News archive

Researcher behind groundbreaking concept for patient-controlled health data defends dissertation in Copenhagen.

The Swedish Research Council (VR) and Vinnova have published new information on the upcoming call for excellence clusters in groundbreaking technologies. The application will be an organisational application submitted via Prisma, and therefore an internal KI pre‑registration is required for all planned cluster proposals in which KI participates. Pre‑registration is made via the link below, with a deadline of 13 March.

The call opens on 1 April and closes on 3 June.

When an AI system in health care gives a confident answer, should clinicians trust it? In a new article from Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, KI researcher Farhad Abtahi and colleagues argue that the question itself is wrong, and that the entire field needs to rethink how medical AI systems are designed. Here he develops his reasoning.

Sophia Brismar Wendel is a new professor at the Department of Women's and Children's Health as of May 18. She has conducted research on complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Her studies have led to changed guidelines at Swedish hospitals.

Daniel Hagey will assume the position of Assistant Professor at the Department of Women's and Children's Health on 1 September 2026. His research focuses on developing novel methods to detect cancer through simple blood tests – far earlier than is possible today.

Finn Åkerström from the Integrative Cardiovascular, Cancer and Ageing Research unit (ICCA), at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), defends his thesis titled "Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Technological Advancements and Long-term Effects on Morbidity and Mortality.", on 13 March 2026. Main supervisor is Nikola Drca.

Behavioural changes – such as anxiety, depression, irritability, apathy or agitation, collectively known as neuropsychiatric symptoms – may appear long before a dementia diagnosis. A new study from Karolinska Institutet and the University of Perugia, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, shows that these symptoms form recognizable patterns across older adults ranging from cognitively unimpaired to those with dementia.

The healing of the spinal cord depends on carefully timed interactions between injured nerve cells and their surrounding environment, according to a new study published in Science Advances by researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

An international expert panel will visit Karolinska Institutet on 10–11 March as part of KI’s new model for research evaluation, the KI Research Assessment (KIRA). The evaluation focuses on the processes and conditions that enable high‑quality research.

Despite a strained healthcare situation and concerns about delayed diagnoses, childhood cancer survival in Sweden remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of diagnoses varied somewhat between cancer types, but researchers found no evidence of poorer survival during the first year after diagnosis.

The Lundbeck Foundation in Denmark has awarded Professor Patrik Ernfors The Brain Prize 2026 for groundbreaking discoveries about how the nervous system interprets touch and pain. His research has clarified key aspects of somatosensation, the body’s ability to sense the physical world, and opened new opportunities for developing treatments for long lasting pain. He shares the prize with Professor David Ginty, Harvard Medical School.

The research group led by Craig Wheelock at the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) has recently enhanced its analytical capabilities with the acquisition of two new mass spectrometers. With a total of six instruments now operational, the Wheelock Lab has become one of the most comprehensively equipped mass spectrometry facilities in its field.

Newsletter for staff and affiliates at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, March 2026.

Starting April 1, the payroll and HR system Primula will retrieve population registration details from the Swedish Tax Agency for KI employees. This is done to ensure that employees’ names and addresses are always correct and up to date.

AutNetKI hereby announces up to four (4) pilot project grants of SEK 100,000 each to support transdisciplinary collaborations that can generate proof-of-principle data, methods, or feasibility evidence and catalyse larger autism research projects.

The Committee for Research has reviewed the guidelines for KI‑governed research centres and decided on a simplified process for their establishment, evaluation and discontinuation. The decision means, among other things, that responsibility for centres established at the university will be moved closer to the departments.

Emma R Andersson, senior researcher and associate professor at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Joanna Rorbach, senior researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, have been awarded the Göran Gustafsson Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a technique that shows how proteins interact with RNA, the molecule that carries genetic instructions inside our cells. The study, published in Nucleic Acids Research, offers new insight into an important layer of gene regulation that can lead to better understanding of disease mechanisms.

From late February to mid-March, the landlord Akademiska Hus will perform an extended OVK (mandatory ventilation inspection) in all apartments in KI Residence Solna.

During the consultation period 5–22 March, researchers and employees at KI have the opportunity to influence the first proposal for KI's local level-graded journal list (KI-JL). All publishing researchers or researchers who are peer reviewers for journals are encouraged to participate in the consultation.

Between 16 and 19 March, IDAC will send emails to all employees who own or are responsible for project folders (P:).

Meet Fredrik Wermeling, Research Group Leader at the Division of Rheumatology, Depatment of Medicine, Solna.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a computational method capable of simulating the movements of some of the cell’s largest protein complexes. The study is published in Nature Communications.

People who use drugs with anticholinergic effects, including certain antidepressants, drugs for urinary incontinence and common antihistamines, are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in BMC Medicine.

Fee-paying master students who wish to secure accommodation for the autumn semester are urged to submit their housing application before the 14th of June, 2026.

