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The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: “Their discoveries have helped to save millions of lives”

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded this year to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, whose research gave rise to effective mRNA vaccines that contained the COVID pandemic and saved millions of lives. A well-deserved honour, according to Karolinska Institutet.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman

The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institutet has today decided to award the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

Grants, Prizes and Donations

New donation to the Osher Center for Integrative Health

Bernard and Barbro Osher donate USD 2,100,000 (approx. SEK 23 million) to the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Karolinska Institutet. The donation follows an earlier donation in 2005 from the same donors.

They are awarded ERC Starting Grants 2023

Two researchers at Karolinska Institutet have been awarded ERC Starting Grants, totalling 3 million euro over five years. Kasper Karlsson and Juan Pablo Lopez will each receive EUR 1.5 million for projects that aim to fight cancer in children and understand how psychedelic compounds can be used to treat psychiatric disorders.

Method of improving young people’s wellbeing tested in more cities

In a three-year project coordinated by Karolinska Institutet, researchers will test and evaluate a method used to improve young people’s wellbeing in India, Kenya, the U.S. and Colombia. The method will be tested in Stockholm and three other cities.

New study

Immunotherapy that eliminates mutated cancer cells shows promising effect

Researchers present a new type of immunotherapy that attacks cancer cells with a specific mutation. The treatment shows promising effects on patient cells in mice, offering hope for patients with difficult-to-treat acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

New study

Study indicates possible link between chronic stress and Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers have published a study that addresses possible associations between chronic stress, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. The study shows how people aged between 18 and 65 with a previous diagnosis of chronic stress and depression were more likely than other people to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.

New study

Heavily mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86 not as resistant to antibodies as first feared

Researchers who studied SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86, found that the new variant was not significantly more resistant to antibodies than several other variants that are circulating. The study also showed that antibody levels to BA.2.86 were significantly higher after a wave of XBB infections compared to before, suggesting that the vaccines based on XBB should provide some cross-protection to BA.2.86.

New study

Allergy study on 'wild' mice challenges the hygiene hypothesis

The notion that some level of microbial exposure might reduce our risk of developing allergies has been termed the hygiene hypothesis. A new study challenges this hypothesis by showing that mice with high infectious exposures from birth have the same, if not an even greater ability to develop allergic immune responses than 'clean' laboratory mice.

University ranking

KI holds the position in the Times Higher Education ranking

When the Times Higher Education (THE) in Great Britain publishes its annual university ranking, KI is ranked 50th among 1,904 institutions in the world and ranked 16th in Europe.

Interview

Psychiatrist Cristian Rück: "A zero vision for suicide is not possible"

Thanks to the research conducted by Christian Rück and others there is currently research on all compulsive related disorders. He is now venturing into a perhaps even more difficult and important task: Suicide prevention.

New study

Early cleft palate surgery gives better speech results

According to a new international study, cleft palate surgery at the age of six months provides better conditions for speech and language development compared to surgery at twelve months, according to a new study.

New study

Increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms observed when family member or close friend contracts COVID-19

Family members and close friends of people with COVID-19 have elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety, a new study reports.

Fanfare for 154 new doctors

The air is buzzing with anticipation. Floral displays, long gowns and evening dress, and almost 900 chairs waiting for the graduands and their guests. It is the 15 September, and time to celebrate the graduation of 154 of KI’s new doctors in Stockholm City Hall.

Spotlight on forensic psychiatric care

Sentenced to care - punishment or opportunity?

In 2022, roughly 350 people were sentenced to forensic psychiatric care. There is a unique borderland between the judicial system and healthcare, in which a person who has completed their medical treatment can be prevented from being discharged. At the same time, many patients are saying that they have benefited from the care. And fewer people relapse into crime after they have received forensic psychiatric care than they do after being imprisoned.

New study

Early treatment of child obesity is effective

The early treatment of obesity in children is effective in both the short and long term, researchers from Karolinska Institutet report in a study published in International Journal of Obesity.

New study

Researchers present novel principle for nitric oxide-mediated signalling in blood vessels

Although a simple molecule, nitric oxide is an important signal substance that helps to reduce blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels. But how it goes about doing this has long been unclear.

New study

No increase in cancer risk for most patients with reflux disease

Reflux disease manifests as acid regurgitation and heartburn and is a known risk factor for oesophageal cancer. However, new findings published in The BMJ show that the cancer risk is only elevated in patients with inflammation in the oesophageal mucus membrane.

New study

Risk of brain haemorrhage appears transmissible via blood transfusion

A major study published in JAMA led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet suggests that a possible cause of spontaneous brain haemorrhage could be transmitted via blood transfusion. At the same time, it is very unlikely that anyone should suffer a brain haemorrhage after receiving donated blood.

