KI researchers awarded grants from the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation

Ten researchers at Karolinska Institutet have been awarded grants in the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation’s latest call for funding, during which approximately SEK 62 million was allocated. Appropriations include a six-year researcher position and several postdoctoral positions.

Karolinska Institutet researchers account for 11 of 26 successful applications.

Financing for a six-year senior research position was awarded to Lisa Westerberg of the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology for a project studying the link between the ability of antibodies to move around and an increased risk for childhood cancer. The aim of the study is to better understand how an uncontrolled immune response leads to immunodeficiency diseases and tumours in children.

Magdalini Lourda of the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health has been granted funding for a research assistant position relating to immunological and genetic studies of children suffering from the rare condition Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

The call also resulted in a grant to five KI researchers for postdoctoral positions. These are Saeed Eshtad, Aida Rodriguez Garcia, Jenny Thorsell Cederberg, Johanna Viiliäinen and Arnika Wagner.

Doctoral grants for clinicians were awarded to Susanna Ranta and Emma Tham.

Funding for clinical research months – three months per year for three years – was awarded to Bianca Tesi and Emma Tham.

In total, approximately SEK 62 million in grants were awarded. From a total of 107 applications, 26 were granted – 17 of which came from women and 9 from men.

The Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation awards grants three times a year.