News archive

The immune system in the uterus can regenerate after both uterus transplantation and bone marrow transplantation. This is shown by a new study from Karolinska Institutet that has been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The new insights into how the uterine immune environment functions may be significant for the treatment of infertility and complications during pregnancy.

Two Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships and a Walter-Benjamin-Postdoctoral Fellowship (German Research foundation, DFG) have been granted to outstanding early-career scientists at the Division of Molecular Metabolism (MolMet) at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics. The fellowships are highly competitive and prestigious.

The application for Minor Field Studies (MFS) for the autumn semester of 2026 is now open. The scholarship provides students with the opportunity to conduct a field study in a low- or middle-income country as part of their degree project. The application deadline is 17 April, 2026.

Radboud University organizes a one-week immersive course to explore how neurotechnologies shape everyday life through key clinical applications. Through lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and user interactions, participants examine the technical, clinical, and ethical dimensions of neurotechnology, supported by expertise from Radboud University and NeurotechEU partners.

When an AI system in health care gives a confident answer, should clinicians trust it? In a new article from Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, KI researcher Farhad Abtahi and colleagues argue that the question itself is wrong, and that the entire field needs to rethink how medical AI systems are designed. Here he develops his reasoning.

Finn Åkerström from the Integrative Cardiovascular, Cancer and Ageing Research unit (ICCA), at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), defends his thesis titled "Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Technological Advancements and Long-term Effects on Morbidity and Mortality.", on 13 March 2026. Main supervisor is Nikola Drca.

Behavioural changes – such as anxiety, depression, irritability, apathy or agitation, collectively known as neuropsychiatric symptoms – may appear long before a dementia diagnosis. A new study from Karolinska Institutet and the University of Perugia, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, shows that these symptoms form recognizable patterns across older adults ranging from cognitively unimpaired to those with dementia.

The healing of the spinal cord depends on carefully timed interactions between injured nerve cells and their surrounding environment, according to a new study published in Science Advances by researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

Despite a strained healthcare situation and concerns about delayed diagnoses, childhood cancer survival in Sweden remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of diagnoses varied somewhat between cancer types, but researchers found no evidence of poorer survival during the first year after diagnosis.

The Lundbeck Foundation in Denmark has awarded Professor Patrik Ernfors The Brain Prize 2026 for groundbreaking discoveries about how the nervous system interprets touch and pain. His research has clarified key aspects of somatosensation, the body’s ability to sense the physical world, and opened new opportunities for developing treatments for long lasting pain. He shares the prize with Professor David Ginty, Harvard Medical School.

The research group led by Craig Wheelock at the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) has recently enhanced its analytical capabilities with the acquisition of two new mass spectrometers. With a total of six instruments now operational, the Wheelock Lab has become one of the most comprehensively equipped mass spectrometry facilities in its field.

Emma R Andersson, senior researcher and associate professor at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Joanna Rorbach, senior researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, have been awarded the Göran Gustafsson Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a technique that shows how proteins interact with RNA, the molecule that carries genetic instructions inside our cells. The study, published in Nucleic Acids Research, offers new insight into an important layer of gene regulation that can lead to better understanding of disease mechanisms.

During the consultation period 5–22 March, researchers and employees at KI have the opportunity to influence the first proposal for KI's local level-graded journal list (KI-JL). All publishing researchers or researchers who are peer reviewers for journals are encouraged to participate in the consultation.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a computational method capable of simulating the movements of some of the cell’s largest protein complexes. The study is published in Nature Communications.

People who use drugs with anticholinergic effects, including certain antidepressants, drugs for urinary incontinence and common antihistamines, are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in BMC Medicine.

Fee-paying master students who wish to secure accommodation for the autumn semester are urged to submit their housing application before the 14th of June, 2026.

A new international report published in United European Gastroenterology Journal and led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet presents the first clear definition and diagnostic criteria for fatty pancreas. The consensus aims to improve communication between clinicians, support future research and create more consistent patient care worldwide.

New funding from Region Stockholm in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet will support advanced research into cluster headache at the university. By combining genetic studies with sleep and circadian rhythm research, the project seeks to improve care for a patient group with a high disease burden and risk of misdiagnosis.

Frustration behind the wheel can increase the risk of accidents – but that is far from the only danger. Meet three researchers who are interested in road safety.

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), used to treat genetic diseases, can affect how cells repair damage to their DNA. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Nature Communications. The findings may have implications for the development of future genetic medicines and deepen our understanding of how RNA, natural counterparts to ASOs, participate in DNA repair systems.

Achilleas Fardellas from the Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM), at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), defends his thesis titled "Regulation of Macrophage Function by ADAR1 in Metabolic Disease", on 6 March 2026. Main supervisor is Niklas Björkström.

Nikki Svärdsén began to question why she was so rarely satisfied with her body. Through her Instagram account, she found a new way of looking at herself.

When Fredrik Boltes weighed 160 kilos, he felt it was time to find out more about what a gastric bypass actually involves. This led to a life-changing journey and an acclaimed documentary.

For several years, the rates for childhood obesity have been fairly stable. However, the use of new drugs is increasing.

