News archive

Karolinska Institutet’s international recruitment drive for 21 Assistant Professors has once again attracted a great deal of global interest. A total of 2,035 applications from 1,171 unique applicants have been received from 81 countries. The results remain at a very high level following last year’s record outcome and confirm KI’s strong appeal amongst the world’s most promising young researchers.

Different autoimmune diseases often share genetic risk factors, but not through a single common genetic vulnerability. In a new study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers from Karolinska Institutet and collaborating institutions show that autoimmune diseases instead form genetic clusters that largely reflect the tissues or organs they affect.

Fredrik Lanner researches the developmental stages of the human embryo and how embryonic stem cells can be used for future therapies. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 8 October.

Björn Wiman, Stockholm, Professor at Karolinska Institutet and former Senior Consultant in Clinical Chemistry at Karolinska University Hospital, has died at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife, Annika, his children, Daniel and Emelie, and his grandchildren.

The Nordic Network on Dementia Diagnosis NIDD would like to welcome you to our fifth conference for memory clinics in the Nordic countries. After previous conferences in Oslo, Reykjavik, Kuopio and Stockholm, we hope to see you again in Oslo this fall.

Five researchers at Karolinska Institutet have been awarded the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant, one of Europe's most important research grants for researchers at the beginning of their careers. The grant is seen internationally as an acknowledgement of scientific excellence, originality and a promising future as a research group leader.

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) made a strong contribution to this year’s IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, one of the world’s largest conferences on ageing research. Around 3,500 researchers attended the event, which focused on the theme Ageing Well in a Globalized World.

Despite treatment, many patients with Addison’s disease still live with health problems. Sophie Bensing researches how their care can be improved. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 8 October.

Why do women and men develop Alzheimer’s disease differently? In her thesis, Aphrodite Demetriou, PhD student the Division of Neurogeriatrics, NVS, explores how sex hormones, particularly estrogen, may influence the development of the disease. Using both animal models and miniature human brain models grown from stem cells, she has uncovered new insights that could contribute to more personalised treatments for Alzheimer’s disease in the future.

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who have several close relatives with colorectal cancer are significantly more likely to develop the disease themselves. This is demonstrated by a new Swedish registry study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Gastroenterology. The findings raise the question of whether future cancer screening guidelines should place greater emphasis on the number of cancer cases in a patient's family.

A new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) has demonstrated good safety and tolerability in a phase 1b study published in the journal PNAS. The treatment is based on the patients’ own red blood cells, which are used to train the immune system to tolerate substances that are mistakenly attacked in the disease. The study was conducted at University Hospital Zurich in collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

Qi Chen, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Women's and Children's Health, has been awarded the Dimitris N. Chorafas Prize 2026. The prize of USD 10,000 is intended for recent PhD graduates or doctoral students in their final year of doctoral studies. The aim is to encourage young, promising researchers. In her thesis, she demonstrates how modern analytical methods can provide new insights into how children's immune systems develop and respond to illness.

We congratulate Bertil Hamberger, Professor Emeritus at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, who has been awarded the Swedish Surgical Society’s Honorary Award 2026 for his lifetime achievements in surgical research. A well-deserved distinction and a fine recognition of his outstanding contributions to Swedish surgery.

HER-MIND at Karolinska Institutet invites applications for seed funding to support innovative pilot projects led by early-career researchers in women's mental health. Scope includes, but is not limited to, reproductive and perinatal mental health; psychiatric symptoms and disorders across the female life course; and biological, genetic, neurodevelopmental, environmental and social factors relevant to brain development and women's mental health.

By studying epigenetic changes in leukaemia cells, Sören Lehmann hopes to contribute to more effective and personalised treatments. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 8 October.

Becoming pregnant again soon after giving birth is associated with risks for both mother and child. A study led by Karolinska Institutet and published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health shows that approaches and guidance developed jointly by midwives and mothers can increase the proportion of women who choose effective contraception after childbirth, but also that organisational barriers limit opportunities for equitable care.

