News archive

The sun was shining over Aula Medica on 17 January when it was time for the formal graduation ceremonies for four of KI's educational programmes.

Until July 2025, Annika Östman Wernerson, President of Karolinska Institutet, holds the chair of the University Alliance Stockholm Trio.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital in Sweden have determined how children’s immune systems react to different kinds of cancer depending on their age. The study, which is published in the journal Cell, reveals significant differences between the immune response of children and adults, and has the potential to lead to new tailored treatments for children with cancer.

In a groundbreaking study published in the medical journal The Lancet, researchers have explored the possibility of treating acute, non-perforated appendicitis in children with antibiotics instead of surgery.

In the latest issue of Newsweek Magazine, there is an article on the implementation of whole genome sequencing in the USA, "Scientists and Doctors Reveal How Genes are Mapping Cures for Cancer". One of the persons being interviewed is Richard Rosenquist Brandell, Professor and research group leader for clinical genetics and director of Genomic Medicine Sweden.

During the inauguration of the new initiative "Advances in Artificial Intelligence - AI@KI", on Dec 18, 2024, the first award for an important advancement in AI made at KI during the past year was handed out. Among many nominated candidates, Dr Sara Hägg was evaluated as the most outstanding contribution from a panel of reviewers.

For children battling both congenital heart defects (CHD) and cancer, the road to recovery is far more precarious than previously understood, according to a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The research reveals that these children face a higher risk of death within five years after a cancer diagnosis compared to their peers without CHD. Although their survival rates have improved over recent decades, lymphoma mortality remains disproportionately high.

Hi Elinor Nemlander, doctoral student at the Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care. On January 31 you will defend your thesis ”Early cancer detection through symptoms and signs”. What is the main focus of the thesis?

In diabetic kidney disease, fat accumulates in the kidneys, leading to lipotoxicity and kidney damage. A recently published study by Ulf Eriksson's research group at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Karolinska Institutet shows that elevated levels of the protein VEGF-B in the kidney and adipose tissue correlate with increased fat accumulation in the kidney and impaired kidney function in patients with diabetic kidney disease.

A fully digital treatment for physical activity is well received by people who have suffered a stroke and has a wide geographical reach, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the International Journal of Stroke.

As a junior researcher, you have the opportunity to apply for an Early Career Researcher (ECR) Scholarship in connection with the Swedish Suicide Research Conference taking place in May 2025.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that cells commonly associated with ageing and age-related diseases, known as senescent cells, may play a significant role in chronic pain and potentially headaches. This process has been linked to various conditions, including cancer and heart disease.

Anna Martling, Professor of Surgery at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, is today presenting the large ALASCCA study at a press conference during the ASCO-GI meeting in San Francisco. The study is a randomized drug trial that began in 2016 and has included approximately 3,500 patients from 33 centers in the Nordic region. The study is evaluating the value of adding aspirin to patients who have a specific genetic change and whether this can reduce the risk of recurrence.

We congratulate Ulf Hedin, Professor of Experimental Vascular Surgery at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, who has been elected Alexander W. Clowes Distinguished Lecturer 2025.

Histopathological evaluation of tumour specimens has long been essential in diagnosing breast cancer and guiding clinical decision-making. However, one of the key challenges in routine diagnostics include the inter-observer and inter-lab variabilities present in the assessment of prognostic markers that could lead to under- and over-treatment of patients.

Researchers in the group of Associate Professor Ninib Baryawno, Department of Women's and Children's Health, KI, have made significant strides in the fight against pediatric cancer by studying tumors of the nervous system, particularly neuroblastoma. The study is published in Cancer Research, the journal of the American Association for Cancer.

New genetic risk factors for depression have been identified across all major global populations for the first time, allowing scientists to predict risk of depression regardless of ethnicity. The world’s largest and most diverse genetic study ever of major depression has revealed nearly 300 previously unknown genetic links to the condition.

The ability to plan several steps ahead and promptly adapt to a rapidly changing environment is essential to being an elite footballer, a new study led from Karolinska Institutet reports. The paper, which is published in the scientific journal PNAS, also shows that it helps not to always be so agreeable.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer care. However, in recent decades, Sweden has fallen behind in this area, both in terms of healthcare resources and research. Medicinsk Vetenskap has interviewed researchers who want to continue developing a bright idea.

Radiation oncologist Alexander Valdman conducts research at the Department of Oncology-Pathology at Karolinska Institutet. He works to ensure that patients with rectal cancer experience fewer side effects from their treatment.

Radiotherapy can cause long-term skin damage in cancer patients. New research shows that radiation creates a memory in skin cells that hinders healing, but also that antibodies can help restore the damage.

Neuroblastoma is a rare disease that affects children, often before the age of two. Some are born with the disease. Paediatric surgeon Jakob Stenman is investigating whether targeted radioactive drugs can slow down the disease in those with the most severe form.

When Louise Karlsson was treated for breast cancer, she suffered radiation damage to her lung. Now she wants more people to know that it can happen.

As a child, Loke Lassen underwent harsh treatment, including whole-body radiotherapy. Today she lives with the side effects of the treatment that saved her life.

Hi Charlotta van Eggermont Arwidson, doctoral student at the division of nursing. On January 23 you will defend your thesis ”New Beginnings, New Challenges: Health & Housing of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in their Early Post-Migration Period in Sweden.” What is the main focus of the thesis?

A new study from Karolinska Institutet and Mayo Clinic has revealed important insights into brain degeneration in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). This research, published in JAMA Neurology, could help doctors better monitor and treat this serious brain disease.