KI climbs furthest in this year’s university Reputation Index

KI has climbed the furthest of all universities in this year’s Kantar Public Reputation Index, notching up a eight-point recovery from 58 to 66.

Lecture

This year’s Ulf von Euler lecture; "The wide wild world of human GABAa receptors”

The Ulf von Euler Lecture is an official annual named lecture of Karolinska Institutet. It was instituted by decision of the faculty at KI upon an initiative taken by Ulf von Euler's former students at the time of his passing away in 1983.

The Conversation

Decorative image of a woman watching the sea and bathing people.

Why a holiday is good for you – even before you take time off

You have spent the past few days on a cloud over your forthcoming, well-deserved holidays, and will go back to daydreaming about them as soon as you finish this article. And the truth is that the benefits of a good holiday can be felt even before the trip begins.

Baby deaths in Tanzania: being born in a city no longer increases their chances of survival

Babies born in urban areas in Tanzania are less likely to survive than babies born in rural areas, writes a group of researchers including from KI in The Conversation. Several policy areas for action are presented.

Why understanding how spiders spin silk may hold clues for treating Alzheimer’s disease

KI researchers Michael Landreh and Anna Rising explain in The Conversation why they are studying spider silk to find important insights into diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Better bipolar diagnosis may reduce suicide rates in boys

A study found fewer suicides among boys in Swedish regions with more bipolar diagnoses, writes the authors in The Conversation.

Hearing loss - easy to prevent but hard to cure

In depth feature

Sepsis - The hidden killer

How everyday gadgets can monitor your health

When today's psychiatric diagnoses aren't enough

Bringing art and science together

Dan Andrée and Sanna Sjöblom outside Stockholm Trio's office in Brussels near the European Parliament.

Billions at stake in the EU – how Stockholm Trio in Brussels is active in European research policy

Updates from the University Management

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 concerning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Macchiarini case: timeline

Select an option

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

KI in the media (Swedish only)

Research subjects wanted

Selected top publications

New insights into the molecular role of metal ions in Alzheimer’s disease
Axel Abelein, Accounts of Chemical Research, September 2023

New mechanism for regulation of T cells in tumors discovered
Mikael Karlsson, Cellular and Molecular Immunology, September 2023

Prosaposin could be a promising drug candidate for Parkinson’s disease
Per Svenningsson et al, Nature Communications, September 2023

No clear link between dental procedures and endocarditis caused by oral bacteria
Niko Vähäsarja et al, eClinicalMedicine, August 2023

The identity of brain inhibitory neurons is maintained by the DNA-binding protein Sox6
Jens Hjerling-Leffler et al, Neuron, August 2023

New study provides valuable insights into how our cells harvest energy
Nils-Göran Larsson et al, Cell Metabolism, August 2023

More high-impact publications

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: “Their discoveries have helped to save millions of lives”

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman

Grants, Prizes and Donations

New donation to the Osher Center for Integrative Health

They are awarded ERC Starting Grants 2023

Method of improving young people’s wellbeing tested in more cities

Immunotherapy that eliminates mutated cancer cells shows promising effect

Study indicates possible link between chronic stress and Alzheimer’s disease

Heavily mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86 not as resistant to antibodies as first feared

Allergy study on 'wild' mice challenges the hygiene hypothesis

KI holds the position in the Times Higher Education ranking

Psychiatrist Cristian Rück: "A zero vision for suicide is not possible"

Early cleft palate surgery gives better speech results

Increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms observed when family member or close friend contracts COVID-19

Fanfare for 154 new doctors

Sentenced to care - punishment or opportunity?

Early treatment of child obesity is effective

Researchers present novel principle for nitric oxide-mediated signalling in blood vessels

No increase in cancer risk for most patients with reflux disease

Risk of brain haemorrhage appears transmissible via blood transfusion

KI climbs furthest in this year’s university Reputation Index

This year’s Ulf von Euler lecture; "The wide wild world of human GABAa receptors”

The Conversation

Why a holiday is good for you – even before you take time off

Baby deaths in Tanzania: being born in a city no longer increases their chances of survival

Why understanding how spiders spin silk may hold clues for treating Alzheimer’s disease

Better bipolar diagnosis may reduce suicide rates in boys

More articles from KI researchers published in The Conversation

Hearing loss - easy to prevent but hard to cure

Sepsis - The hidden killer

How everyday gadgets can monitor your health

When today's psychiatric diagnoses aren't enough

Bringing art and science together

Billions at stake in the EU – how Stockholm Trio in Brussels is active in European research policy

Updates from the University Management

The Conversation

Information regarding the war in Ukraine

The Macchiarini case: timeline

KI in the media (Swedish only)

Research subjects wanted

Selected top publications