| Karolinska Institutet

Patrik Ernfors awarded international research prize for breakthroughs in pain and touch

The Lundbeck Foundation in Denmark has awarded Professor Patrik Ernfors The Brain Prize 2026 for groundbreaking discoveries about how the nervous system interprets touch and pain. His research has clarified key aspects of somatosensation, the body’s ability to sense the physical world, and opened new opportunities for developing treatments for long lasting pain. He shares the prize with Professor David Ginty, Harvard Medical School.

Grants, awards and donations

Photo: Liza Simonsson

KI researchers awarded the Göran Gustafsson Prize

Emma R Andersson, senior researcher and associate professor at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Joanna Rorbach, senior researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, have been awarded the Göran Gustafsson Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Photo: Liza Simonsson

Eight KI researchers receive Marie Skłodowska-Curie grants in record competition

Eight young researchers at Karolinska Institutet have been awarded Curie grants within the EU's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). This means strengthened opportunities to conduct research that can contribute to future medical breakthroughs – from the role of mitochondria in disease to the brain's body experience and new strategies for allergy treatment.

Photo: David Cooper

KI and University of Toronto announce two Mats Sundin Fellowships 2026

Karolinska Institutet (KI) and the University of Toronto (U of T) have announced the second cohort of Mats Sundin Fellows in Human Developmental Health for postdoctoral researchers. The two-year exchange programme offers promising young researchers the opportunity to grow and test their wings in other research environments. Behind the initiative is ice hockey legend Mats Sundin.

Two course participants dressed in hospital gowns practise providing care on the floor of a tent.

Photo: Centrum för hälsokriser

Kamprad Family Foundation enables continued collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières

The Centre for Health Crises and the research group Global Disaster Medicine will deepen their educational collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières over the next three years thanks to new support from the Kamprad Family Foundation.

Photo: Getty Images

Four innovation grants awarded to KI by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

Four innovation projects at KI in the field of life science receive funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and SciLifeLab's Proof-of-Concept program. The grants aim to strengthen the path from academic research to innovation and commercial application in life science.

Digital Blood Pressure Monitor with Medication.

Photo: Marta Branco

New study

Common drug class may increase risk of heart disease

People who use drugs with anticholinergic effects, including certain antidepressants, drugs for urinary incontinence and common antihistamines, are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet.

The magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap on obesity

Photo: Getty Images

Appetite suppressants are reshaping the landscape

A minority of Swedes are within the normal weight range, while one in five is obese. New, effective drugs have drastically changed the possibilities for treatment. This may lead to a better understanding of the disease, perhaps even among patients themselves. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 1 2026.

Photo: World Obesity Federation

More children are receiving obesity medication

For several years, the rates for childhood obesity have been fairly stable. However, the use of new drugs is increasing. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 1 2026.

Photo: Linnea Bengtsson,RDF/LBAB

Fredrik Boltes had a gastric bypass

When Fredrik Boltes weighed 160 kilos, he felt it was time to find out more about what a gastric bypass actually involves. This led to a life-changing journey and an acclaimed documentary. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 1 2026.

Photo: Getty Images

New study

HPV vaccine provides long-term protection against cervical cancer

HPV vaccination reduces the risk of cervical cancer for at least 18 years, according to a new study. There were no signs of waning protection over time.

illustration of a heart attack or heart disease showing a heart and heart rate.

Photo: Gettyimages,Getty Images

New study

High risk of readmission and death among heart failure patients

Almost half of patients hospitalised for acute heart failure in Europe are readmitted within a year, according to a new study. The risk of death also remains high, especially for those with more severely reduced heart function.

Photo: Amanda Berglund

Myths and misunderstandings about testosterone

The use of testosterone is rising rapidly among Swedish men, and online the hormone is often sold as an elixir of masculinity. But the myths are misleading and unnecessary treatment is not without risk. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 1 2026.

Photo: Getty images,Getty Images

New study

Screening improves early detection of colorectal cancer

More cases of colorectal cancer are detected at an early stage with screening, according to a randomised clinical trial by researchers at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet. The study has been published in Nature Medicine.

Photo: Getty Images

New study

Hydrocortisone may reduce the risk of lung disease in extremely premature babies

Early treatment with hydrocortisone may increase the chance that extremely premature babies will survive without the chronic lung disease bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), according to a study by researchers at Linköping University and Karolinska Institutet.

Photo: Getty Images

New doctoral thesis

Physical violence in sexual assaults is increasing among young people

Physical violence in sexual assaults against young people has become more common and more severe. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis. The studies cover both women and men and point to the need for clearer clinical procedures and better education about consent.

Elderly woman helps an elderly man to walk with the aid of a walker.

Photo: Getty Images

New study

Exercise and nutritional drinks can reduce the need for care in dementia

A simple combination of daily physical exercise and protein-rich nutritional drinks appears to offer significant health benefits for people with dementia. In a new study, not only did the participants' physical ability improve, but after three months the researchers also saw signs that they were able to manage more everyday tasks themselves.

The Conversation

Photo: Getty Images

What body odour says about you?

Body odour is often seen as a hygiene problem. In reality, it results from the interaction between sweat and skin bacteria – and from the cultural meanings we attach to it.

Elderly couple walking away in a green park.

Photo: Gettu Images

Your genes matter more for lifespan now than they did a century ago – here’s why

Photo: Pixabay

Researcher explains how to use facial cleanser properly

A child is lying in bed, using a smartphone that display various social media apps.

Photo: Sanket Mishra on Unsplash

Social media, not gaming, tied to rising attention problems in teens

Photo: Getty Images

Sten Linnarsson: “It’s essential to recruit the best”

KI’s major recruitment drive for assistant professors has proved a success beyond Sweden and according to Sten Linnarsson, one of the driving forces behind the excellence-focused international initiative, the outcome will make its mark on KI for decades to come.

