KI appoints two new honorary doctors who have changed the view of oral health and breast cancer
Karolinska Institutet has appointed the world-leading researchers Timo Sorsa and Charles "Chuck" Perou as honorary doctors in dentistry and medicine, respectively. With their research, they have both contributed to new ways of understanding how diseases arise and how they can be detected and treated earlier. They will be awarded their honorary degrees at a conferment ceremony in Stockholm City Hall on 24 April.
This year, Karolinska Institutet (KI) is honouring two researchers who have made a major impact in dentistry and medical research around the world. Timo Sorsa has shown how oral health is linked to the well-being of the whole body, while Charles Perou has helped change the way we look at and treat breast cancer.
Timo Sorsa – the mouth as a mirror of health
Timo Sorsa is a professor of periodontology at the University of Helsinki and one of the world's most cited researchers in dental and oral health. His research is about how inflammation in the mouth, such as periodontal disease, can be linked to serious diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
An important focus of his work is to detect diseases at an early stage. By measuring special substances, so-called biomarkers, in saliva or fluid from the gums, Timo Sorsa has contributed to the development of rapid tests that can be used directly in healthcare. This makes it easier to prevent and treat diseases before they become serious.
Timo Sorsa has also worked closely with Karolinska Institutet, where he has been an affiliated researcher and supervised doctoral students, something that has strengthened international research at KI.
Professor Sorsa has both professional and personal ties to Stockholm and Sweden.
"Being named an honorary doctor, and also my previous role as a visiting professor at KI, are some of the most important highlights of my professional life. I also have family ties on my father's side in Stockholm, and I know that both my relatives and my colleagues at KI are delighted with me about this recognition," says Timo Sorsa.
Charles Perou – a new understanding of breast cancer
Charles "Chuck" Perou is a professor of genetics at the University of North Carolina in the United States and a pioneer in modern cancer research. He is particularly known for his research on breast cancer and for having identified different molecular types of the disease.
This discovery has been of great importance, as it has shown that breast cancer is not a single disease but several different ones, which may need different treatments. This has led to more accurate therapies and better prognoses for patients both in Sweden and internationally.
Charles Perou's work has also had a major impact on cancer research at Karolinska Institutet and has been an important driving force behind the development of precision medicine.
The latter has been a goal for Professor Perou in his work.
“This is one of the greatest honors a PhD researcher could receive, and it gives me a renewed soul to accomplish more. For me this is very special in that it recognises my contributions to medicine, which goes beyond my laboratory-based cancer research,” says Professor Perou. “I had always hoped that my work would advance precision medicine, and this honour confirms that it has.”