News archive

In a new thesis from Karolinska Institutet, PhD student Xiaoyi Ji investigated the generalisation and robustness of AI models for computational prostate cancer pathology across multiple sources of variation and examined possible strategies for improvement.

Most breast cancer patients in Uganda and Ethiopia are diagnosed too late, and many lack access to life-saving treatment. Tove Ekdahl Hjelm defends her thesis "Early-onset breast cancer in East Africa: Genetics, tumor characteristics and clinical management" on June 5, where she highlights deficiencies in access to adequate care, but also that more lives can be saved.

Seven researchers affiliated with Karolinska Institutet have been awarded funding in the Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund’s latest call for research positions, with a total allocation of SEK 57 million. The funded projects include initiatives aimed at improving chemotherapy for children with leukemia, as well as studies seeking to better understand relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

On 21 May 2026, a delegation from Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing visited the Aging Research Center (ARC) at Karolinska Institutet. The visit, hosted by ARC and the Transdisciplinary Research Center for Personalized Dementia Prevention & Care (TraCeDem), focused on the interaction between research, policy, and care practice within the Swedish health and social care system.

People with good physical fitness in their 30s and 50s have more elastic arteries later in life. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Scientific Reports. The association remains regardless of cholesterol levels and other risk factors.

The macaques Nanuq, Fox, Hyena, Grizzly and Lynx came to Karolinska Institutet 17 years ago and have been central to medical research. Their lives have now ended as part of ongoing research projects where they have contributed to new knowledge about vaccines and neurodegenerative diseases.

Occupational exposure to wood dust can entail a high risk of nasal cancer even at levels close the current Swedish occupational exposure limit. This is shown in a new scientific evaluation from the Nordic Expert Group for Criteria Documentation of Health Risks from Chemicals (NEG) and the Dutch expert committee DECOS, in which researchers at the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) had a leading role.

The step from working on Gotland to working in Afghanistan may seem a long one, but for anaesthetist Dr Anders Mattsson, it could soon become a reality. If it happens, it will not be his first time working on missions abroad. It is a way of working that he feels facilitates a two-way exchange of expertise, a philosophy that is entirely in line with the Centre for Health Crises’ and, not least, the idea behind the course ‘Anesthesia and critical care with limited resources’.

Texts for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that were culturally adapted using AI were perceived as equally relevant and acceptable as texts adapted by a psychologist. The findings, published in JMIR Formative Research, suggest that AI could help make evidence-based psychological treatments more accessible to refugees and migrants.

A new Lancet Commission on Precision Health has been launched to develop a comprehensive framework for integrating precision approaches into health systems worldwide. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet are contributing to the work, with a particular focus on ensuring equitable access, including in resource-limited settings.

Does it matter whether you breathe through your nose or your mouth? Here’s how three researchers answer.

Breathing usually happens without us having to think about it. At the same time, conscious breathing exercises can have a calming effect during anxiety or stress, but there are also breathing techniques that are not without risks.

Humanitarianism is often seen as an implicit good. The dedication to preserve, protect and support human life, dignity, and the reduction of suffering. But its implicit goodness can also stand in the way of further analysis and debate about what it contributes to in practice. That is why Centre for Health Crises at Karolinska Institutet organised just such an evening of discussion.

Ann Langius-Eklöf and Lena Nilsson-Wikmar are awarded Karolinska Institutet’s Grand Silver Medal and Silver Medal for 2026, respectively.

Treatment with so-called BTK inhibitors has improved the prognosis for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). At the same time, these drugs affect the immune system and may cause side effects over time. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet.

A new research project at the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (NASP) will investigate measures used to reduce suicides on the railway and metro systems. The project has a total budget of SEK 5 million, will run from 2026 to 2030, and is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket).

Three people are to receive Karolinska Institutet’s Grand Silver Medal, and a further two KI’s Silver Medal. These two classes of medal are awarded to people who have made tremendous or excellent efforts, respectively, in support of KI’s activities during their careers, and will be presented at this October’s installation ceremony.

The choice of technique in thoracic aortic surgery can affect the risk of complications and treatment outcomes. On June 5, 2026, Erik Braatz will defend his doctoral thesis "Perfusion and surgical management in patients with thoracic aortic disease" in which he has investigated how thoracic aortic surgery can become even safer.

A new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet shows that brief questionnaires may be used to aid the assessment of persistent physical symptoms in primary care, and that internet-delivered therapy can be beneficial for patients with pronounced symptoms and distress.

Hannes Hagström, adjunct professor at Karolinska Institutet and consultant in gastroenterology at Karolinska University Hospital, has passed away suddenly. We remember a valued friend, colleague, physician and researcher whose work made a lasting impact both within his field of research and on all those who had the privilege of meeting and working with him.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified new properties of CD4-positive T cells in the human intestines and liver. The cells display a combination of features from both the adaptive and innate immune systems, according to a study published in Science Advances.

SRP Diabetes is happy to announce the awardees of seven Blue Sky Grants for high-risk, high-gain innovative projects.

This thesis explores how diverse sleep features relate to biological markers of aging and Alzheimer’s risk, revealing strong links between poor sleep and key indicators of cognitive decline.

From 11–13 May, Karolinska Institutet hosted two major meetings within the European university alliance NeurotechEU. Hundreds of participants from across Europe gathered in Stockholm to discuss the future of education, research and innovation in neuroscience and neurotechnology.

