News archive

A new study published in Brain shows that damage to small blood vessels in the hereditary disease CADASIL may disrupt important brain functions in the hippocampus, a region involved in memory. The findings help explain why many people with CADASIL develop cognitive problems and dementia.

As of 2025, the Hagströmer Medical History Library is officially an integrated part of Karolinska Institutet University Library (KIB), with exciting plans to move to Campus Solna.
Listen to Anna Lantz, Thomas Perlmann and Sven Hagströmer in the latest episode of the KIB podcast!

Carina King, an infectious diseases epidemiologist, has dedicated over a decade to improving the diagnosis and treatment of paediatric pneumonia in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, she received a prestigious Consolidation Grant from the Swedish Research Council for a project that aims to refine referral guidelines for children with moderate hypoxaemia – a critical gap in current clinical practice.

Professor Birgitta Henriques-Normark, Gates Foundation awardee at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, met with Bill Gates when he visited Stockholm at the end of January.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of everyday health care, supporting diagnosis, documentation, triage, treatment planning, and resource allocation. Much of the public discussion has focused on accuracy, privacy, and fairness. In a new paper in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, KI researcher Farhad Abtahi highlights a less-discussed patient-safety issue: data poisoning, where manipulated training data can steer an AI system toward unsafe behaviour.

Two out of three adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) start adulthood without the disease, according to a long-term study published in Gastroenterology by researchers at the University of Gothenburg and Karolinska Institutet. The researchers also note that several factors in adolescence which increase the risk of adult IBS can be influenced.

Recent press releases from two new partners of NextGenNK highlight important advances in natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapies, spanning both clinical development and translational research.

Cancer is complex and hard to treat, with many forms that change over time. This makes treatment complicated: a drug may help one patient but not another. Developing new cancer drugs is also slow and costly, often taking years and failing before reaching patients. This thesis explores how advanced laboratory models and artificial intelligence could make the process faster.

“Journées CORTICO 2026”, the symposium in the fields of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), Neurotechnology and Cognitive Neuroscience, will take place on May 18-20, 2026, at the University of Lille, France.

Adolescents who report pain at the age of 18 are at higher risk of later self-harm. This is shown by a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Psychiatry Research. The findings suggest that pain may form part of the chain of events leading to self-harming behaviour.

Research on rare diagnoses and the development of precision medicine depend on patients being able to share their health data in a secure and ethical manner.The research study, published in Scientific Reports, in which a digital platform was developed to collect electronic informed consent shows that many participants want to contribute to research and appreciate the digital solution, but also that the technology needs further development.

The Vietnam–Sweden Health Partnership Forum, co-organized by the Embassy of Vietnam in Stockholm and Karolinska Institutet, brought together leaders in government, research, and healthcare to mark more than 50 years of bilateral collaboration. The event also outlined an ambitious new phase of research-driven cooperation centered on innovation, capacity building, and maternal and newborn health.

Children with Down syndrome have a significantly increased risk of leukemia, while adults have a lower risk of several common solid tumors, according to a new register study from Karolinska Institutet published in the British Journal of Cancer. The results may contribute to more tailored cancer screening guidelines.

Autistic adults who took part in an adapted group-based programme in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) reported reduced stress and improved ability to cope with everyday challenges. These findings come from a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Autism in Adulthood.

On Friday 23 January, KI welcomed the new students of this semester. During the day, they took part in a ceremony featuring a speech from the President, an engaging student panel, a performance by the student union and inspiring research insights – followed by a fair where they could meet different parts of KI.

Estimates of unlicensed online gambling in the Nordic countries vary widely and are often based on non-transparent data sources. This is shown by a new scoping review published in PLOS ONE. Led by researchers from, among others, Karolinska Institutet, the study reviews 32 reports and finds that figures describing the “black market” are frequently used as political arguments, despite unclear underlying methodologies.

Among the 102 recipients at Karolinska Institutet who received research grants in medicine and health from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet), five researchers from the Department of Neuroscience were included.

Bill Gates visited Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital last Friday at his own initiative to discuss the latest advances in Swedish Alzheimer’s research, a field that interests him and that he supports.

KI researcher Saida Hadjab has been awarded funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for her project “A Game-Changing Therapeutic Target for Lasting Pain Relief”, which addresses a major unmet medical need in chronic pain and headache disorders. Designed to fast-track the commercialisation of cutting-edge research in sustainability and health, the grant aims to support bold innovations that have real-world impact.

The new American dietary guidelines turn the traditional food pyramid upside down; meat and fatty dairy products are placed at the broad base and vegetables at the other end. The advice is presented as new knowledge, but is characterised by simplifications and political considerations rather than comprehensive science, says Mai-Lis Hellénius.

A new study in Nature Communications reveals how immune cells rapidly shut down their response after activation, preventing damage to healthy tissue. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet, sheds light on a molecular ‘kill switch’ that could help control infections or autoimmune diseases.

The Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH) has released a film that tells the story of Professor Stefan Swartling Peterson and a 25-year collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Makerere University in Uganda. Through his personal reflections and experiences in Uganda, the film highlights long-term partnerships, sustainable health systems, and the impact of cross-border collaboration on improving maternal and child health.

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.

Long-term use of medications for heartburn and acid reflux, known as proton pump inhibitors, does not appear to increase the risk of stomach cancer, according to a new study published in The BMJ. The results are based on extensive Nordic health data and may provide reassurance to patients who need long-term treatment, according to researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

Times Higher Education (THE) in the UK has published its subject ranking World University Rankings by Subject 2026. The ranking is based on both hard data and reputation surveys. For the third year in a row, KI improves its ranking in the subject "Medical and Health".

