News archive

The rapid transformation we are now seeing in the healthcare sector brings a growing need for municipally provided health promoting and preventative activities, and, consequently, for research and education. On 3 June, KI signed collaboration agreements with Solna City and Upplands-Bro municipality, marking an important step towards reinforcing such strategic partnerships between the university and local government.

Five 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 and will be presented this year at the installation ceremony on 9 October.

A day does not go by now without a report on the severe suffering that Israeli military strikes are causing the civilian population of Gaza. The situation is worsening by the day, as we witness the blatant and repeated abuse of international law and of the Gazans’ right to security and functioning schools, hospitals and workplaces.

When Martin Bergö and I entered office as, respectively, vice-president and president just over two years ago, we also entered an extensive dialogue with all the different parts of KI. This was a conscious strategy that gave rise, in part, to several focus areas for strengthening KI through the establishment of sustainable structures, greater collaboration, clarity and transparency.

Anna-Stina Malmborg, former docent of clinical microbiology at Karolinska Institutet and consultant and director of clinical bacteriology at Karolinska University Hospital for 17 years, has passed away at the age of 95. She and her husband Gunnar Höglund (1931–2019) set up the foundation that finances the Karolinska Institutet Prize for Research in Medical Education (KIPRIME).

Earlier this month, the Swedish Research Council published a report on the quality and impact of medical research in Sweden. The fact that Karolinska Institutet emerges in a very positive light fills me with pride – our research is of a very high scientific standard and has given rise to groundbreaking discoveries of major societal importance.

Ola Larsson has been appointed as Head of the Department of Oncology-Pathology (OnkPat), starting July 1, 2025. The appointment is for five years, and the decision was signed by Dean Carl Johan Sundberg on April 10, 2025. Ola Larsson, who previously served as vice Head at OnkPat, will take over the role from Lars Holmgren.

New initiatives and new collaborations are constantly arising in the life science field, both within and outside KI’s walls, making it hard to form a comprehensive picture of everything that’s happening. As presidential advisor, Clara Hellner will be providing insight into what’s going on and the challenges facing it.

The Swedish Research Council has published its report "Quality and impact of research in basic medicine in Sweden", which evaluates the scientific quality and societal impact of medical research at seven universities. Karolinska Institutet is a leader among Swedish higher education institutions.

On March 25, KI's Professional Services (PS) gathered for a digital staff meeting. The agenda included news within PS, security issues, the Microsoft 365 license, the government's research bill for the next four years and KI's prioritised focus areas.

In an evaluation presented on 19 March, the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) states that certain areas of biomedical analyst programmes throughout the country need to be improved in order for students to receive the best possible education. At the same time, there are strengths in the programmes that can inspire further development, according to the results from UKÄ.

Karolinska University Hospital has recently adopted a new RDE (research, development and education) strategy. The strategy is now firmly anchored with Karolinska Institutet. For us, collaboration with Region Stockholm is a priority – strong regional collaboration and partnerships with the private sector are essential if Sweden is to reinforce its international position in medical research and development.

The research bill for 2025-2028 announces, among other things, calls that require coordination of applicant universities. KI’s President Annika Östman Wernerson has decided to set up a steering group with the task of simplifying and overseeing these processes and other upcoming initiatives in the government's research policy.

This year’s operational plan for KI’s Professional Services (PS) and University Library is now ready for viewing. “The joint document is intended to ease communication, enhance transparency and build a mutual understanding of how each unit contributes to KI’s shared goals in Professional Services and other parts of the university,” says University Director Veronika Sundström.  

The conditions under which research and education collaborations with the USA operate are in danger of being undermined by decisions announced by the country’s recently instated president. Here, Karolinska Institutet’s president Annika Östman Wernerson comments on the situation and talks about what KI can do to prepare for any changes that might come.

Thursday 20 February saw the latest round of NOR awards, at which 34 members of the KI staff were commended for their long, impeccable service. The recipients of the 2024 KI Silver Medal, Stephan Rössner and Carol Tishelman, were also celebrated during the ceremony.

What pressing issues do you think the university needs to address better? Take this opportunity to raise matters that you would like KI's academic vice presidents to pursue more actively.

As always at this time of the year, KI submits its annual report and budgetary data to the government. Our university is currently enjoying an upward trend, and this is something we can feel really proud about. As one of Europe’s leading medical universities and one of the foremost in the world, we are able to attract serious research grants, top-tier researchers and highly qualified students.

The school shooting in Örebro has provoked many reactions. Here is some information on security at KI for students and employees, and details about whom to turn to if you have questions or feel anxious.

On 30 January, a symposium on dementia was held in honour of HM Queen Silvia at Karolinska Institutet. The event was part of the "experience gift" that KI presented in connection with the Queen’s 80th birthday.

On 29 January, KI's Professional Services gathered for a first staff meeting in the new organisation. All offices were introduced and researcher Ylva Trolle Lagerros described how Professional Services and research are linked at KI. Below is a summary of the information shared at the meeting.

What I most look forward to now, in the early days of the spring term, is the receding darkness and getting to meet all of you under various circumstances. Only last week, for instance, I and my colleagues in the university management had the privilege of meeting around fifty of our colleagues on Campus Flemingsberg in an open dialogue meeting, just like the one we held on the Solna campus just before Christmas.

Times Higher Education in the UK has published its World University Rankings by Subject 2025. The ranking is based on both hard data and reputation surveys. KI improves its position in several categories.

