The Conversation
Photo: Getty ImagesA single dose of psilocybin eased depression symptoms for months
A single dose of the psychedelic substance psilocybin, found in so-called magic mushrooms, can provide rapid relief from recurrent depression, with the effects lasting for over three months, according to a new study. However, the researchers also caution that the results may have been influenced by the placebo effect. Read the article in The Conversation.
Photo: Getty ImagesNew study downplays the risk of atrial fibrillation in fit people
New research suggests that the risk of atrial fibrillation in highly fit people is lower than previously thought. The benefits of high fitness levels, including lower rates of cardiovascular disease, clearly outweigh any potential downsides. Read the article in The Conversation.
Photo: Getty ImagesWhy has PCOS been given a new name?
After decades of research, PCOS is now being renamed PMOS. The new name reflects a growing understanding that the condition is a complex hormonal and metabolic disorder affecting far more than fertility.
Photo: Getty ImagesMore articles by 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.
Grants, awards and donations
Photo: Johannes FrandsénThe Anders Jahre prize 2026 awarded a KI brain researcher
Anders Jahre Senior Medical Prize 2026 is awarded to Professor Ole Kiehn, Karolinska Institutet and University of Copenhagen. Professor Kiehn receives the main Jahre prize for his groundbreaking discoveries on the organisation of and the function of neural circuits that control movements. These are findings of great significance for the treatment of disorders such as ALS and Parkinson’s disease.
Photo: Håkan LindgrenPär Nordlund awarded the Prize for Innovation and Utilisation 2026
Pär Nordlund is an internationally prominent researcher who successfully combines excellence in basic research with tangible societal impact. By translating groundbreaking discoveries into successful companies, he has contributed to accelerating the development of new medicines and strengthening the link between academia and industry. He is now awarded the 2026 Prize for Innovation and Utilisation.
Photo: Martin StenmarkPhilanthropic support from the Savén Family bolsters colorectal cancer research
Donations by Björn Savén and his wife Inger Savén to Karolinska Institutet’s research on colorectal cancer will hopefully improve our understanding of the disease and the possibility of early detection. One of the aims of the research is to enhance the disease prognosis by increasing the number of people tested at an early stage.
HLF awards major research grant to Charlotte Thålin for COPD inhalation therapy
An estimated 500,000 to 700,000 people in Sweden live with the lung disease COPD. Research is currently being done on developing an inhalation therapy for such patients by examining how antibodies can protect the body from disease-related inflammation and infections. KI researcher Charlotte Thålin has been awarded the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation’s (HLF) major research grant of SEK 20 million for the project.
The magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap on AI in healthcare
Photo: Peter GehrmanMore and more people are turning to Dr AI for advice
Dr AI has become a colleague of Dr Google. Researchers see both benefits and risks in this development. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 2 2026.
Photo: Christian GustavssonHow AI can accelerate drug development
Andreas Luttens has trained an algorithm that can explore the so-called chemical space – all conceivable combinations of atoms and bonds. First published in the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap no 2 2026.
Selected top publications
Staff practices determine the use of coercion against young people
Astrid Moell et al, Lancet Psychiatry, June 2026
Biological differences linked to severe COVID-19
Soham Gupta et al, Genome Medicine, May 2026
From PCOS to PMOS: why the name of a disease matters
Elisabet Stener-Victorin et al, Nature Medicine, May 2026
Chronic bowel disease involves multiple types of inflammation happening at once
Eduardo J. Villablanca et al, Immunity, May 2026
New insights into protein breakdown in cells pave the way for new medicines
Helin Norberg et at, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, April 2026
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