News archive

In 2024, ICT educator Gina Söderlund Nåtfors and her colleagues conducted a manual review of randomly selected course rooms in Canvas, checking various aspects of digital accessibility. Read more about the results and what you can do to create more accessible course rooms in Canvas.

Exercise is known for the positive effects on metabolic diseases, partly because of the release of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) that mediate intercellular communication and organ crosstalk. In a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet, Zhenghao Wang, doctoral student at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, explores the molecular composition and biofunction of exercise-induced EVs, focusing on their role in health benefits and pancreatic β-cell protection.

Hannes Hegmar from the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit (GUT), at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH) defends his thesis titled "Non-invasive predictors of prognosis in chronic liver disease", on 31 October, 2025. Main supervisor is Hannes Hagström (MedH).

The 50th annual meeting of the Scandinavian Society for Immunology (SSI) took place in Stockholm on 15-17 October. During the conference the SSI Young Investigator Award was presented to recipients from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

A new memorandum of understanding has been signed by Karolinska ATMP Center and the ATMP Center Uppsala to deepen their collaboration in the rapidly growing field of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), which includes cell- and gene-based medicines. The aim is to enhance joint capacity and competitiveness in the Stockholm–Uppsala region.

The arrival of agriculture coincided with a sharp rise in a gene variant that protected against the virus that causes winter vomiting, researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Linköping University report after analysing DNA from over 4,300 prehistoric individuals and cultivating ”mini guts”.

Hi Anahita Amirpour, doctoral student at the Division of Nursing. On November 20 you will defend your thesis "Assessment and identification of cognitive changes after surgery in older adults". What is the main focus of the thesis?

On 14–15 October 2025, Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Makerere University in Uganda celebrated 25 years of partnership advancing global health, research, and education. The milestone also marks the 5th anniversary of the jointly established Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH) — a platform for promoting sustainable health and equitable global partnerships.

Breakthrough cryo-EM structures expose multiple drug targets in an essential HSV-1 replication protein.

Fitness amongst young adults varies widely from one country to another, and is strongly associated with both socioeconomic development and gender equality, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science reports. The results indicate that levels of development and gender equality in a society can affect differences in physical capacity and therefore public health in general.

By analyzing large amounts of data, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a system for classifying individuals into different risk groups for atherosclerosis. The results enable early detection of the disease, which can lead to personalized preventive care.

Thirteen medical professionals from the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, China, recently spent an intensive week at Karolinska Institutet, diving into clinical research methodology from a global public health perspective. The professional education course offered a dynamic mix of lectures, discussions, and collaborative learning.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Umeå University have investigated how the protein HIF2α affects neuroblastoma, a severe form of childhood cancer. The results show that high levels of HIF2α can reduce the growth of tumor cells and promote their maturation into a less aggressive cell type.

Leif Lundblad, entrepreneur, inventor and honorary doctor at Karolinska Institutet, has died at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife Irene and daughter Ulrika and family.

The Aging Research Centre (ARC), one of Sweden’s leading research centres looking into the health and living conditions of older people is celebrating its 25th anniversary. With its multidisciplinary research and broad-based collaborations, the ARC contributes to a deeper understanding of ageing and how society can promote a more favourable environment for a dignified and healthy old age.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet suggests that some widely used heartburn medications may be linked to kidney problems over time. Researchers followed nearly 300,000 patients for up to 15 years to explore how these drugs might affect kidney and heart health.

Several colleagues and affiliates from the Aging Research Centre (ARC) recently participated in the 21st European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) Congress, held from 24 to 26 September 2025 at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavík, Iceland. This year’s congress, themed “New Landscapes in Geriatric Medicine”, brought together experts from across Europe and beyond to address the evolving challenges and innovations in the care of older adults.

Living in a neighbourhood where people feel safe and supported is linked to a reduced risk of psychosis among Stockholm residents – but only for people of Swedish or European origin. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet and UCL published in the journal Nature Mental Health. For people of North African or Middle Eastern origin, an increased risk of psychosis was seen in the same neighbourhoods.

Paediatric allergist and KI researcher Caroline Nilsson has been awarded this year's Mogren Prize in Medicine, Sweden's largest prize for clinically active doctors. The prize money of SEK 250,000 is motivated by her work to link patient encounters directly to research, which has a life-changing effect on children with severe food allergies.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered how cells can adjust their gene activity to survive when oxygen runs low. The study, published in Nature Cell Biology, reveals that cells use a previously unknown mechanism to control which proteins are produced – and how quickly.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in npj Precision Oncology, shows that support cells in the adrenal gland can regenerate hormone-producing tissue after birth. The same cells may also act as a starting point for adrenal tumors, offering new insights into cancer development and potential treatment strategies.

Nearly 240 participants gathered in the Eva & Georg Klein Hall at Karolinska Institutet on 14 October to mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of natural killer (NK) cells. The full-day symposium featured presentations on scientific advances, offering both historical reflections and future outlooks.

Medical digital twins are computerised versions of patients, enabling different treatments to be tested and the most effective one identified, without any risk to the patient’s health. And in the future, we will each have our own, according to researcher Mikael Benson.

Drugs targeting the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) offer several positive effects for individuals with type 2 diabetes, including the lowering of blood glucose and the reduction of body weight and of cardiovascular risk. In a study in mice, researchers at KI SÖS and Södersjukhuset have shown that the specific weight loss properties of these treatments are key to also improve neurological recovery after suffering from stroke.

The KI Housing office is closed on Friday, October 31, due to the All Saints´ Day holiday. If you have any urgent maintenance issues when the office is closed, we ask you to use the on-call service for your area.

