News archive

In November 2024, KI students participated in an exciting hackathon organized by NeurotechEU at Boğaziçi University in Turkey. Bringing together students from various disciplines and backgrounds, the event provided a dynamic environment for collaborative problem-solving in neurotechnology.

A new Swedish study has, for the first time, shown a link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cognitive decline in dementia patients. The study, published in the scientific journal Neurology, emphasizes the importance of careful monitoring and management to prevent cognitive decline.

The European NUCLEAR-network is announcing 16 positions of Doctoral Candidates to build the future experts in metabolic regulation and genome function. One position is currently announced at Karolinska Institutet.

Women who have experienced pregnancy complications have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Now, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the European Heart Journal shows that sisters of women with complicated pregnancies are also at higher risk, even if they had uncomplicated pregnancies. The findings suggest that genes and shared environmental factors may influence the association between pregnancy complications and cardiovascular disease risk.

Advanced Hazmat Life Support (AHLS) is a brand-new course in Sweden, that is being taught for the first time at Karolinska Institutet. During two intense days in February, medical doctors, nurses, paramedics and people with special responsibilities in the field of CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials) are trained in medical care in the event of exposure to hazardous chemicals.

StratNeuro aims to support the development and dissemination of new technologies and therefore announces a new round of this funding call.

The teaching and learning unit is launching a new network within Karolinska Institutet for educators called HEarts – Health Education Arts. The overall idea is to explore how arts and humanities can be integrated into our curricula to enhance teaching and learning.

KI NeurotechEU steering group is pleased to announce the availability of limited competitive funds for KI faculty, staff and/or students to conduct collaborative interactions within the field of Neurotechnology.

The school shooting in Örebro has provoked many reactions. Here is some information on security at KI for students and employees, and details about whom to turn to if you have questions or feel anxious.

We congratulate Tobias Granberg, Docent and research group leader at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), appointed adjunct professor of neuroradiology.

In a recent Q&A session on SVT News, trauma expert Björn Tingberg answered questions about children's health and trauma.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet are part of a research project that has recently been awarded a grant from the EU's Innovative Research Programme. The project aims to develop methods to facilitate the identification of patients in need of treatment and the choice of treatment for viral infections.

Professor Thomas Perlmann was awarded a medal by HM the King at a formal ceremony at Stockholm Palace on 4 February.

The Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) is hosting the fifth edition of International Staff Week May 19 – 23, 2025.

On 30 January, a symposium on dementia was held in honour of HM Queen Silvia at Karolinska Institutet. The event was part of the "experience gift" that KI presented in connection with the Queen’s 80th birthday.

The Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research (ABMR) awards Josefin Särnholm the Neal Miller New Investigator Award.

The grant for ALS research is awarded over a three-year period and pertains to the project ”Validation of PET camera tracer for the examination of motor neurons in ALS and related motor neuron diseases.”

Fellow-KI researchers Anders Kvanta and Fredrik Lanner have been awarded a grant of SEK 10 million from the Promobilia foundation to develop a treatment for inherited retinal diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There is currently no effective therapies for these diseases, which are the main cause of blindness in the developed world.

The MSCA Doctoral Network RESPIRE-EXCEL is announcing 15 PhD positions to study precision medicine for respiratory diseases. One position is currently announced at Karolinska Institutet.

Patricia Colque, a long-time co-worker at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at Karolinska Institutet, passed away earlier this week at the age of 77 years.

The year started off with a visit by the Getinge leadership team to the Global Child Health & SDGs group. During the visit, ongoing research and doctoral programs in Indonesia and Vietnam, in collaboration with Carl Bennet, were discussed. Critical care initiatives, focusing on mothers and newborns, conducted in partnership with Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya, Indonesia, and Phu San Hanoi Hospital in Vietnam, was presented. Additionally, progress was reviewed and future plans were outlined.

T-cells from the liver and lymph nodes show promising potential for future treatments of liver cancer, according to a new study. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have investigated how immune cells react to tumor-specific antigens in the complex environment surrounding liver cancer.

The Trustworthy & Ethical AI Lab (TEA Lab) has been established at Center for Social Sustainability (CSS) as an interdisciplinary research initiative focused on promoting ethical, transparent, and sustainable AI applications in healthcare. The TEA Lab will align its work with the EU Guidelines for Trustworthy AI and combine expertise from fields including medicine, philosophy, psychology and social sciences.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have mapped the genome of the Iberian ribbed newt and revealed how the composition and organization of the DNA are linked to its ability to regenerate entire body parts.

Asthma biologics can be used during pregnancy to reduce the risk of complications associated with the disease.

The spring term of 2025 began with an orientation week, a welcome ceremony, and a mingling fair for around 400 new students in the occupational therapy, physiotherapy, medical, and nursing programmes.

A new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Södersjukhuset shows that advanced ultrasound imaging analyses cannot identify patients who would benefit from beta-blocker treatment after a myocardial infarction. The study, published in the scientific journal European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging, is a follow-up to the previous REDUCE-AMI study.