A minority of Swedes are within the normal weight range, while one in five is obese. New, effective drugs have drastically changed the possibilities for treatment. This may lead to a better understanding of the disease, perhaps even among patients themselves.

NeurotechEU invites educators from its partner universities to co-develop innovative, cross-institutional activities with a strong focus on challenge-based learning. Successful applicants can receive funding of up to €10,000 to support the effective implementation of innovative teaching concepts.

Depression and other psychological factors may be linked to the risk of postoperative confusion in older adults. This is shown in a new systematic review from Karolinska Institutet, published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia. The study summarizes results from more than 6,700 patients.

On 19 February, Karolinska Institutet held a ceremony in the Nobel Forum for the recipients of the Diligence and Integrity in the Service of the Realm (NOR) award. The warm and festive evening of speeches, music and dining was dedicated to colleagues who have devoted 30 years of their working lives to KI’s development and to Swedish public administration.

The course Pedagogy for doctoral supervisors is currently underway, offering KI supervisors a deeper understanding of learning processes and supervisory pedagogy. Through theory, reflection and peer exchange, participants strengthen their ability to support doctoral students’ development into independent researchers.

In 2025, Clinicum and the Compliance and Data Office (CDO) conducted a pilot project in which researchers received in-depth support with both REDCap and statistical planning. The results provide a clearer picture of how researchers can best be equipped to create high-quality electronic case report forms (eCRFs) right from the start.

Professor Anna Dimberg at Uppsala University is awarded the prize for her outstanding discoveries of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in brain tumors and their pivotal role in activating an effective immune response against cancer.

When ARC turned 25 last year, they received a grant from Forte to host a day dedicated to research on aging. On February 5, they therefore organized “Forum for Aging Research – What have we achieved and where are we heading?”, bringing together researchers from across Sweden working in the field of aging to share their findings.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet are joining an ambitious international collaboration aimed at transforming the early identification and prevention of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in children. The project, funded with £2.2 million from the Wellcome Discovery scheme.

HPV vaccination reduces the risk of cervical cancer for at least 18 years, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in The BMJ. There were no signs of waning protection over time.

Ahead of the spring term, two new presidents have taken over at KI’s student unions: Medicinska Föreningen (MF) and Odontologiska Föreningen (OF). Meet Linnea Ammer Jansson and Alexander Suei and learn about their priorities, motivations, and what they hope to achieve this year.

In February, the first round of Karolinska Institutet’s executive and professional education course Gynecology for Nurses (7.5 credits) began. The course was developed in response to a clearly identified competence need within women’s healthcare, following dialogue with Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge. The course is offered in Swedish, at an advanced level, fully online and at quarter pace, enabling around 30 nurses from across Sweden to combine studies with clinical work.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Professor Nils Wahlgren, stroke researcher and founder of the SITS International Stroke Thrombolysis Registry .

Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University are launching a joint Bachelor’s programme in nutrition science – the only education of its kind in Sweden.

Almost half of patients hospitalised for acute heart failure in Europe are readmitted within a year, according to a new study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in the European Heart Journal. The risk of death also remains high, especially for those with more severely reduced heart function.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain develops and functions. It’s usually noticed in childhood, and more than half of those diagnosed keep experiencing symptoms as adults. Medicines for ADHD can reduce these symptoms, but lasting benefits depend on continuing the medication regularly.

The call will open on 23 February 2026 and close on 23 March 2026 at 14:00. Apply via Prisma.

The Junior Faculty at KI SÖS strives to support junior researchers and encourage interdisciplinary collaborations. Therefore, the Junior Faculty at KI SÖS is announcing a Start-up Collaboration Grant.

More cases of colorectal cancer are detected at an early stage with screening, according to a randomised clinical trial by researchers at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet. The study has been published in Nature Medicine.

Early treatment with hydrocortisone may increase the chance that extremely premature babies will survive without the chronic lung disease bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), according to a study by researchers at Linköping University and Karolinska Institutet published in JAMA Network Open.

An international study presented in Science Magazine questions the reproducibility of much of the published findings in psychology journals. Researchers tried to replicate 100 studies from three prominent journals, and found that regardless of the analytic method or criteria used fewer than half of their replications produced the same findings as the original study.

A common strep throat infection can trigger guttate psoriasis by altering the behaviour of key immune cells, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in eBioMedicine. The findings suggest how an infection can lead to sudden skin inflammation, particularly in children and young adults.

The use of testosterone is rising rapidly among Swedish men, and online the hormone is often sold as an elixir of masculinity. But much of what is written there is misleading and often based on pure myths and unnecessary treatment is not without risk.

Eight young researchers at Karolinska Institutet have been awarded postdoctoral grants within the EU's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). This means strengthened opportunities to conduct research that can contribute to future medical breakthroughs – from the role of mitochondria in disease to the brain's body experience and new strategies for allergy treatment. The competition has been particularly intense in this year's call.

The Strategic Research Area Neuroscience – StratNeuro - announces a call for applications to support postdoctoral researchers at Karolinska Institutet.