Sven Alfonsson and Agnes Elmberger are the first two to receive the KIPRIME Research Grant. The call for applications was announced in the autumn and involves a three-year research grant. Around twenty applications were received and reviewed by an international panel of researchers.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that people’s own reports of heart attacks in the family only partially correspond with register data. The findings suggest that heart attacks among relatives are often underreported, particularly for events occurring early in life.

The Swedish government has announced a national investment in precision medicine to strengthen its long‑term implementation in Sweden. The initiative involves the allocation of state funding to regional precision medicine centres across the country. For Precision Medicine Center Karolinska, this represents important support for ongoing, long‑term efforts to integrate precision medicine into everyday healthcare.

Many pilots and cabin crew members go to work despite suffering from mental or physical health issues. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis by Filippa Folke at Karolinska Institutet.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that different SSRI medications affect metabolic processes in developing nerve cells in distinct ways. Alterations in energy metabolism, oxidative stress and lipid profiles suggest that these drugs are not biologically equivalent. The findings provide new insights into biological mechanisms but do not show that SSRIs used during pregnancy cause autism, ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Businessman and life-science investor Mats Arnhög and his family have pledged SEK 50 million to the research being done at Karolinska Institutet into epilepsy, glioblastoma and Parkinson’s disease. The aim of the donation is to strengthen the early and long-term research that future medical breakthroughs require, an area in which Arnhög often sees a serious mismatch between resources and needs.

Many young adults who have been treated for cancer experience sexual problems. This is shown in a doctoral dissertation at Karolinska Institutet, which also highlights gaps in information provided by the healthcare system.

A major donation now enables researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University to follow children’s development from infancy to ten years of age. The long-term project called Early Autism/ADHD Sweden (EASE) combines several advanced research methods and has already contributed new knowledge about early signs of autism and ADHD. The extension now makes it possible to examine how children’s development changes over time.

On May 1, 2026, Anna Lantz took up the position as the new research group leader for MMK Urology. She succeeds Olof Akre, who is now handing over the leadership but he will continue as an active and important member of the group.

A new study shows that gambling is common among Swedish junior elite football players, including underage players. The prevalence of gambling problems is considerably higher than in the general population, while awareness of clubs’ gambling policies is low.

A single dose of the psychedelic substance psilocybin can provide rapid relief from depressive symptoms – within just a few days. This is shown by the first randomised, double-blind study in Sweden of psilocybin for depression. The effect persisted for over three months, according to researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

How can artificial intelligence help researchers understand complex disease processes and identify previously hidden patterns? That was the focus when Fang Fang, professor at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, was interviewed for the internationally renowned medical journal JAMA’s podcast series JAMA+ AI Conversations.

Leading international researchers in immunology, antibody biology, and therapeutic engineering will gather at the Nobel Forum at Karolinska Institutet on 4-5 June 2026, for Nobel mini-symposium No. 63, "Advances in Antibody Diversification and Engineering: Mechanisms, Technologies, and Therapeutic Potential".

During a few intensive days in May 2026, Karolinska Institutet’s Flemingsberg campus served as a hub for knowledge exchange and experience sharing on personality disorders, bringing together more than 300 clinicians and researchers. The week began with the international conference on Good Psychiatric Management (GPM), held on 4–5 May, and continued with the Swedish Congress on Personality Psychiatry on 6–7 May.

The survival rates of patients with oesophageal and gastric cancers have improved. However, many survivors continue to experience long- term symptoms. On May 29, Kenneth Färnqvist will defend his thesis "The architecture of survivorship : patterns of quality of life, symptom dynamics, and self- care in oesophageal and gastric cancer" in which he has investigated how quality of life, symptoms, and self-care develop over time.

People with post-COVID conditions may experience persistent impairments in physical and mental health long after the infection. A new doctoral dissertation at Karolinska Institutet follows developments over time and examines whether individually tailored rehabilitation can support recovery.

The Swedish government has decided to introduce changes to the current migration legislation that will affect students holding a residence permit for studies. These changes are scheduled to take effect on 11 June 2026.

Karolinska Institutet and the Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB) at the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Thessaloniki, Greece, have signed a formal agreement to strengthen and expand their academic cooperation in research, education, and innovation.

Congratulations to Anna Martling and Richard Rosenquist Brandell, who have both been elected as Faculty Representatives of the Faculty Board. The term of office runs from 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2029.

The committee for higher education has decided to award Nicola Orsini and Karin Garming Legert KI's Pedagogical Prize in 2026.
The prize is awarded during the inauguration ceremony in Aula Medica in October.

Artificial intelligence could, in the long term, improve the care of patients in need of organ transplantation but only if the technology is used responsibly. In a new guidance article published in the journal Transplant International, the European Society for Organ Transplantation presents recommendations on how AI should be developed and implemented. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have contributed to the work.

Karolinska Institutet has received a grant of DKK 10 million (approximately SEK 15 million) from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for research on cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The project is led by Johan Ericson, professor at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and aims to help move laboratory research closer to clinical application.

The Swedish Developmental Biology Organization (SWEDBO) has awarded Sandra de Haan at Karolinska Institutet its prize for the best doctoral thesis. The thesis focuses on how the inner ear develops and provides new knowledge about how cells in the cochlea are organised.

Thanks to the prestigious prevention grant from the Swedish Heart Lung Foundation, he will now evaluate whether digital physiotherapy delivered via an app can promote physical activity and reduce the risk of recurrent stroke.

Associate Professor Sara Hägg from the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics has been elected to join the Academy of Geroscience.

Researcher and concert pianist Fredrik Ullén is launching a research project exploring how the interplay between heredity and environment influences musical performance. The project is a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and the Max Planck Institute and is made possible by a generous donation from the philanthropist Marcus Storch.