Patients with type 2 diabetes who have high blood glucose levels, low body weight, or a history of ketoacidosis are at increased risk of developing this serious condition when treated with so-called SGLT2 inhibitors. A study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet also shows that the risk persists throughout the entire course of treatment.

From 1 September, the Centre for Health Crises is strengthening its expertise in the important field of primary care in health crises through the appointment two expert coordinators in the area. Faraidoun Moradi and Hani Khalifa are both specialist doctors in general medicine and have on a range of issues related to general medicine and crises, disasters, and particularly vulnerable groups for a long time. They are now looking forward to becoming part of the Centre’s work.

If you missed the Centre for Health Crises’ seminar on management and preparedness for Ebola outbreaks, it is now available to watch online. The seminar combined experiences and lessons from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DR Congo with insights into Sweden's preparedness to receive Ebola patients. Most importantly, it explored what these two perspectives can learn from each other.

Many people with severe asthma continue to experience significant symptoms and persistent inflammation despite treatment with modern biologic therapies. This is shown by a large European study involving more than 13,000 patients from 22 countries. The researchers emphasise the importance of identifying patients at risk of developing more severe disease at an early stage.

In a new thesis, Callum Regan, PhD student at the Divsion of Physiotherapy, NVS, explores how physical activity and sedentary behaviour affect disease risk, and how a personalised mobile app can support healthier habits. The findings highlight the benefits of daily activity for cardiovascular and overall health.

Many children who are assessed for speech and oral motor difficulties also face challenges with chewing ability, sensory processing and early development. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet. The findings may contribute to earlier detection and more accurate assessments of children’s needs.

How can the healthcare services save more lives after trauma and cardiac arrest? Malin Jonsson Fagerlund’s research group intends to find out. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 8 October.

Tofersen, marketed under the name Qalsody, is a new treatment for ALS that has now been approved for patients with SOD1-ALS, the second most common cause of ALS, at Karolinska University Hospital. The decision is a long-awaited breakthrough in the field of ALS.

Older adults living with several chronic diseases, a condition known as multimorbidity, may respond differently to interventions aimed at preventing disability, depending on the combination of diseases they have. A new study, published in Nature Aging and led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome, suggests that looking at patterns of multimorbidity, rather than individual diseases alone, could help make prevention more personalised.

Organised by "Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet and Boğaziçi Üniversitesi, this Autumn School offers scientific and technical training in microsurgical techniques.

Researchers can now order services from Aurevia AB to support their clinical drug trials, medical device investigations, and other clinical studies.

In May, Gloria Sinato joined the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, as a doctoral student. Her principal supervisor is Peter Swoboda.

Breast cancer is often classified as either estrogen receptor-positive (hormone-sensitive) or not. However, a new study from Karolinska Institutet suggests that this simplified classification may overlook important biological differences between patients that could affect treatment decisions. The results are published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.

Eleni Aklillu, professor of global health pharmacology at GPH, has been named among ten EDCTP-supported leaders driving progress in global health research and innovation. The feature highlights Professor Aklillu's longstanding contributions to pharmacovigilance, clinical pharmacology and regulatory science, as well as her leadership in strengthening research and regulatory capacity across Africa.

Inflammation, altered gene regulation, and exposure to substances in tobacco smoke may all contribute to the development of cluster headache. This is demonstrated by two new studies from Karolinska Institutet, which improve our understanding of the biological mechanisms behind this painful condition.

A combination of training, quality improvement and leadership support in hospitals across four countries in sub-Saharan Africa is linked to fewer stillbirths and deaths among newborns during the first 24 hours of life. This is shown by a study led by Karolinska Institutet and published in Nature Medicine.

Professor Wendell Lim, this year’s Ulf von Euler Lecturer, seeks to understand how cells communicate and control their functions. By mapping the molecular signals that enable cells to respond to their environment, he aims to understand and influence biological processes with greater precision. His research could contribute to the development of new treatments for cancer and other diseases.