The Nordic Health Crises University Network aims, among other things, to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration between Nordic universities in the field of health crises. Over the next two years, it will be possible to apply for funding for a short-term exchange. The visits should focus on health crises, last between 2–6 weeks, and the total cost may not exceed SEK 30,000.

A new international study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet demonstrates that it is possible to detect subtle changes in the brain and identify early signs of hereditary frontotemporal dementia using advanced brain imaging techniques. The study has recently been published in Molecular Psychiatry.

At the installation ceremony for KI’s 22 new professors, Aula Medica was filled with music, laughter and academic pride. The annual professorial installation is as much a tribute to knowledge, diversity and research as it is a ceremonial occasion. Also honoured during the evening were the recipients of various awards, including KI’s Grand Silver Medal, Silver Medal and the Lennart Nilsson Award.

When KI's inauguration ceremony was held on Thursday, October 9, NVS Head of Department Maria Ankarcrona was present to honor three distinguished individuals from NVS during the reception following the stage program.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that some natural killer cells, NK cells, temporarily reside in our organs and then leave them via the lymphatic system. The study, published in Nature Immunology, shows that our immune system is more dynamic than previously thought. The results may contribute to better treatments that direct the immune system where it is needed.

Infective endocarditis following valve surgery is a rare but life-threatening infection. In a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet, PhD student Lisa Bearpark from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery investigates which patient groups are at particular risk for infective endocarditis.

The 2025 Nobel prizes in Chemistry and Physics both have medical implications. While the former rewards versatile molecular frameworks able to combine treatment and diagnosis, the latter concerns discoveries that can provide tools like quantum computers and quantum sensors. Applications in health and life science are being explored at a national collaboration centre based at Karolinska Institutet.

Self-promotion can often be a challenge, but speaking about oneself to secure a job, a place on a
study programme, or a scholarship carries even greater pressure.

The motivation from the jury: "For identifying key viral mechanisms used by hantaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 to disrupt cellular functions, thereby laying the foundation for the development of new antiviral drugs."

Access to cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries can be improved with the help of AI, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet, Uppsala University and the University of Helsinki, published in The BMJ. However, the technology requires support from functioning healthcare systems to be effective.

Tilen Trselic, a doctoral student at the Department of Medicine, Solna, has been awarded the 2025 Cilla Weigelt Prize for his research on Sjögren’s syndrome, a rare rheumatic disease that primarily affects women. The prize includes a personal scholarship and a research grant to promote scientific exchange.

Eating a healthy plant-based diet may lower the risk of dementia in older people with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, or stroke. This is shown by a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in JACC: Advances, which compared different types of plant-based diets.

Sergiu Catrina, associate professor of endocrinology at Karolinska Institutet and medical director at the Center for diabetes, has been awarded a three-year research grant of just over USD 1 million from the American organisation Breakthrough T1D. The grant funds a study investigating the effect of the drug roxadustat on kidney oxygenation in individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Albert Einstein College of Medicine have shown that glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, not only affects the brain but also erodes the skull and alters the immune system in the bone marrow. The findings are published in Nature Neuroscience.

AI can be an excellent tool to use in your studies, but you need to stay alert as to how it’s affecting your learning – and to where it crosses over into plagiarism or other forms of cheating. The KI University Library (KIB) has lots of tips on the effective and responsible use of AI and real examples of what is not acceptable.

When Times Higher Education (THE) in the UK publishes its ranking of the world's best universities regardless of specialisation, KI lands in 53rd place among more than 2.000 higher education institutions in 115 countries. In the EU, KI ranks 6th and is the foremost place among higher education institutions in the Nordic region.

Pregnant women who use proton pump inhibitors, a common medicine for heartburn, run a slightly higher risk of developing infections during pregnancy and after childbirth. This is shown in a new registry study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health.

On 1 October, over 200 dedicated employees from Karolinska Institutet and Region Stockholm gathered for this year's Educators' Day at the Flemingsberg campus. The participants came from different parts of the organisation with teaching assignments or involvement in educational issues, and the day offered lectures, workshops, discussions and networking.

On Wednesday 8 October, The Swedish Armed Forces and Karolinska Institutet signed a declaration of intent to strengthen and broaden their collaboration in research and education in the field of defence-related medicine. The two organisations have a long history of collaboration in commissioned medical research, and in light of a changing global security situation and the expanding concept of total defence, they are now taking the next step.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration with colleagues in South Africa, have investigated whether tuberculosis can be traced in exhaled air. The results, published in the scientific journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases, show that a new method may help identify people with infectious tuberculosis directly in primary care.

The year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine rewards discoveries that reveal how our immune system is kept in check – in other words, how the body protects itself from attack by its own immune cells. The discoveries pave the way for possible new therapies for many conditions, including autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, MS and cancer.

Welcome to Linus Wiklunds presentation of his thesis ”Advancing assessments of endocrine disruptors using adverse outcome pathways and novel methodologies”.

A previously unknown group of nerve cells in the brain has been shown to play a crucial role in aggressive behaviour among mothers. The study, led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, SciLifeLab, and Stockholm University and published in Nature Communications, demonstrates that these "silent" nerve cells can be activated to influence how a mother defends her offspring.

Hi Kajsa Söderhielm, dcotoral student at the Division of Occupational therapy. On October 24 oktober you will defend your thesis ”Supporting person-centred, team-based stroke rehabilitation with ICT : implementation and evaluation of F@ce 2.0”. What is the main focus of the thesis?

The medical programme and the Bachelor’s programme in biomedicine had the fourth and fifth highest first-choice admission points this autumn, according to the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR).