News archive

On 11–12 May 2026, Karolinska Institutet hosted the NeurotechEU Neuroinnovation Summit, bringing together researchers, clinicians, educators, and entrepreneurs from across the European University of Brain and Technology alliance to explore how neurotechnologies can move from laboratory discovery to real-world impact.

Renovation work is now underway to create a new room for examinations and computer-based teaching at the Solna campus. It will meet the need for both an exam hall and computer-based teaching.

Claudia Hanson at the Department of Global Public Health has been appointed Professor of Global Health Systems Research. Her transdisciplinary career allows her to combine a strong clinical background with experience in health system strengthening, and implementation science, with a particular focus on improving maternal, newborn and child health in low- and middle-income countries.

The ARC Junior Retreat 2026 was held on 2 June at Högberga Gård, Lidingö. A group of 27 doctoral students, postdocs, research assistants and visiting junior researchers attended the one-day event.

Karolinska Institutet found itself well-represented when the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) recently released this year’s Research Impact list, which spotlights 30 research projects with a real potential to be translated into innovations of significant societal benefit. Three of these projects are run by researchers at KI.

In an editorial in The New England Journal of Medicine, Ingrid Lundberg at Karolinska Institutet comments on a phase 3 trial of the drug brepocitinib in adults with dermatomyositis. The editorial describes improved symptoms in the trial, but also highlights limitations and questions that remain.

On 28 April, more than 400 participants gathered for Doctoral Education Day at Aula Medica in Solna. The day attracted doctoral students and supervisors, with representation from across KI as well as international participants.

Ljubica Matic, Associate Professor at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, has been awarded a grant from the Leducq Foundation, one of the largest international grants in the field of cardiovascular research. The grant, 9 million USD for totally 5 years, will be used within the international network ATHENA, which brings together researchers from the USA and Europe, and is coordinated by Prof Thomas Quertermous, Stanford and Helle Jørgensen, Cambridge.

A new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet shows that the health outcomes of children conceived with assisted reproductive technology (ART) are generally reassuring, although certain combinations of specific methods were found to be linked to a slightly increased risk of rare conditions. The findings alleviate concerns about the safety of ART and can support better counseling as well as informed decision making among patients and clinicians.

On 16 June, Hayley French will defend her thesis "Schizophrenia and Copy Number Variation Syndromes: From Genetic Risk to Cell Type-Specific Mechanisms". Meet her in this short interview.

How can art contribute to better teaching and greater understanding in medical education? A new course at Karolinska Institutet explores precisely this by offering teachers and tutors a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of art and medical education. Through this close collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and the National Museum, participants will develop new perspectives on learning, reflection and professional practice within healthcare education.

Docent Marcus Buggert at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, is awarded the Eric K. Fernström prize for particularly promising and successful researchers, for his remarkable research on the function of T cells in the human immune system and their importance for new therapies.

The KI Publications interface has been retired. Instead, you can now search for KI’s publications via the new interface Research Information Search!

A new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet shows that RNA can influence how cells repair damage to their DNA. The findings contribute to a better understanding of processes that are important in diseases such as cancer and may be relevant for future treatment development.

The meeting featured presentations on KI’s work with fundraising and donations; a new search service for research information at KI; a summary of the work with KI’s prioritised focus areas. In addition, current issues within KI were discussed.

It will soon be time for the long-awaited summer holidays for many. To ensure the holiday and operations run smoothly, there are a few things for you as an employee to consider.

At the end of May, KI’s President approved local guidelines for responsible internationalisation.

Laurène Adam from the Center for Reproduction, Metabolism and Molecular medicine (CeRM) at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), defends her thesis titled "Molecular insights into Bri2 BRICHOS and copper modulation of α-synuclein in Parkinson’s disease", on 12 June 2026. Main supervisor is Axel Abelein.

In June 2026, around 60 doctoral students, postdocs, and supervisors at the Department of Medicine, Solna, gathered for an end-of-term after-work to mingle and connect with colleagues across the department.

Leo Kowalski has been awarded a grant from the Lennander Foundation.

Pär Björklund from the Cardio Metabolic Unit (CMU), Center for Reproduction, Metabolism and Molecular medicine (CeRM) at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), defends his thesis titled "Atherosclerosis and peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes: interstitial lipoprotein distribution and sphingolipid metabolism", on 11 June 2026. Main supervisor is Sara Straniero.

Each year, more than 6,000 Swedes are diagnosed with melanoma. Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that, if detected late, can be fatal. Not all melanomas behave in the same way. A new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet investigates why some patients have poorer outcomes than others and whether certain markers in tumor tissue can help us predict who is at risk.

By combining multiple types of analysis, researchers can better understand why treatments work differently in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). This is shown in a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet.

