| Karolinska Institutet

Grants, prizes and donations

New honorary doctors Fredrik Lundberg and Wilhelmina Hoffman who were honored for their long-standing dedication to medical research and education.

Fredrik Lundberg donates SEK 25 million to cardiovascular research at KI

Business magnate and honorary doctor at Karolinska Institutet Fredrik Lundberg is donating SEK 25 million for a continued investment in cardiovascular research. This is the fifth large donation made since 2007 by Lundberg, whose engagement has enabled research that has greatly improved therapeutic and surgical methods for cardiovascular diseases.

From left Kristina Sparreljung, Secretary General of the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, Hanna Björck and Prince Daniel

Photo: Hjärt-Lungfonden,TT NYHETSBYRÅN

Prince Daniel's grant to KI researcher for future treatment of aortic aneurysms

Aortic aneurysm involves a risk of the large body artery rupturing, which is directly life-threatening. Hanna Björck, docent at Karolinska Institutet, has now been awarded Prince Daniel's grant for promising young researchers of SEK 6 million to develop future individual treatments.

Hands working with pipette and test tubes.

Photo: Liza Simonsson

Project grants from the Swedish Research Council to 121 KI researchers

The Swedish Research Council has awarded grants in areas such as medicine and health to 121 researchers at KI. In total, KI is allocated SEK 682,507,429 for the period 2024-2030.

Photo: iStock

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.

Photo: Getty Images

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.

Photo: Getty Images

New study

Mapping of atherosclerotic plaque cells may predict risk of stroke or heart attack

In a new study published in the European Heart Journal, researchers at Karolinska Institutet show that genetic traits influence the cellular composition of atherosclerotic plaques, which over time will affect the risk of such lesions to cause a stroke or heart attack.

Photo: Getty Images

New study

High fitness linked to lower risk of dementia

People with a genetic predisposition to dementia can reduce their risk by up to 35 percent by increasing their fitness, according to a new study. High levels of fitness are also linked to better cognitive ability, according to the researchers.

Photo: Getty Images

New study

Cardiovascular drugs may reduce dementia risk

Long-term use of common cardiovascular drugs is associated with a lower risk of dementia in older age, according to a new study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Photo: GettyImages.,Getty Images

New study

AI analysis of immune cells can predict breast cancer prognosis

Researchers have investigated how well different AI models can predict the prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer by analysing certain immune cells inside the tumour. The study is an important step towards using AI in cancer care.

Photo: Getty Images

New study

Antiseizure drugs during pregnancy may affect neurodevelopment

Children whose mothers have taken antiseizure drugs during pregnancy are more likely than others to receive a neuropsychiatric diagnosis, but the absolute risk is low.

Photo: DDKI

AI method for detecting biliary tract cancer on IVA's 100 list

The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) has published this year's 100 list of the most promising research projects from Sweden's colleges and universities. The list includes several projects involving researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

Photo: Fredrik Persson

Academic ceremony

Wind-whipped conferment ceremony with time for magic

The first storm of the autumn lashed Stockholm City Hall, harassing the flames of the outdoor candles and braziers, as the guests arrived to witness 133 doctors and a record 35 jubilee doctors receive their accolades at the KI conferment ceremony. It was an evening of celebration and joy, an evening of fresh opportunities and memories of a long career. It was, in short, a magical evening for the 900 or so guests assembled in the Blue Hall.

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.

Photo: Montage

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.

Photo: Creative commons

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.

Portrait of Björn Vennström in the woods looking happy

Photo: N/A

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: Getty Images

Collaboration

KI research presented to eleven Nobel laureates

When the prestigious World Laureates Association (WLA) gathered members and invited guests for a conference in Shanghai in October, Robert Harris and other leading KI researchers were on hand to lecture on current research in life science and develop KI's international network of contacts. Among the participants were Joakim Franck, David Gross and nine other Nobel laureates.

The Conversation

Photo: Ulf Sirborn

Eight reasons why ADHD diagnoses are increasing

The rate of children diagnosed with ADHD has increased significantly in recent years. In an article in The Conversation, KI Professor Sven Bölte explains why this is the case.

Photo: Getty Images

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.

Photo: Getty Images.

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.

Photo: Getty Images.

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: Getty Images

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.

Photo: Getty Images

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.