News archive

Nobel Forum welcomes Professor Nobutaka Hattori for a Research Lecture on 19 March.

Scented television, questions about farts and the smell of newborn babies. Johan Lundström's days include everything from treating smell loss to researching how our sense of smell actually works.

Physical violence in sexual assaults against young people has become more common and more severe. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet. The studies cover both women and men and point to the need for clearer clinical procedures and better education about consent.

A new term of office for the StratNeuro Executive Board began in January 2026.

Professor Ute Römling at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology is, among 63 fellows, elected to the American Academy of Microbiology.

A simple combination of daily physical exercise and protein-rich nutritional drinks appears to offer significant health benefits for people with dementia. In a new study from Karolinska Institutet, not only did the participants' physical ability improve, but after three months the researchers also saw signs that they were able to manage more everyday tasks themselves. The study is published in the journal Alzheimer's and Dementia.

A Finnish team of researchers will be visiting KI on 17 March to present their examination of the 82 human remains that KI repatriated to Finland two years ago. Archaeological sampling has revealed new information about how these individuals lived their lives. The bioarchaeologists will be presenting their findings at an open seminar, which will be followed by a panel debate.

Taking place from 21 May to 17 June 2026, this Summer School combines online and on-site learning to introduce the field of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (4 ECTS Blended Intensive Programme). This course is organized by Reykjavik University, in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet and Radboud University.

Precancerous colorectal lesions, or dysplasia, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) confer markedly different risks of future colorectal cancer depending on dysplasia grade, according to a comprehensive registry study from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Silent clapping, often referred to as “jazz hands”, is becoming popular as a way to make events more neurodivergent friendly. A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that both neurodivergent and neurotypical people are generally positive towards the practice, although opinions vary widely. The study also highlights differing language preferences, with many participants indicating that both identity‑first and person‑first terms are acceptable.

Using a combination of strategic recruitment and an internal nomination process, KI hopes to be able to nominate particularly promising young researchers for the Swedish Research Council’s new call. Jesper Lagergren, chairman of KI’s recruitment committee, considers the initiative both right and promising.

KI’s major recruitment drive for assistant professors has proved a success beyond Sweden and according to Sten Linnarsson, one of the driving forces behind the excellence-focused international initiative, the outcome will make its mark on KI for decades to come.

In a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers have identified the neurogenic progenitor that give rise to dopaminergic neurons, the primary neurons affected in Parkinson’s disease. These findings could help improve how dopaminergic neurons are produced for transplantation in Parkinson’s disease.

A recently published study from Karolinska Institutet shows that mortality among people who inject drugs enrolled in the Stockholm needle and syringe program declined over a ten-year period, with a marked reduction in opioid overdose deaths. The study is published in Harm Reduction Journal, and the findings coincide with a period of expanded harm reduction interventions, including the implementation of a take-home naloxone program.

The most common way to treat cancer with radiation is with photon beams, which are light-like beams. The technology now allows radiation to be aimed very precisely at the tumor. This protects healthy tissue but demands extreme precision. Small errors in measurements, machines, or software can lead to slightly high or low doses. This thesis examines several areas where such errors may arise.

Certain gut bacteria in infants may reduce the risk of developing allergies later in childhood. This is the finding of new research from the ALADDIN study at Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Microbiology.

Welcome to submit your abstract to Karolinska Institutet's Educational Congress 2026. The congress will take place in Stockholm, 7–8 October.

Immunotherapy given before or after surgery is increasingly used across several cancer areas. In an article published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, researchers at Karolinska Institutet present a comprehensive review of studies across seven tumour areas, showing how the field is moving towards earlier treatment.

On 1 February, Christofer Juhlin took up a combined professorship in tumour pathology at the Department of Oncology-Pathology. The new position was initiated by Radiumhemmet Research Fund, who are also partially financing it. We asked Christofer a few questions about his new role and ongoing research.

A Swedish study, recently published in the scientific journal Neurology, has found that individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury are more likely to face periods of work disability that can last for up to five years following the injury.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a circular RNA in mitochondria that plays an important role in the healing of chronic wounds. The study is published in Advanced Science.

A doctoral thesis at Karolinska Institutet investigates how an AI-enhanced social robot can be used as a virtual patient to improve the clinical reasoning and communication training of medical students.

New findings from Karolinska Institutet reveal how the gene HNRNPU coordinates several fundamental molecular processes during the earliest stages of human brain development. The study is published in Nucleic Acids Research and helps explain why children with pathogenic variants in HNRNPU often develop severe neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability, autism, and epilepsy.