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and can be difficult to treat in advanced stages. In a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet, Ellen Heurlin shows that radiotherapy combined with modern drug treatments provides clear clinical benefit in advanced melanoma. The results demonstrate good local tumor control, especially with stereotactic techniques, and few serious side effects. The most promising results were observed when radiotherapy was combined with immunotherapy.

A new professional education course at Karolinska Institutet is planned to start in autumn 2026. The focus of the course is Training for Awareness Resilience and Action (TARA) – an integrative method that provides professionals with new perspectives and practical tools for working teenagers and young adults with depression.

The Swedish government appoints Clas Rehnberg, professor in health economics at the Department of LIME, KI, as a special investigator with the task of analysing how the state can contribute to more efficient procurement of specialised healthcare in the private sector.

David Marlevi's research on new imaging technology for blood pressure measurement has been recognized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and included in the IVA 2026 list for research projects with particularly high impact. The list highlights research that makes a major difference in society.

KI and Karolinska University Hospital have developed a new research data delivery platform to make it easier, safer and more efficient to share health data. The feature is being introduced in stages and may in the longer term contribute to smoother research collaboration between Region Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet and other organisations.

A new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet shows that the balance system can be assessed during the first months of life. Using new, child-friendly methods, healthcare services can detect vestibular dysfunction in children with hearing impairment at an earlier stage and offer targeted habilitation.

Parents of children with ADHD, autism and other disabilities reported increased psychological flexibility and reduced stress after participating in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy–based programme Navigator ACT. The results come from a study conducted at Karolinska Institutet and published in the journal Autism Research. “The intervention made it easier to be the parent you want to be,” says first author Tiina Holmberg Bergman.

Sunshine, heat, cold and rain all play a role in how active preschool children are during the day. This is shown by a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Environmental Research, in which researchers have linked children’s activity patterns to everyday weather conditions.

Are you a promising junior researcher at KI ready to take the next step in your career? The consolidation grant at KI offers a unique opportunity to strengthen your research, develop your independence, and expand your activities.

The Aging Research Center (ARC) was well represented at this year’s Blodomloppet in Stockholm on 3 June. Thanks to Franziska and Federico, participants were organised into teams across the 10 km run, 5 km run and 5 km walk.

Smartphone-based heart rhythm monitoring from home can reduce same-day cancellations and help save significant healthcare resources ahead of planned electrical cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation. This is shown in a new study published in JAMA Cardiology by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital.

The thresholds for kidney function currently used to diagnose chronic kidney disease (CKD) reflect a true increase in the risk of serious illness. This is shown by a study from Karolinska Institutet and Leiden University Medical Center published in the journal JAMA. The researchers also show that risk assessment becomes more accurate when two common blood tests, creatinine and cystatin C, are combined to estimate kidney function.

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.

You might recognise this: working days packed with meetings and long periods of sitting still in front of the computer. With the Pausit Coach, you’ll receive reminders to take important breaks to move around – and there’s now an update featuring over 100 simple exercises focusing on office strength, yoga and breathing.

From 1 July, a security technician has been employed at Karolinska Institutet. The role involves responsibility for the operation, maintenance and technical management of KI’s security systems on campus.

By seeking to understand those who commit intimate partner homicide, Shilan Caman hopes to find ways to prevent future killings. Her research shows that one factor unites them: the need for control.

At the end of last week, Karolinska Institutet took part in Järvaveckan, an annual event focused on dialogue and societal issues. Each year, political parties, public authorities, companies, organisations, universities, and schools come together to meet the public, discuss current topics, and build new connections.

Mikael Rydén, professor at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, has been awarded a grant of USD 9 million from the Leducq Foundation.

A mapping of publications from Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University shows a broad range of research linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Bibliometric analysts at the three universities have compiled an overview of publications issued by the universities between 2018 and 2023. The results point to opportunities for further collaboration.

This question is currently being considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was also the topic of a panel discussion held by the Department of Global Public Health in May.

Okan Gültekin, a postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institutet, has been awarded an international grant from the Cancer Foundation to develop an AI-based tool for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. The project brings together expertise from Sweden, Finland and the UK.

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.

Craig Wheelock has been appointed Professor of Metabolomics at Karolinska Institutet.

Karolinska Institutet is the coordinator for a new IHI-funded project aims to unlock health data for research while safeguarding intellectual property and trade secrets.

The Docent Committee decided on the 28th of April 2026, to appoint Katharina Fink as docent in neurology.

On 19 May 2026, the Docent Committee decided to appoint Pernilla Stridh as docent in medical genetics.

Andri Papakonstantinou and Sean Rudd have been appointed docents in cancer and oncology at Karolinska Institutet. Both are based at the Department of Oncology-Pathology.