A large proportion of babies born very early need intensive care, which can be painful. But the healthcare system fails to provide pain relief to the full extent. This is shown by the largest survey to date of pain in neonatal care, now published in the journal Pain.

Times Higher Education in the UK has published its World University Rankings by Subject 2025. The ranking is based on both hard data and reputation surveys. KI improves its position in several categories.

Professor Gunilla Karlsson Hedestam and her research group have been awarded a Proof of Concept grant by the European Research Council (ERC) to investigate how vaccines can be adapted to genetic variations in people around the world. Their research paves the way for more effective protection against disease on a global scale.

Eminent cancer researcher and Karolinska Institutet professor Eva Klein has passed away at the age of 99. She is survived by her and her late husband Georg Klein’s three children. Eva Klein won numerous prizes and awards over the years for her important discoveries in cancer research. She was elected onto the Royal Swedish Academy of Science in 1987.

Felipe de Oliveira Galvão received the Sten Orrenius Prize 2024 for Best Publication in Toxicology.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have uncovered new insights into the mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study, recently published in Cell Reports, explores how changes in dopamine (DA) neurotransmission in the brain contribute to the behavioural symptoms of autism.

The application process for the fourth KIPRIME Fellows Initiative is now open for participants from Karolinska Institutet and other Swedish universities. This unique initiative, co-financed by the Gunnar Höglund and Anna-Stina Malmborg Foundation and KI, aims to nourish the next generation of Karolinska Institutet Prize for Research in Medical Education winners by offering an inspirational curriculum of mentoring and development activities for outstanding midcareer medical education researchers.

When children with obesity undergo weight-loss treatment, the effects have repercussions later in life and the risk of serious health problems and premature death is lower as they reach young adulthood. However, this is not the case for depression and anxiety, a study from Karolinska Institutet published in JAMA Pediatrics reports.

Autism affects 2-3% of U.S. children and there is no cure. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to its etiology. Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have received an NIH grant of 2.5 million USD for the 5-year project "Autism in Preterm Birth".

Researchers at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet have taken an important step toward understanding how microglia, the brain's immune cells, change with age and how these changes may contribute to age-related neurological diseases.

With the new EU-funded grant, Sezgin team seeks to examine the virus-host interaction of Marburg virus (MARV) and establish a blueprint for the targeted development of antiviral strategies for newly emerging viruses.

Since 1987, researchers have followed thousands of older residents in Kungsholmen through the "Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen" (SNAC-K). The results show that today's 80-year-olds are healthier than previous generations, but health varies depending on where in the district they live.

On 20 January, a new group of participants gathered at Karolinska Institutet (KI) for the first lesson in a slightly different course. The participants are all potential future medical humanitarian aid workers and will be taking the course this spring. It will prepare them for future work in health crises, disasters and low-resource areas.

The geroscience hypothesis focuses on extending the healthy lifespan by targeting aging mechanisms. Recent advances in biomarkers for biological aging give rise to tools for measuring aging and assessing treatments. Alzheimer’s disease, a major health issue, may benefit from common drugs and early interventions.

The sun was shining over Aula Medica on 17 January when it was time for the formal graduation ceremonies for four of KI's educational programmes.

Until July 2025, Annika Östman Wernerson, President of Karolinska Institutet, holds the chair of the University Alliance Stockholm Trio.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital in Sweden have determined how children’s immune systems react to different kinds of cancer depending on their age. The study, which is published in the journal Cell, reveals significant differences between the immune response of children and adults, and has the potential to lead to new tailored treatments for children with cancer.

In a groundbreaking study published in the medical journal The Lancet, researchers have explored the possibility of treating acute, non-perforated appendicitis in children with antibiotics instead of surgery.

In the latest issue of Newsweek Magazine, there is an article on the implementation of whole genome sequencing in the USA, "Scientists and Doctors Reveal How Genes are Mapping Cures for Cancer". One of the persons being interviewed is Richard Rosenquist Brandell, Professor and research group leader for clinical genetics and director of Genomic Medicine Sweden.

During the inauguration of the new initiative "Advances in Artificial Intelligence - AI@KI", on Dec 18, 2024, the first award for an important advancement in AI made at KI during the past year was handed out. Among many nominated candidates, Dr Sara Hägg was evaluated as the most outstanding contribution from a panel of reviewers.

For children battling both congenital heart defects (CHD) and cancer, the road to recovery is far more precarious than previously understood, according to a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The research reveals that these children face a higher risk of death within five years after a cancer diagnosis compared to their peers without CHD. Although their survival rates have improved over recent decades, lymphoma mortality remains disproportionately high.

Hi Elinor Nemlander, doctoral student at the Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care. On January 31 you will defend your thesis ”Early cancer detection through symptoms and signs”. What is the main focus of the thesis?

In diabetic kidney disease, fat accumulates in the kidneys, leading to lipotoxicity and kidney damage. A recently published study by Ulf Eriksson's research group at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Karolinska Institutet shows that elevated levels of the protein VEGF-B in the kidney and adipose tissue correlate with increased fat accumulation in the kidney and impaired kidney function in patients with diabetic kidney disease.