Sven Carlsson has been appointed as new head of the Legal, Planning and Economic Affairs Office. He comes from the position of CFO at SLU, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

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.

As the year comes to a close and we look forward to a well-deserved holiday, let me, Vice-President Martin Bergö and University Director Veronika Sundström, share some of the highlights of the past couple of months

The group will be deciding on the establishment of senior lectureships and professorships and identifying both short and long-term competence shortages in order to secure and strengthen KI’s core activities and create long-term stability in education and research.

Karolinska Institutet is investing over SEK 200 million over five years on a new funding package for EU-financed research projects. The aim of this investment, which was decided by the President on 11 November 2024, is to bolster research at KI and attract more international research grants and global collaborations designed to address today’s societal challenges. It is also intended to reward successful researchers that have won large prestigious external grants for breakthrough research.

As KI’s new presidential advisor, Maria Eriksdotter will be leading the university’s collaboration with Region Stockholm, giving her a key role in the future of clinical research and education in the capital.

On 5 November, KI submitted its final batch of material to the Swedish Research Council’s national evaluation of preclinical medical and pharmaceutical science for 2024-25. Seven universities are participating in the process, which aims to provide a national picture of the research field.

Following a decision taken by KI president Annika Östman Wernerson on 26 November, the Medical History and Heritage Unit (MHK) will be integrated with the Karolinska Institutet University Library (KIB) on 1 January, becoming its own division and with the same management as before.

Karolinska Institutet was honoured in October by a visit from Professor Brian Hodges, the 2016 KIPRIME recipient. The award, which is given in recognition of achievements in medical education research, has been of profound significance to him, and now he was in Sweden to open next year’s KIPRIME Fellows, an initiative devised to cultivate the next generation of prize-winners.

Vice-president Martin Bergö, University Director Veronika Sundström and I want to meet you in our open dialogue meetings in December. These meetings are important sources of perspective, knowledge and insight concerning pressing issues facing KI, such as how we can work even better together as a university and equip ourselves for a constantly changing world.

While Karolinska Institutet has solid outreach procedures, there are several areas that could do with improvement, according to a report by the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) on Swedish universities and university colleges that was presented to the government on October 31.

The Swedish government has presented an updated strategy for life science with the aim of making Sweden a leading nation in the field. Annika Östman Wernerson, President of KI, has been a member of the advisory group behind the strategy.

Karolinska Institutet has produced a new environmental policy to tackle present and future environmental and sustainability challenges. The environmental policy describes the intentions and directions of KI’s work with environmental sustainability. In integrating the environmental perspective throughout the organisation, KI will make an active health-focused contribution to addressing society’s key environmental and climate challenges.

After the freezer failure in Neo, the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (IVO) opened a supervisory case. The case has now been closed and IVO considers that the investigations carried out and the measures taken by Karolinska Institutet are sufficient to fulfil the requirements of the Biobanks Act.

What are KI's important issues for the future and what forums do we need to work even better together? Take the chance to discuss these and other important topics with President Annika Östman Wernerson, Vice President Martin Bergö and University Director Veronika Sundström as they once again invite all employees to an open dialogue meeting in Flemingsberg 22 January.

This year, Karolinska Institutet celebrates 25 years of support for visiting researchers and overseas doctoral students. Sharing knowledge and experience leads to innovation and progress, which is why we cannot do without our international collaborations. There are many support functions in place for our visiting researchers and overseas doctoral students, all to ensure their reception is as good as we can make it.

On 1 January 2025, a new organisation of KI’s Professional Services (PS) will come into force. Six existing offices will cease to exist and three new ones will be established. At the same time, working methods for increased coordination of cross-cutting issues within the professional services will be developed.

A decision was made by KI’s President on Tuesday regarding compensation for the freezer failure in Neo. The Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH) will be compensated with a total of SEK 30 million to be distributed to the affected researchers for costs incurred, and to begin recreating the collection of research material that has been lost.

On 10 October, University Director Veronika Sundström held a digital staff meeting for KI's Professional Services (PS). During the meeting, she presented an upcoming decision on the new organisation of PS. Below is a summary of the information shared.

The President has decided on a clarification of the instructions on the employment procedure for teachers at KI. The revision will make things clearer and more transparent for both the applicants and the ones assessing them. The updated instructions come into effect on 1 November 2024.

Sweet September has arrived, bringing some good news and some wait-and-sees. After the government presented its budget for 2025 on 19 September, it’s still not clear what kind of resources will be available for higher education.

A well-functioning crisis organisation is important to be able to handle special events/crises and to minimize damage to KI's operations, employees, researchers and students. Updated guidelines for the organisation are now available, including crisis plans.

The academic election of new teacher representatives to KI's University Board (Konsistoriet) has now been completed, and the election results have been confirmed by University Director Veronika Sundström.

At this semester's first staff meeting for KI's Professional Services (PS), some current results in the work on KI's strategic focus areas were presented, including the review currently underway of the PS. Here you will find brief information on the issues raised at the meeting.

On September 5th, the election period begins to appoint new faculty members to KI's University Board. During May, employees and students had the opportunity to nominate candidates for the role as faculty member on KI's board. Now, a total of three positions need to be filled.

Welcome to the 2024 autumn term! The new term officially kicks off on 2 September and I look forward very much to seeing all our students back on campus.

On 1 July 2024, the number of departments at KI went down from 22 to 21 as the integration of BioNut as a division of MedH came to a close. The project, which will now continue within MedH, has boosted the work KI is doing on its strategic focus areas as well as the “we” spirit within the department and KI as a whole.