Mona Ståhle receives the Sven Hellerström Medal for research in dermatology
Professor Mona Ståhle has been awarded the Sven Hellerström Medal by the Swedish Society of Medicine for her significant contributions to dermatological research. The award committee highlights how, over four decades, she has been a visionary leader at Karolinska Institutet, particularly in psoriasis research, and has educated an entire generation of clinician-scientists in Sweden
The Sven Hellerström Medal aims to promote and recognise significant work in dermatology and is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the field.
A unanimous award committee selected Professor Mona Ståhle, researcher at the Department of Medicine, Solna, as the 2025 recipient of the medal, with the motivation that she “has been an outstanding role model and visionary leader in dermatology and has, at times against adversity, maintained a high academic standard both in research and clinical practice.”
“I am deeply moved and honored to be the recipient of the Hellerström Award in 2025. Sven Hellerström was a visionary leader in Swedish dermatology. He created the first modern and comprehensive dermatology clinic at Karolinska Hospital – a model for other dermatology clinics across the country,” says Mona Ståhle about the recognition.
According to the award committee, Mona Ståhle is a shining example of KI’s core mission: to conduct high-quality clinical research relevant to human health. She is also described as an important bridge between Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital and, overall, has upheld the tradition of the Hellerström Medal in the best possible way.
Collaboration with patient organisations
Mona Ståhle describes the opportunity to combine clinical work with research as “a privilege.”
“Important research questions often arise in contact with patients, and working at a top university with access to colleagues across all fields and cutting-edge research methodology offers unique opportunities,” she says.
In her own research, Mona Ståhle was early in drawing attention to antimicrobial peptides in wound healing. Her major scientific contribution lies in psoriasis, where she has persistently, and often in close collaboration with patient organisations in Sweden and internationally, promoted the message that psoriasis is a widespread disease with significant consequences for both individuals and society.
Today, she continues her work on psoriasis projects, which she describes as “increasingly interesting and promising over time.”
“We have been following patients for 25 years and are studying how the disease develops over time. We have access to detailed data on genetic traits and other markers that may help identify both protective factors and risks.”
The award was presented at the 2025 Sven Hellerström Memorial Lecture, where Mona Ståhle gave the lecture titled Forty Years with Karolinska Dermatology.