Francesca Grassi from Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM) at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH) is defending her thesis titled: "Targeting DCPS in acute myeloid leukemia : from target validation to biomarker-driven patient stratification", on 2 September 2026. Main supervisor is Julian Walfridsson.

Discover how wearable neurotechnology is transforming neuroscience, healthcare, and human-computer interaction. In this hands-on international hackathon, you will collaborate with participants from different disciplines, explore cutting-edge brain monitoring technologies, and develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges using EEG and fNIRS.

Florian Rosenberger, Assistant Professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (MBB), has been awarded a prestigious SciLifeLab Fellowship. The fellowship comes with substantial research funding, and access to the SciLifeLab community, creating new opportunities for collaboration and scientific development.

In a recent article in Nature Medicine, two Karolinska Institutet initiatives are highlighted as key Nordic AI assets: KI’s Centre for AI Innovation and TEF-Health, the European Testing and Experimentation Facility for Health AI and Robotics, whose Swedish node is hosted by KI.

Professor Olle ten Cate is awarded the 2026 Karolinska Institutet Prize for Research in Medical Education (KIPRIME) for his transformative contributions to medical education, reshaping how professional competences and workplace assessment are understood.

Binge eating disorder and anorexia nervosa share some genetic features, but they also differ in important ways. This is shown in a new study published in Nature Mental Health, in which researchers, including scientists from Karolinska Institutet, analysed genetic data from tens of thousands of individuals. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the biological basis of different forms of eating disorders.

A warm welcome to all new KI Housing tenants! We hope you will enjoy your new home and your time in Stockholm.

In June, Freja Segerros joined the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, as a doctoral student. Her principal supervisor is Marie Löf.

A patient with advanced, treatment-resistant lung cancer became tumour-free after treatment with the selenium compound selenite. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Oncology and Therapy as a case report. The findings may contribute to increased knowledge about selenite as a possible cancer treatment.

Individuals with subjective cognitive decline feel that their memory or thinking abilities have worsened, although they still perform normally on cognitive tests. While some will later develop dementia, many do not, making it difficult to determine who may benefit from further assessment or closer follow-up. A new grant has now been awarded to KI researcher Ingrid Ekström to help support her research into whether smell tests can help improve early dementia risk assessment.

People who take part in screening for colorectal cancer may have as much as 43 per cent lower risk of dying from the disease, according to new estimates published in JAMA Network Open by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Umeå University in Sweden. These findings are based on up to 14 years of follow-up data from the Stockholm–Gotland screening programme.

Older adults who typically had longer intervals between meals accumulated chronic diseases more rapidly over time than those with shorter intervals, according to a study from Karolinska Institutet published in the Journal of Internal Medicine. The association was most pronounced among people aged 78 years and older.

An internet-based treatment supported by a therapist led to a greater reduction in depressive symptoms among adolescents with depression than standard care, at a lower treatment cost. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal BMJ Mental Health. At the same time, the results suggest that a self-guided internet-based treatment may be a cost-effective alternative where access to therapists is limited, although the clinical effect is more uncertain.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that gut bacteria can convert dietary nitrate and iron into protective molecules that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The study, published in Cell, reveals a new way in which the gut microbiota helps protect vital bodily functions.

In her thesis, the researcher shows that activation of the oestrogen receptor ERβ reduces Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain and improves memory. The results also highlight important sex differences that may have implications for future treatments and clinical studies.

Two patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can face very different futures. One may live for decades without needing treatment, while another may develop rapidly progressing disease. In a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Blood Neoplasia, American Society of Hematology, researchers map what distinguishes the two patient groups.

A blood test that measures how quickly tumour cells divide could in future help doctors assess prognosis and select treatment strategies for patients with melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body. This is shown in a study involving researchers from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.