News archive

People who have survived cancer as children are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19, even decades after their diagnosis. This is shown by a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.

Children born by planned C-section have an increased risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) later in life. This is shown by a study conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet. The researchers emphasise that the risk remains low.

A study in the journal Science presents compelling new evidence that neurons in the brain’s memory centre, the hippocampus, continue to form well into late adulthood. The research from Karolinska Institutet provides answers to a fundamental and long-debated question about the human brain’s adaptability.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet, shows that artificial intelligence (AI) combined with portable digital microscopy improves the detection of intestinal worm infections, so-called soil-transmitted helminth (STH) in resource-limited settings. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, compared traditional manual microscopy with two AI-based methods for diagnosing soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in stool samples from schoolchildren in Kenya.

Pathologists' examinations of tissue samples from skin cancer tumours improved when they were assisted by an AI tool. The assessments became more consistent and patients' prognoses were described more accurately. This is shown by a study led by Karolinska Institutet, conducted in collaboration with researchers from Yale University.

A recent study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health reveals that physical activity and sedentary behaviour vary significantly by sex and educational level, but less so by the presence of chronic disease. The study, conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, provides important insights into how different populations engage in physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

The Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) has appointed Bahira Shahim at the Department of Medicine, Solna, as one of this year's "Research Leaders of the Future." A total of 213 applications were received, of which 16 were selected. The researchers receive a grant of 15 million SEK each over a five-year period and will participate in an extensive leadership training program.

Four researchers from FyFa, Sophie Erhardt, Harald Lund, Cristiana Cruceanu and Carl Sellgren Majkowitz, receive funding from the Swedish Brain Foundation. This year, the Swedish Brain Foundation is making its largest grant to date, totalling SEK 152.8 million.

The Swedish Brain Foundation (Hjärnfonden) is making its largest donation to date to Swedish brain research. This year, SEK 152.8 million will be awarded to research projects in neuroscience. A total of 112 research projects in Sweden receive funding, and 39 of these are run at KI.

The research group Global Disaster Medicine – Health Needs and Response has been commissioned by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare to monitor and analyse global disasters. This includes providing expert support during crises and serving as a resource for Swedish authorities. A new WHO report, based on data and testimonies from healthcare workers in the field, shows that medical efforts in Gaza during spring have been severely hampered by blockades, attacks, and entry restricttions

KI researcher and PhD supervisor Robert Harris is ranked number 5 on the list ‘Top 20 LinkedIn Influencers in Sweden in 2025’ by the AI-based ranking platform Favikon.

Gene therapy can improve hearing in children and adults with congenital deafness or severe hearing impairment, a new study involving researchers at Karolinska Institutet reports. Hearing improved in all ten patients, and the treatment was well-tolerated. The study was conducted in collaboration with hospitals and universities in China and is published in the journal Nature Medicine.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet aim to improve care and recovery with the help of emerging technologies. A newly awarded research grant of SEK 29 million from Vinnova, will enable the launch of an XR Competence Center—paving the way for a new approach to rehabilitation for children and young people.

Abdel El Manira has been elected as new member of EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization), a recognition that not only highlights his important contributions to the field of neuroscience but also provides him with a platform to influence scientific research and strengthen research communities globally.

A new study published in the journal PNAS by researchers at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, has identified 18 potential drug targets for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The study may pave the way for new treatment strategies and drug development.

There is a perception that common drugs such as ibuprofen and SSRI preparations can trigger the intestinal disease microscopic colitis (MC). However, a new study from Karolinska Institutet and Harvard Medical School suggests that this is not the case – meaning that patients with MC do not need to stop taking important medications.

This funding initiative is designed to support researchers in the development of innovative technologies and methods to advance our understanding of the nervous system in both health and disease. The grant specifically prioritized high-risk, high-reward projects with the potential for wide impact across the neuroscience community.

