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).

Over a hundred KI researchers are awarded funds in the Swedish Research Council's latest call

In the Swedish Research Council's latest calls, SEK 625,904,933 was awarded to 143 KI researchers. In total, the Swedish Research Council grants just over SEK 1.2 billion for the years 2022–2027.

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.

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.

Lessons from Sweden's COVID approach

Although Sweden was hit hard by the first wave, its total excess deaths during the first two years of the pandemic was among the lowest in Europe. Senior research specialist Emma Frans looks back at how Sweden handled the pandemic and how its approach compared against others in an article published by The Conversation.

6 ways long-term smell loss can affect us

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.