Pete Williams, researcher at Karolinska Institutet and St. Erik Eye Hospital, has been awarded a research grant from the American Glaucoma Foundation to develop a treatment for glaucoma and other eye diseases. With the grant of USD 75,000 (SEK 840,000), the Foundation wants to recognize groundbreaking, innovative glaucoma research. This is the second time Pete Williams has received the grant.

On Friday, 17 January 2025, the graduating classes of four programmes at Karolinska Institutet will receive their diplomas. These programmes are the nursing programme, the medical programme, the physiotherapy programme, and the occupational therapy programme. Two of the graduating students, Måns and Niklas, have answered questions about their time at university and future plans.

Patients with celiac disease face an increased risk of developing any chronic liver disease. This risk increase can persist for at least 25 years after celiac diagnosis. The findings from a national study from Karolinska Institutet published in Lancet Regional Health - Europe underscore clinical vigilance to signs of liver disease in patients with celiac disease to prevent major adverse liver outcomes.

Ten innovation projects in life sciences have received grants within the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation's and SciLifeLab's Proof-of-Concept Program. Four of the projects are run by researchers at Karolinska Institutet. The Proof-of-Concept Program aims to bridge the gap from academic research to innovations in the life sciences.

A new international study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows that AI-based models can outperform human experts at identifying ovarian cancer in ultrasound images. The study is published in Nature Medicine.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet maps the cellular and molecular dynamics of human wound healing in exceptional detail. The study was published in Cell Stem Cell.

An international research team, including researchers at Karolinska Institutet, has mapped the genes expressed in the brain cells of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The atlas, which is presented in the journal Neuron, is hoped to contribute to more personalised treatment of MS in the future.

This year, the Asthma and Allergy Association's Research Fund is distributing SEK 8.8 million to important asthma and allergy research. Eight of the researchers who receive grants work at Karolinska Institutet.

Using an AI tool, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have analysed brain images from 70-year-olds and estimated their brains’ biological age. They found that factors detrimental to vascular health, such as inflammation and high glucose levels, are associated with an older-looking brain, while healthy lifestyles were linked to brains with a younger appearance. The results are presented in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Researchers at the Institute for Environmental Medicine (IMM) have received a large number of grants from various research financiers during the autumn.

From January 21 until January 2, KI Housing will be closed for the celebration of Christmas and the New Year.

In 2024, sisters Lisa, Maria, and Anne Örtqvist were all appointed as docents at Karolinska Institutet, a unique achievement that has garnered attention both within their family and the research community. Despite pursuing different career paths and research fields, they have inspired one another and drawn strength from their shared passion for medicine and research.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that self-guided cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) online is as effective as psychologist-led internet-based CBT in reducing the symptoms of atopic eczema. The results, which are published in the highly ranked journal JAMA Dermatology, can lead to improved access to treatment for patients and reduce the burden on healthcare.

How are emerging plasma biomarkers related to the diagnostic tests currently used in clinical routines? And does the earlier evidence from highly selective research cohorts translate to the heterogeneous real-world data? Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have sought to answer these questions in a study published in eBioMedicine with Dr. Marina Bluma from the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society as the first author.

KI President Annika Östman Wernerson has been elected as a member of IVA's Biotechnology Division. This took place in connection with the Academy meeting in November, when IVA, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, elected 41 new Swedish and international members – prominent researchers and experts from both the business community and the public sector.

Professor Anna Wredenberg wants to understand in detail how the body works. That is why she delves into the unknown world of mitochondria. For patients with hereditary genetic diseases, this could mean a long-awaited diagnosis.

A new study from the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, shows that certain cardiometabolic diseases may affect the risk and prognosis of motor neuron diseases. The findings highlight a complex link between heart diseases and neurological disorders like ALS, which could contribute to improved prevention and care for patients with these severe conditions.

In this webinar series we will explore the wide scope of psychedelics research conducted at various centers in Europe. Throughout the sessions we will cover a wide range of topics: from pharmacology and preclinical investigations to the clinical trials conducted in psychiatry. The three sessions in this series build upon each other but can also be attended in isolation. In each session, cutting-edge research is presented by esteemed researchers from different universities in Europe.

Cancer- och allergifonden (the Swedish Cancer and Allergy Fund) is awarding a total of SEK 3.6 million to 21 research projects in the field of cancer and allergy. Of these, twelve researchers at Karolinska Institutet will be awarded SEK 2.3 million. The grants aim to promote groundbreaking research that improves the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer and allergies.

Ten years ago, a cancer patient in Sweden was treated with CAR T-cell therapy for the first time. Today he is cured. Several challenges remain before the treatment can be given to everyone who could benefit from it, and how to achieve this was one of the questions discussed at the SWECARNET network’s annual education day.

Congratulations to Louise Emilsson who receives the Rising star Award from United European Gastroenterology. Ten emerging scientists are selected annually from all over Europe to receive the prize, which is awarded to young, promising researchers in gastrointestinal diseases in connection with the annual European UEG conference in gastroenterology. The award ceremony will be held in Berlin in October 2025.

Get to know Hong Qian, Professor of Molecular Haematology at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH) since 26 November 2024.

Karolinska Institutet is part of NeurotechEU (NTEU), a European University alliance. The Neuroscience Internship Program Bonn provides bachelor and master students with an opportunity to engage in hands-on lab experiences within the field of neuroscience and neurotechnology. Last day for application Jan 8, 2025

On November 18-22, 2024 IMM organised the course “Health risk assessment of chemicals - principles and applications” within the EU funded project PARC (Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals). The course was attended by 32 participants from 22 PARC partners in 13 countries.