The delicate balance between cell death and regeneration is crucial for human health and longevity. Most mechanisms involved in programmed cell death (PCD) play a key role in normal tissue renewal and repair after injury. At the same time, PCD can also disrupt regenerative processes, contributing to the development of pathological conditions such as cancer, fibrosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and other age-related disorders.

The department of Global Public Health, has opened a position for an Assistant Professor in Public Health Sciences to join our dynamic team. We are seeking inspiring, curious, and creative candidates to begin their academic career with us in the field of Public Health Sciences.

KI researcher Fredrik Ullén has been awarded the fifth Mensa Foundation Prize for his pioneering work in neuroscience, with a particular focus on the neuropsychology of expertise and creativity, i.e. the mechanisms in the brain that allow us to perform at a high level in a particular field after many years of focused training. The prize recognises individuals whose research helps us better understand human intelligence.

Dr. Maximilian Ackermann, currently working as a Professor of Pathology at the RWTH University Clinics Aachen and Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Germany, and as anatomist at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is awarded the 2025 Lennart Nilsson Award for his outstanding contributions to scientific imaging, revealing critical insights into diseases, such as COVID-19 and cancer.

As part of Karolinska Institutet's large recruitment of Assistant Professors, the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH) is looking for up to two Assistant Professors in molecular or translational medicine.

The department of Physiology and Pharmacology is now taking the next step in its strategic initiative. The department is announcing a position as Assistant Professor (BUL) in human physiology or medicine in extreme environments. In parallel, FyFa is also developing a unique lab for human research, which includes the possibility of patient-oriented studies, and which also strengthens the field of defence-related medicine.

Biological drugs have improved the lives of many people with severe asthma. However, a new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that some immune cells with high inflammatory potential are not completely eradicated after treatment.

As ADHD medication use has surged in Sweden over the past decades, evidence is needed on whether the benefit of the medication remains consistent. A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in JAMA Psychiatry, shows that while ADHD medication still helps reduce the risk of self-harm, unintentional injuries, traffic accidents, and criminal behavior, its protective effects have diminished over time as ADHD medication use has broadened to a wider group of patients.

Starting June 25th, Karolinska Institutet is recruiting 20 Assistant Professors across different fields of Medicine and Public Health, with a focus on excellence and mobility. One of these positions will be placed at the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (NASP).

The scientific review of the Center for Innovative Medicine (CIMED) project applications is now complete. Award decisions have been made by the CIMED Board of Directors following the recommendation of the review panels.

His research shows molecular changes in brain cells when a person develops multiple sclerosis (MS). But it is still unclear whether these changes contribute to - or even protect against - the development of the disease. Gonçalo Castelo-Branco is open to the answer.

Associate Professor Kristiina Tammimies conducts frontline research on the medical, genetic, and molecular underpinnings of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Among other things, she and her research team are working on the complex and much debated issue of heredity versus environment as a cause of autism.

We congratulate researchers at MedH who have been awarded CIMED project grants for the period 2026-2028.

The Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) has appointed Assistant Professor Bjørt Katrinardóttir Kragesteen at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics as one of this year's Research Leaders of the Future. A total of 213 applications were received, of which 16 were selected. The researchers will receive a grant of SEK 15 million each over five years and will participate in a comprehensive leadership training program.

In this year's call for CIMED project grants, a total of 175 applications were received, of which 78 were junior and 97 were senior applications. Of these, two junior and three senior grants were awarded to researchers at NVS.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed two brief, low-threshold digital interventions aimed at preventing and reducing mental health problems among adolescents and their parents. A pilot study published in JAMA Network Open indicates that the interventions are well-received and potentially effective for adolescents experiencing mental health issues and their caregivers.

The Perioperative Medicine and Intensive Care Laboratory (PMI Lab) at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC) has been awarded a Platinum Medal by My Green Lab – an internationally recognised certification for sustainability efforts in laboratory environments.