The Centre for Health Crises and the research group Global Disaster Medicine will deepen their educational collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières over the next three years thanks to new support from the Kamprad Family Foundation. The focus is on pre-deployment training that provides skills and tools for delivering healthcare in resource-limited settings, humanitarian disasters, and health crises both globally and locally.

On Friday 16 January, newly graduated occupational therapists, physiotherapists, medical doctors and nurses were celebrated during this year’s graduation ceremonies in Aula Medica, together with their families and friends. It marked the end of many semesters of hard work – and a day that all in attendance will remember.

For more than a century, maps of the brain have been based on how brain tissue looks under the microscope. These anatomical maps divide the brain into regions according to structural variations in the tissue. But do these divisions really reflect how the brain works? A new study on mice from Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggests that this is often not the case.

Prolonged exposure to air pollution can be linked to an elevated risk for serious neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and seems to speed up the pathological process, report researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The study is published in the journal JAMA Neurology.

Welcome to Yihui Yang's presentation of her thesis ”Premenstrual disorders : risk determinants and health consequences across the life course”.

Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren, Evren Alici and Johan Lund from NextGenNK Competence Center have participated in the ASH Annual Meeting 2025.

A simple blood test can help detect cancer in patients with non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, pain or weight loss. This is according to a Swedish study from Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital and others, published in Nature Communications.

How are empathy, norms and interaction formed in the meeting between people? On 22 January, You, the second part of the exhibition series Me You We – Exploring Human Behaviour, opens at The Cell – a collaboration between the National Museum of Science and Technology and KI. After the open opening on 22 January, a number of events will be offered during the spring. Among these, leading KI researchers will talk about the latest research in relation to art.

Four innovation projects at KI in the field of life science receive funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and SciLifeLab's Proof-of-Concept program. The grants aim to strengthen the path from academic research to innovation and commercial application in life science.

The 2025 Karolinska Institutet (KI) Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine (MWLC) has been estabished for Postdoctoral positions in the field of Reparative Medicine, including stem cell regenerative medicine, bioengineering, reprogramming and biomanufacturing toward translation.

A new study in Nature Communications shows how one of the cell’s most important energy-producing machines is built. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have mapped late steps in the formation of the human respirasome, a large protein assembly that drives mitochondrial respiration.

Researchers at Mass General Brigham and Karolinska Institutet have identified a new method to predict asthma exacerbations with a high degree of accuracy. The study is published in Nature Communications.

Breast cancer ecotypes represent unique combinations of three key factors: the internal states of tumor cells, the local tumor microenvironment, and the overall immune response. Together, these elements reflects the complex interaction between the patient, the tumor, and the treatment. This thesis investigates how tumors change during pre-surgery therapy, known as neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAT).

The Cancer Research Funds of Radiumhemmet is to donate SEK 102 million kronor to point-of-care cancer research at KI. The grant is the largest in the history of the Funds and will finance diagnosis-specific research, infrastructure and research positions.

KI researcher Federico Iovino has been awarded the Pioneer Innovator Grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Designed to fast-track the commercialisation of cutting-edge research in sustainability and health, the grant aims to support bold innovations that have real-world impact.

Currently, a PhD position within the ENDOTRAIN network is announced at Karolinska Institutet.

Iva Filipovic at the Department of Laboratory Medicine receives SEK 4,5 million from Åke Wiberg Foundation for her project on understanding how HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy affect pregnancy and early immune development.

Subtle abnormalities in kidney function — even within the range considered normal — may help identify people at risk of developing chronic kidney disease. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Kidney International. The researchers have therefore developed a web-based tool that could aid in early detection and thus primary prevention.

A new study shows that internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) can effectively reduce asthma-related anxiety in adults with asthma. Participants who received ICBT reported less anxiety related to their asthma, better asthma control, higher quality of life, and fewer avoidance behaviours compared to those who received standard care. Lung function was not affected by the treatment, indicating that it is safe and can be used as a complement to medical asthma treatment.

Bachelor, Master, and PhD students at Karolinska Institutet (KI) are invited to apply now for the Autumn School of Clinical Neurotechnology taking place 23-26 February in Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca (Romania).

The NeurotechEU Internship Program at Boğaziçi University offers undergraduate and master’s students from the NeurotechEU alliance a unique opportunity to gain hands-on research experience in cutting-edge neuroscience and neurotechnology laboratories.

The Swedish Central Association for the Promotion of Sports (SCIF) has named Eva Jansson, professor emerita at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, as the 2025 recipient of the Major Sports Research Award for an experienced researcher.

Just five extra minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a day or sitting half an hour less could make a measurable difference for public health, according to a new study published in The Lancet.

The immune system’s reaction to the common Epstein-Barr virus can ultimately damage the brain and contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS). This is shown by new research from Karolinska Institutet, published in Cell. The study provides new insight into the long-suspected link between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and MS.

Abdominal fat is not a uniform tissue. A new study from Karolinska Institutet, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, and Helmholtz Munich reveals that fat located close to the large intestine contains an unusually high number of inflammatory fat cells and immune cells. The findings suggest that this tissue is specially adapted to communicate with the immune system in the gut region. The study is published in the journal Cell Metabolism.