During the autumn, Karolinska Institutet (KI) participated in the Swedish Research Council’s call for new Strategic Research Areas (SFOs). This has been an extensive and engaging process, with broad mobilisation across KI.
In total, we submitted eight applications, two of which had KI as the lead applicant. The applications span five of the eight strategic research areas defined in this year’s call and reflect both our scientific breadth and our long-term priorities.

Hardware suppliers and manufacturers are currently warning that the global market for memory, storage and processors is under strain. This is leading to both increased prices and delayed deliveries.

The prize recognizes researchers/research students who have distinguished themselves through outstanding utilization of research results that have led to innovation.

A new international report published in United European Gastroenterology Journal and led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet presents the first clear definition and diagnostic criteria for fatty pancreas. The consensus aims to improve communication between clinicians, support future research and create more consistent patient care worldwide.

On 2 March, Funmilayo Deborah Shittu successfully defended her doctoral thesis on infant and young child feeding practices in Jigawa State, northern Nigeria. Due to being in the late stages of her own pregnancy, Shittu participated remotely from Nigeria, while the examination took place at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.

New funding from Region Stockholm in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet will support advanced research into cluster headache at the university. By combining genetic studies with sleep and circadian rhythm research, the project seeks to improve care for a patient group with a high disease burden and risk of misdiagnosis.

Frustration behind the wheel can increase the risk of accidents – but that is far from the only danger. Meet three researchers who are interested in road safety.

Karolinska Institutet's universty alliance NeurotechEU is proud to launch the lunch series “NeurotechEU 2040 - Make your voice heard”, an alliance wide initiative inviting students, staff, academics, operational teams, and partners to share their perspectives and help shape the NeurotechEU 2040 longterm strategy.

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), used to treat genetic diseases, can affect how cells repair damage to their DNA. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Nature Communications. The findings may have implications for the development of future genetic medicines and deepen our understanding of how RNA, natural counterparts to ASOs, participate in DNA repair systems.

Achilleas Fardellas from the Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM), at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), defends his thesis titled "Regulation of Macrophage Function by ADAR1 in Metabolic Disease", on 6 March 2026. Main supervisor is Niklas Björkström.

Nikki Svärdsén began to question why she was so rarely satisfied with her body. Through her Instagram account, she found a new way of looking at herself.

When Fredrik Boltes weighed 160 kilos, he felt it was time to find out more about what a gastric bypass actually involves. This led to a life-changing journey and an acclaimed documentary.

For several years, the rates for childhood obesity have been fairly stable. However, the use of new drugs is increasing.

A minority of Swedes are within the normal weight range, while one in five is obese. New, effective drugs have drastically changed the possibilities for treatment. This may lead to a better understanding of the disease, perhaps even among patients themselves.

NeurotechEU invites educators from its partner universities to co-develop innovative, cross-institutional activities with a strong focus on challenge-based learning. Successful applicants can receive funding of up to €10,000 to support the effective implementation of innovative teaching concepts.

Depression and other psychological factors may be linked to the risk of postoperative confusion in older adults. This is shown in a new systematic review from Karolinska Institutet, published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia. The study summarizes results from more than 6,700 patients.

On 19 February, Karolinska Institutet held a ceremony in the Nobel Forum for the recipients of the Diligence and Integrity in the Service of the Realm (NOR) award. The warm and festive evening of speeches, music and dining was dedicated to colleagues who have devoted 30 years of their working lives to KI’s development and to Swedish public administration.

There is now a dedicated page for teachers and staff seeking support, guidance, and inspiration on generative AI in teaching. The page provides concrete advice, examples and tools for how AI can be used responsibly and pedagogically in KI's education programmes.

George Awungafac is a PhD student at the Department of Medicine, Solna, and conducts research on global infections. George received support from an advisor at Clinicum and was given help with data analysis during his doctoral thesis.

The course Pedagogy for doctoral supervisors is currently underway, offering KI supervisors a deeper understanding of learning processes and supervisory pedagogy. Through theory, reflection and peer exchange, participants strengthen their ability to support doctoral students’ development into independent researchers.

Lydia started on February 18 and is a new finance officer in the Labmed Professional Services finance team.

Victor started on February 16 and is a new finance officer in the Labmed Professional Services finance team.

In 2025, Clinicum and the Compliance and Data Office (CDO) conducted a pilot project in which researchers received in-depth support with both REDCap and statistical planning. The results provide a clearer picture of how researchers can best be equipped to create high-quality electronic case report forms (eCRFs) right from the start.

Professor Anna Dimberg at Uppsala University is awarded the prize for her outstanding discoveries of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in brain tumors and their pivotal role in activating an effective immune response against cancer.

When ARC turned 25 last year, they received a grant from Forte to host a day dedicated to research on aging. On February 5, they therefore organized “Forum for Aging Research – What have we achieved and where are we heading?”, bringing together researchers from across Sweden working in the field of aging to share their findings.