For one intensive week in June, 25 high-level professionals and leaders from 21 countries gathered at Kämpasten outside Sigtuna to take part in the masterclass of the Executive Programme in International Politics and Diplomacy for Health, jointly run by Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics. The programme equips professionals with the skills and tools needed to navigate complex political processes for health at the global and regional levels.

Save the Date!
Book November 5th for an FoUU-day for clinicians and researchers in psychiatry in Region Stockholm. A day when we come together to shape research and education for the future of psychiatry!

Christoffer Rahm, psychiatrist and associate professor at Karolinska Institutet, has been granted funding from Safe Online for a new international research project. The aim is to build a global database and long-term research platform focusing on the prevention of child sexual abuse - through increased knowledge, international collaboration and studies of long-term effects.

Shane Wright, Assistant Professor at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, and colleagues have uncovered a new way to tailor signaling responses mediated by common drug targets that coincidentally shares ties with our department’s history. The work, recently published in Cell, reveals a novel drug mechanism with the potential for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. Shane tells us more about it below.

Lower blood sugar and increased fat burning – without negatively affecting appetite or muscle mass. These are some of the most promising effects of a new potential drug treatment for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to a new study published in the journal Cell by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University.

Prach Techameena, PhD student at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, has been awarded a research fellowship from the IBSA Foundation for scientific research. The project, in the category of pain medicine/ orthopaedics/ rheumatology, was one of six selected globally in the 12th edition of the IBSA Foundation Fellowships.

Karolinska University Hospital has, for the first time in Sweden, begun preparations to treat a patient with multiple myeloma using CAR-T cell therapy in routine healthcare – an advanced form of immunotherapy where the patient's own T-cells are programmed to attack cancer cells. The treatment is aimed at patients who no longer respond to previous treatment options and offers new hope for a difficult-to-treat blood cancer.

Karolinska Institutet is recruiting 20 Assistant Professors with a focus on excellence and mobility. As one of the world’s leading medical universities, KI offers fully developed research infrastructure, exchanges with other pre-eminent researchers, secure financing for pioneering research and support to make sure accompanying family members also feel at home.

Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is effective and can cure the majority of those affected, according to psychologist and researcher Maria Bragesjö, who introduced the treatment method to Sweden. Through her research, she hopes even more people will receive help.

On June 5–6, 2025, the Horizon 2020 FET project EXPERIENCE held its final Consortium Meeting in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

On Thursday afternoon, paediatrician and professor of global paediatric health Tobias Alfvén was asked if Karolinska Institutet could receive a visit from Vietnam's prime minister less than a day later. The answer was yes and the meeting resulted in concrete actions for the future.

Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness and affects 80 million people around the world. Pete Williams, researcher at Karolinska Institutet and St Erik Eye Hospital, has now been awarded a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant for his work on new treatments for the disease. The ERC Advanced Grant is one of the most eminent awards a researcher can receive.

Håkan Mellstedt, Professor at the Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, has passed away at the age of 82.
He is mourned by his wife Eva and Håkan’s brother with family. He leaves behind a long and exceptionally successful legacy as a colleague, researcher, and friend.

Dr. Marcos Rojas, a former exchange student and now a research manager at Stanford Chariot Lab, recently revisited Karolinska Institutet and met with Anna Svenningson at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health. We took the opportunity to ask him how his exchange year almost a decade ago influenced his career and personal development.

Earlier this month, Karolinska Institutet participated in the Erasmus+ International Staff Week hosted by Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH) in Elche, Spain – a key partner in NeurotechEU, the European University of Brain and Technology.

As part of the KI NeurotechEU Collaborative Award 2025, PhD student Jianing Lin from Karolinska Institutet undertook a valuable educational visit to Prof. Ruiz de Almodóvar’s lab at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn in Germany. Supported by the NeurotechEU alliance, this short-term exchange provided hands-on training, networking opportunities, and the foundation for a new cross-institutional collaboration in the field of neurovascular biology.