Photo: GettyImages,Getty Images

New study

Early-life gut bacteria exposures may protect children against allergies

Certain gut bacteria in infants may reduce the risk of developing allergies later in childhood. This is the finding of new research from the ALADDIN study at Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Microbiology.

Alexander Borg, doctoral student at the Department of Medicine, Solna, next to the AI-driven robot patient used in teaching at KI.

Photo: Andreas Andersson

New thesis

AI-driven robot patient can train medical students in clinical reasoning

A doctoral thesis at Karolinska Institutet investigates how an AI-enhanced social robot can be used as a virtual patient to improve the clinical reasoning and communication training of medical students.

Stock photo showing a woman in her late middle age walking with an older woman.

Photo: Getty Images.

New study

Mutation type shapes early Alzheimer’s

How hereditary Alzheimer’s disease develops in its early stages depends on which genetic mutation a person carries, according to a new study.

Photo: Getty Images

New study

No increased risk of rectal cancer in ulcerative proctitis

People with ulcerative proctitis, a milder and more limited form of ulcerative colitis, are not at higher risk of developing rectal cancer than the general population, a new study shows. The findings may contribute to more individualized follow-up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Photo: Martin Stenmark

Three researchers who want to improve road safety

Frustration behind the wheel can increase the risk of accidents – but that is far from the only danger. Meet three researchers who are interested in road safety. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 1 2026.

Professor Johan Lundström holding an apple.

Photo: Martin Stenmark

Johan Lundström sniffs out new knowledge

Scented television, questions about farts and the smell of newborn babies. Johan Lundström's days include everything from treating smell loss to researching how our sense of smell actually works. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 1 2026.

Photo: TT Bild/Science Photo Library,Science Photo Library

ATMP

Cell and gene therapy – from science fiction to the hospital ward

Cell and gene therapies use the body’s building blocks – cells and genetic material – to boost the immune system or correct the root cause of disease. It is a new era in healthcare. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 4 2025.

Photo: Liza Simonsson

Academic freedom

KI's president: "We must safeguard academic freedom"

In the United States, universities and independent research are under attack by the country’s president. “A similar trend is unfolding in several countries and could eventually affect Sweden too,” says Karolinska Institutet’s president Annika Östman Wernerson in this interview first published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 3 2025.

Photo: N/A,Getty Images/iStockphoto

AI research at KI paves the way for more targeted and globally equal healthcare

Artificial Intelligence that detects breast cancer, enables medical imaging in low-resource countries and that identifies the patients who require advanced treatment even at the point of diagnosis – these are just a few examples of AI research at Karolinska Institutet that is impacting an entire world.

Photo: Getty Images

Gut and mind – how they are connected

Researchers are exploring how psychological treatments can ease digestive problems, and whether gut bacteria might affect the brain. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 4 2025.

Photo: Amnesty International

Free Ahmadreza Djalali

UN call for the release of KI researcher Ahmadreza Djalali

Important statement from United Nations: ”Iran must release Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-born resident of Sweden, who has been arbitrarily detained since 2016 despite repeated warnings about his deteriorating health.”

Photo: Liza Simonsson

Updates from the University Management

Selected top publications

Simulation tools show how large proteins change shape
Orellana et al, Nature Communications, March 2026

Synthetic gene medicines may disrupt DNA repair
Farnebo et al, Nature Communications, March 2026

How dopamine-producing neurons arise in the developing brain
Ernest Arenas et al, Nature Neuroscience, February 2026

Study maps the role of a master regulator in early brain development
Kristiina Tammimies et al, Nucleic Acids Research, February 2026

Mitochondrial RNA may contribute to improved wound healing in diabetes
Ning Xu Landén et al, Advanced Science, February 2026

More high-impact publications

Patrik Ernfors awarded international research prize for breakthroughs in pain and touch

Grants, awards and donations

KI researchers awarded the Göran Gustafsson Prize

Eight KI researchers receive Marie Skłodowska-Curie grants in record competition

KI and University of Toronto announce two Mats Sundin Fellowships 2026

Kamprad Family Foundation enables continued collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières

Four innovation grants awarded to KI by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

Common drug class may increase risk of heart disease

The magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap on obesity

Appetite suppressants are reshaping the landscape

More children are receiving obesity medication

Fredrik Boltes had a gastric bypass

HPV vaccine provides long-term protection against cervical cancer

High risk of readmission and death among heart failure patients

Myths and misunderstandings about testosterone

Screening improves early detection of colorectal cancer

Hydrocortisone may reduce the risk of lung disease in extremely premature babies

Physical violence in sexual assaults is increasing among young people

Exercise and nutritional drinks can reduce the need for care in dementia

The Conversation

What body odour says about you?

Your genes matter more for lifespan now than they did a century ago – here’s why

Researcher explains how to use facial cleanser properly

Social media, not gaming, tied to rising attention problems in teens

More articles by KI researchers published in The Conversation

Sten Linnarsson: “It’s essential to recruit the best”

Early-life gut bacteria exposures may protect children against allergies

AI-driven robot patient can train medical students in clinical reasoning

Mutation type shapes early Alzheimer’s

No increased risk of rectal cancer in ulcerative proctitis

Three researchers who want to improve road safety

Johan Lundström sniffs out new knowledge

Cell and gene therapy – from science fiction to the hospital ward

KI's president: "We must safeguard academic freedom"

AI research at KI paves the way for more targeted and globally equal healthcare

Gut and mind – how they are connected

UN call for the release of KI researcher Ahmadreza Djalali

Updates from the University Management

Selected top publications

KI in the media (Swedish only)

Research subjects wanted