SEK 8 million over three years from the Erling-Persson Foundation to develop a precision-orientated, theranostic, method that integrates the diagnosis and treatment of advanced, solid tumours.

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Grants from SSMF to 21 KI researchers

SSMF (Swedish Society for Medical Research) is aimed at researchers in all medical fields and supports basic research as well as applied research. In the autumn of 2024, 21 researchers at Karolinska Institutet have been awarded SSMF Consolidator Grants, Starting Grants and Postdoctoral Grants, respectively.

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Seven KI researchers receive grants for basic research from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

New, effective, personalised cancer immunotherapy, better treatment for inflammatory bowel disease and improved protection against infections and viruses are some examples of basic research that is now being funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. Of the total of 30 projects sharing SEK 835 million, seven are run by researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

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New study

Heart failure mortality declining in Sweden

A new study shows that heart failure mortality has decreased in Sweden over the last 20 years.

The Conversation

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Does psilocybin really provide long-term relief from depression, as new study suggests?

Recent studies suggest that psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, shows promise as a treatment for depression, with rapid effects. But is the effect long-lasting? Science does not yet have an answer to this question.

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Go with the flow for better health

New research seems to confirm that regular flow, losing yourself in time and space during an activity, has positive health effects. For example, lower risk of cardiovascular disease and depression. At the same time, there are factors that complicate this picture. What is clear, however, is that what brings us joy is good for us.

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The gender-equality paradox: Psychological sex differences defy social change

In an equal opportunity country with a good economy, women and men should have increasingly similar characteristics and interests. But the reality is much more complex than that.

Photo: AI Dalle

Erections: what we learned from mice could help with sexual health in men

Researchers have delved into the role of penile fibroblasts, the most abundant cells in the human penis, about which little was previously known.

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This year's Ulf von Euler Lectureship with Jens Juul Holst

This year's Ulf von Euler lecture ‘Treatment of Metabolic Diseases with Gut Hormones’ will be given by Jens Juul Holst, professor of Medical Physiology at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and senior group leader at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research, both at the University of Copenhagen. The lecture will take place on 8 November.

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New study

Children’s BMI can affect their future lung function

An abnormal BMI in children – be it high or low – can now be associated with impaired lung function, according to a new study. But if their BMI is normalised before they reach adulthood, the impairment can be offset.

Photo: Anna Persson

Collaboration

Success for schools initiative at KI during Nobel Calling

The Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) arranged a seminar during October’s Nobel Calling week for upper-secondary school science students. Over 800 participants from around the Stockholm region gathered in Aula Medica to hear the latest news and issues concerning young adults’ lifestyles and health.

Woman in front of a fan during a heatwave

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New study

Heatwaves and an aging population increase the risk of severe electrolyte imbalances

A new study shows that global warming, combined with an aging population, could lead to a significant increase in people with severe electrolyte imbalances in the blood.

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New study

Historic milestone in the fight against HIV achieved

Sweden has reached the UNAIDS and WHO targets for the HIV epidemic, a new study shows. According to the researchers, Sweden is the first country in the world to achieve these targets.

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New study

Study on microRNAs could lead to better fertility treatment

KI researchers have mapped how small RNA molecules, such as the recently Nobel Prize-awarded microRNAs, control cell development in the human embryo during the first days after fertilisation. The findings may contribute to improved fertility treatment.

The Nobel prize 2024

The 2024 Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine (from left) Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros.

Photo: Joshua Touster och UMass via AP,AP

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024: “A groundbreaking discovery that has finally been rewarded”

Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros share this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. They are being awarded for their discovery of microRNAs, which play a crucial role in the development of complex organisms. Research is underway at Karolinska Institutet on how these small molecules can be applied clinically.

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun

Photo: Cecilia Odlind

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has decided to award the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.

The 2024 Nobel laureates in Chemistry are announced: David Baker (University of Washington, USA), Demis Hassabis (Google DeepMind, UK) and John M Jumper (Google DeepMind, UK).

Photo: Foto: Christine Olsson/TT,TT NYHETSBYRÅN

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry helps us understand the building blocks of life

David Baker, USA, has succeeded in creating entirely new proteins – the building blocks of life that control all biological processes in the body. He shares the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 with Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper of Google DeepMind, UK, who have developed the AI tool AlphaFold. “Now it can take minutes instead of years to get a good idea of what a protein looks like and how it may function,” says KI professor Luca Jovine, who intitiated a collaboration with DeepMind early on.

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The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet appoints the laureates of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The laureate is announced on the first Monday in October every year.

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The extraordinary life of Alfred Nobel

Alfred Nobel, the inventor and entrepreneur has left a lasting legacy with the annual prizes he established in 1901 for physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. But life wasn’t always so illustrious for Alfred Nobel, writes Professor Jonas F. Ludvigsson in The Conversation.

Photo: Fredrik Persson

Academic ceremony

New KI professors will be sharing their knowledge with future generations

Centre stage at this year’s professorial installation ceremony at KI were stately academic tradition, prestigious medals and evocative entertainment – as well as intergenerational mingling between KI researchers and students at a much-appreciated hot dog truck outside Aula Medica on a chilly October evening.

Sylvie le Guyader, senior research infrastructure specialist, at the microscope in the darkened laboratory.

Photo: Martin Stenmar

New titles for the hidden specialists behind KI's research

They work with highly specialised equipment for facilities that they have often built up themselves. Although not themselves researchers, their expertise, experience and international contacts render them indispensable for research at KI. A year ago, new titles were created for this important category of employee.

Photo: Emma Hanquist

A clearer picture of ADHD: focus on function

Over the past 15 years, the number of ADHD diagnoses has risen sharply in Sweden. Is this development reasonable? And what might be the cause? Whilst asking these questions, researchers would also like us to focus less on the diagnosis and more on the functional capacity of people with ADHD.

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Who will live to 100?

Those who wish to live to 100 cannot rely on chance. Instead, it is essential to keep biomarkers associated with ageing and disease in check. By the age of 60, it may already be too late.

Photo: Fredrik Persson

Get to know the new KI professors

On 3 October, 18 new professors were inaugurated at Karolinska Institutet during a formal ceremony in Aula Medica. The installation ceremony is one of the highlights of the academic calendar. Read the interviews with them taken from the booklet ‘From Cell to Society 2024’, which was handed out at the ceremony.