People with lower kidney function may have higher levels of several blood markers often used in research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This is shown in a new systematic review and meta‑analysis published in The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Hi Alexander Kvist, doctoral student at the Division of Physiotherapy. On March 6 you will defend your thesis ”Evaluating complex walking in aging and neurological disease : from motor behavior to brain activity”. What is the main focus of the thesis?

Welcome to Charilaos Chourpiliadis' presentation of his thesis ”A novel evaluation of potential risk and prognostic factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”.

Katarina Berinder at the Experimental and Clinical Neuroendocrinology research group, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, became docent in endocrinology and diabetes on January 27, 2026.

Katarina's research is primarily focused on pituitary diseases, with a particular focus on hyperprolactinemia. She conducts clinical and epidemiological studies in the pituitary area as well as other endocrine diseases, including adrenal diseases.

Since May 2025, Alexandra Kambler and Ingrid Öberg have been working as student and doctoral ombudspersons at the Medical Students’ Association. Their role is to make it easier for KI students to access support in time, prevent problems from escalating, and contribute to clearer and safer processes throughout their studies.

The application period is now open for both the KI Global Master’s Scholarship and the KI‑DIS Fellowship. These merit-based scholarships cover the full tuition fee for students admitted to one of Karolinska Institutet’s global master’s programmes.

Karolinska Institutet (KI) and the University of Toronto (U of T) have announced the second cohort of Mats Sundin Fellows in Human Developmental Health for postdoctoral researchers. The two-year exchange programme offers promising young researchers the opportunity to grow and test their wings in other research environments. Behind the initiative is ice hockey legend Mats Sundin, whose engagement lays the groundwork for the next generation of leading researchers.

Kristiina Tammimies, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor of Medical Genetics at Karolinska Institutet, has been appointed Vice Chair of the steering group for the Strategic Research Area in Neuroscience (StratNeuro). The decision was made by the Committee for Research in connection with the new term of office that commenced in January 2026.

A large-scale multi-omics study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Genome Medicine, provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying unstable atherosclerosis, one of the most important causes of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction.

The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) will be auditing KI’s quality-assurance processes in education and research over the coming two years. The audit will be based on a self-assessment, which will now commence.

To take an exam, you must be able to verify your identity. E‑ID cards, service ID cards and national ID cards (from countries within the EU, EEA or Schengen) are now also accepted as valid forms of identification.

When the AI service Sundi is now being launched in Sweden, users will receive individualised support to achieve their personal health goals. The advice is based on the latest research that is updated and reviewed by doctors and researchers. Sundi is a non-profit initiative from Bosch Health Campus (BHC) in Stuttgart and Charité – Universitätsmedizin in Berlin in collaboration with researchers from Karolinska Institutet who review the research content.

The Conference "Women of NeurotechEU: Empower, Lead, Innovate" is an international event organized by the “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, under the umbrella of the NeurotechEU European University Alliance, in connection with International Women’s Day.

Anna Nilsson, Professor of Paediatric Oncology at Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Senior Consultant at Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, has been appointed Vice Director of the Board of Cancer Research KI (CRKI). The organisation brings together cancer research from more than 400 research groups across the university and works to ensure that new knowledge benefits patients.

The Lennart Nilsson foundation was established in 1998 in order to bestow an award in recognition of the world-renowned Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson and his extraordinary body of work. Its main aim is to promote education, training and research within the medical, biological and engineering sciences through the use of images.

Breast cancer tumours can contain different cell types and structures, which may influence how the disease develops and responds to treatment. In a new thesis from Karolinska Institutet, Qiao Yang at the department of oncology pathology uses computer based methods and multi omics data to map this variation in large, untreated breast tumours. The findings may help support more comprehensive diagnostic strategies and inform future treatment decisions.

How hereditary Alzheimer’s disease develops in its early stages depends on which genetic mutation a person carries. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Translational Psychiatry.

People with ulcerative proctitis, a milder and more limited form of ulcerative colitis, are not at higher risk of developing rectal cancer than the general population. This is shown in a new Swedish registry study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Gastroenterology. The findings may contribute to more individualized follow-up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Birgitta Henriques- Normark, at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at Karolinska Institutet, has been awarded a medal, 12th size with the ribbon of the Order of the Seraphim, by HM the King.

The prize is intended for newly graduated PhDs, or alternatively doctoral candidates in the final year of their doctoral studies. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must not have reached the age of 32 at the time of nomination.

People born outside the Nordic region use less mental healthcare than those born in Sweden, despite similar levels of poor health. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis by Joseph Junior Muwonge at Karolinska Institutet.

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.

The information below is intended for those who require a Green Light for their KID application.

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.