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Life science conference spotlights lessons from pandemic

The Covid pandemic was the starting point for this year’s Stockholm Life Science Conference, where discussions centred on both the mistakes made and lessons learned from the handling of the pandemic and the rapid development of vaccines.

Common immune cells can prevent intestinal healing

B cells are critical to the proper functioning of the immune system. However, researchers at KI have shown that they can sometimes do more harm than good, as their numbers greatly increase after bowel damage, preventing the tissue from healing. The results are published in Immunity and can be of significance to the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Why can't you tickle yourself?

The answer to this question is not just interesting to know. It also offers clues to the mechanisms behind schizophrenia, explains Konstantina Kilteni, researcher at the department of neuroscience.

Reduced use of child sexual abuse material after online CBT

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have conducted a pioneering study analysing internet-delivered anonymous cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for people who view images or videos of children being sexually abused. The participants, who were mainly recruited via forums on the encrypted part of the internet called Darknet, reported less use of such material after therapy. The study is published in the journal Internet Interventions.

Scientists develop a new hormone-free contraceptive

Researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and Karolinska Institutet are part of a collaborative study that has made progress in the testing of an innovative contraceptive method, a vaginal gel, that preclinical studies have shown prevents sperm from reaching the egg. The results are described in a paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Volunteers often first on the scene to save people with cardiac arrest

Volunteer SMS lifesavers in Sweden, who are alerted to cardiac arrests nearby using a mobile app, perform a large part of life-saving efforts before the ambulance, police or emergency services arrive, regardless if they are instructed to collect the nearest defibrillator or not. This is according to a new KI study published in JAMA Cardiology.

Grants and prizes

EU-funded research project takes broad approach on mental health

A major EU-funded research project, coordinated by Uppsala University, will pursue an interdisciplinary path towards better strategies to protect vulnerable individuals from mental illness. Three research teams at Karolinska Institutet participate in the project.

They receive the Silver Medal 2022

Five researchers at Karolinska Institutet (KI) are awarded the Silver Medal this year. This medal is awarded to individuals who have made excellent efforts in support of KI’s activities, and these people will be recognised in conjunction with the ceremony for Diligence and Devotion in February 2023.

Three KI researchers are awarded the 2022 ERC StG

David Marlevi, Enric Llorens and Onur Dagliyan have been awarded the 2022 ERC Starting Grant. Their projects concern multiscale imaging for cardiovascular diseases, self-repairing injured tissues in mammals and new molecular technology for cellular circuits.

Ning Xu Landén granted DKK 4.2 million by the LEO foundation

Associate Professor Ning Xu Landén, Department of Medicine Solna, has been granted DKK 4.2 million for research on wound healing.

KI researchers awarded funding for research programmes on harmful use in working life

Harmful use of, for example, alcohol and drugs in working life can lead to fatigue, increased sick leave and reduced productivity. Eight research projects are now being awarded a total of SEK 30 million by Afa Försäkring in a research programme aimed at reducing sick leave due to the harmful use of alcohol and/or drugs. Four of the researchers are from Karolinska Institutet (KI).

Martin Bergö addresses the debate about vitamin pills

Even as a child, Martin Bergö wanted to be a scientist. And he did. His biggest discovery so far is that vitamins can worsen the prognosis for cancer patients.

KI and Cancer Research Horizons announce 5-year partnership

Karolinska Institutet and Cancer Research UK’s innovation engine, Cancer Research Horizons, have announced a 5-year strategic partnership dedicated to accelerating the translation of academic cancer research into improved treatments for patients.

Positive media coverage of cannabis studies regardless of therapeutic effect

In cannabis trials against pain, people who take placebos report feeling largely the same level of pain relief as those who consume the active cannabinoid substance. Still, these studies receive significant media coverage regardless of the clinical outcome, report researchers from Karolinska Institutet in a study published in JAMA Network Open.

The Conversation

Young people in rich countries drink less alcohol, elsewhere youth drinking is on the rise

The amount of alcohol young people drink in many high-income countries has seen a marked decline since the early 2000s. But in many developing countries, the opposite is happening. To find out why, the Conversation Weekly podcast talks to KI researcher Jonas Raninen and two other experts.

Cannabis is no better than placebo for treatment of pain

Reducing pain is one of the most common reasons people report using medical cannabis, but it's effectiveness remains in doubt. Now a meta-analysis from KI shows that there is no significant difference between cannabis and a placebo for reducing pain, and that postive media coverage of these trials may influence patient expectations.

Long COVID: how lost connections between nerve cells in the brain may explain cognitive symptoms

Do lost connections between nerve cells contribute to persisting cognitive symptoms after COVID and other viral infections? That is the question being explored in this new research piece written for The Conversation by KI researchers.

Surprising new theory about the cause of Alzheimer's disease

Is it the amount of plaques in the brain or the amount of amyloid-beta 42 remaining that is more important for Alzheimer’s disease progression? That is the question being explored in this new research piece written for The Conversation by KI researchers.

The Coronavirus

Researchers may have found a new biomarker for acute COVID-19

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have shown that patients with acute COVID-19 infection have increased levels of the cytokine IL-26 in their blood. Moreover, high IL-26 levels correlate with an exaggerated inflammatory response that signifies severe cases of the disease. The findings, which are presented in Frontiers in Immunology, indicate that IL-26 is a potential biomarker for severe COVID-19.  

New Omicron subvariant largely evades neutralizing antibodies

A study at Karolinska Institutet shows that the coronavirus variant BA.2.75.2, an Omicron sublineage, largely evades neutralizing antibodies in the blood and is resistant to several monoclonal antibody antiviral treatments. The findings, published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, suggest a risk of increased SARS-CoV-2 infections this winter, unless the new updated bivalent vaccines help to boost immunity in the population.

Positive effects of omega-3 on the immune system in cases of severe COVID-19

Intravenous treatment with omega-3 fatty acids in elderly hospitalised patients in intensive care due to COVID-19 seems to have positive effects on the ability of the immune system to cope with the virus, according to a study from KI. In the future, the study, published in Clinical and Translational Medicine, could lead to a complementary, cost-effective treatment for COVID-19.

Higher risk of serious COVID-19 complications in children with immunodeficiency

Children with certain immunodeficiency diseases carry mutations in genes that regulate the body’s immune system against viral infections and they have a higher mortality rate due to COVID-19. This is according to a study by researchers from Karolinska Institutet, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Mucosal antibodies in the airways protect against omicron infection

High levels of mucosal antibodies in the airways reduce the risk of being infected by omicron, but many do not receive detectable antibodies in the airways despite three doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. These are the findings of a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital.

The Nobel Lecture in Physiology or Medicine 2022

On December 7 it's time for this year’s Nobel Lecture with the Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2022, Svante Pääbo. The lecture will take place in Aula Medica and will be broadcast live on nobelprize.org.

Research in collaboration between medical researchers and the military

Severe grief can lead to poor health

Selected top publications

Study shows how the brain encodes the start, duration and speed of locomotion
Eva M. Berg et al, Neuron, November 2022

Cholinesterase inhibitors helped Alzheimer’s patients preserve kidney function
Hong Xu et al, Kidney International, November 2022

New findings on the renewal of skin
Katie Cockburn et al, Nature Cell Biology, November 2022

New imaging marker reveals very early changes in Alzheimer’s disease
Milan Nemy et al, Brain, October 2022

Innovative coating on medical devices fights bacterial infections
Eleni Bletsa et al, Chemical Engineering Journal, October 2022

Patients with diverticular disease have increased cancer risk
Wenjie Ma et al, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, October 2022

More high impact publications

Scientific challenge to measure inequity in health

How is health equity even calculated? Researchers Emelie Agardh and Matteo Bottai at Karolinska Institutet are looking for new methodological paths, among other things inspired by the game Master mind.

Vaccines against COVID-19 and other diseases – how they continue to evolve

The Conversation

Select an option

Articles published by KI researchers in The Conversation

Information regarding the war in Ukraine

On this page you will find information for staff and students and resources for journalists and the public concerning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

President‘s blog

The Macchiarini case: timeline

Select an option

View a summary of the events and decisions in the Macchiarini case.

KI in the debate

KI constantly engages in the public debate and comments on current issues concerning our operations. On this page you find published opinion pieces and comments.

Life science conference spotlights lessons from pandemic

Common immune cells can prevent intestinal healing

Why can't you tickle yourself?

Reduced use of child sexual abuse material after online CBT

Scientists develop a new hormone-free contraceptive

Volunteers often first on the scene to save people with cardiac arrest

Grants and prizes

EU-funded research project takes broad approach on mental health

They receive the Silver Medal 2022

Three KI researchers are awarded the 2022 ERC StG

Ning Xu Landén granted DKK 4.2 million by the LEO foundation

KI researchers awarded funding for research programmes on harmful use in working life

Martin Bergö addresses the debate about vitamin pills

KI and Cancer Research Horizons announce 5-year partnership

Positive media coverage of cannabis studies regardless of therapeutic effect

The Conversation

Young people in rich countries drink less alcohol, elsewhere youth drinking is on the rise

Cannabis is no better than placebo for treatment of pain

Long COVID: how lost connections between nerve cells in the brain may explain cognitive symptoms

Surprising new theory about the cause of Alzheimer's disease

More articles from KI researchers published in The Conversation

The Coronavirus

Researchers may have found a new biomarker for acute COVID-19

New Omicron subvariant largely evades neutralizing antibodies

Positive effects of omega-3 on the immune system in cases of severe COVID-19

Higher risk of serious COVID-19 complications in children with immunodeficiency

Mucosal antibodies in the airways protect against omicron infection

The Nobel Lecture in Physiology or Medicine 2022

Research in collaboration between medical researchers and the military

Severe grief can lead to poor health

Selected top publications

Scientific challenge to measure inequity in health

Vaccines against COVID-19 and other diseases – how they continue to evolve

The Conversation

Information regarding the war in Ukraine

President‘s blog

The Macchiarini case: timeline

KI in the debate

KI in the media

Research subjects wanted