News archive

Many common diseases and other complex traits, such as heart disease, diabetes, and psychiatric disorders, are influenced by a very large number of genetic variants, each with only a small effect. They are also shaped by environmental and lifestyle factors, which makes their causes highly complex. By analyzing genetic data from very large groups of people across the whole genome, researchers can identify these small genetic signals and better understand how they contribute to health and disease.

Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche will organise a workshop on science communication, specifically focusing on the poster.

Taking place from 24 August to 4 September 2026, this 4 ECTS Blended Intensive Programme combines online and on-site learning, focusing on exploring cutting-edge developments at the intersection of neuroscience, robotics, and digital health. This course is jointly organized by Boğaziçi University, Université de Lille, Radboud University, Universidad Miguel Hernández and Reykjavik University.

The application deadline for the Summer School in Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback has been extended. Taking place from 21 May to 17 June 2026, this 4 ECTS Blended Intensive Programme combines online and on-site learning, focusing on applied psychophysiology, heart rate variability (HRV), self-regulation, and biofeedback. This course is organized by Reykjavik University, in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet and Radboud University.

Genetic markers may be the key to more precise surveillance programs for individuals with the hereditary cancer syndrome Li-Fraumeni. In a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet, Alexander Sun Zhang shows how tailored follow-up strategies can reduce the burden on patients, particularly children. These findings have already influenced the Swedish national guidelines.

An external review panel has assessed that doctoral education at Karolinska Institutet is characterised by ambition and academic excellence. The external review was initiated by the Committee for Doctoral Education.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain develops and functions. It’s usually noticed in childhood, and more than half of those diagnosed keep experiencing symptoms as adults. Medicines for ADHD can reduce these symptoms, but lasting benefits depend on continuing the medication regularly.

The call will open on 23 February 2026 and close on 23 March 2026 at 14:00. Apply via Prisma.

Taking place from 21 May to 17 June 2026, this Summer School combines online and on-site learning to introduce the field of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (4 ECTS Blended Intensive Programme). This course is organized by Reykjavik University, in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet and Radboud University.

Hi Alexander Kvist, doctoral student at the Division of Physiotherapy. On March 6 you will defend your thesis ”Evaluating complex walking in aging and neurological disease : from motor behavior to brain activity”. What is the main focus of the thesis?

Breast cancer tumours can contain different cell types and structures, which may influence how the disease develops and responds to treatment. In a new thesis from Karolinska Institutet, Qiao Yang at the department of oncology pathology uses computer based methods and multi omics data to map this variation in large, untreated breast tumours. The findings may help support more comprehensive diagnostic strategies and inform future treatment decisions.

The prize is intended for newly graduated PhDs, or alternatively doctoral candidates in the final year of their doctoral studies. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must not have reached the age of 32 at the time of nomination.

On 14–15 February, KI’s system for plagiarism checking of theses, iThenticate, will (as previously announced) receive a new interface with partly new features.

The information below is intended for those who require a Green Light for their KID application.

Cancer is complex and hard to treat, with many forms that change over time. This makes treatment complicated: a drug may help one patient but not another. Developing new cancer drugs is also slow and costly, often taking years and failing before reaching patients. This thesis explores how advanced laboratory models and artificial intelligence could make the process faster.

“Journées CORTICO 2026”, the symposium in the fields of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), Neurotechnology and Cognitive Neuroscience, will take place on May 18-20, 2026, at the University of Lille, France.

On February 14-15, KI's system for plagiarism detection in theses, iThenticate, will get a new interface with some new features. Inactive accounts will be deleted during the transition to the new interface.

The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, offers laboratory - based research internship designed for international students

Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, offers the possibility to participate in International Summer School of Lab Internship on Basic Medical Science during July, 2026

On the 28 April the 1st Doctoral Education Day is organized at KI - an inspiring day for PhD students, supervisors, postdocs or junior/senior faculty. Registration is now open!

Breast cancer ecotypes represent unique combinations of three key factors: the internal states of tumor cells, the local tumor microenvironment, and the overall immune response. Together, these elements reflects the complex interaction between the patient, the tumor, and the treatment. This thesis investigates how tumors change during pre-surgery therapy, known as neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAT).

Bachelor, Master, and PhD students at Karolinska Institutet (KI) are invited to apply now for the Autumn School of Clinical Neurotechnology taking place 23-26 February in Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca (Romania).

Hi Cecilia Johnsson, doctoral student at the Division of Occupational Therapy. On January 16 you will defend your thesis ”Complex paths of lifestyle change in stroke prevention : unveiling seeds and processes of engaging occupations”. What is the main focus of the thesis?

KI Master’s, PhD, and early-career researchers are invited to apply for the Winter School on Brain Architecture for NeuroAI and Neurotechnology: A Systems Neuroscience Perspective, taking place at the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche.

The BonnBrain Conference 2026 will take place in Bonn, Germany, from March 23–25, 2026, bringing together leading neuroscientists from across Europe and beyond to discuss the latest advances in brain research.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions, and some people recover with medications or therapies. However, for some individuals, treatment does not work, even after several attempts. This harder-to-treat form of depression is known as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). People affected by TRD often experience more severe and long-lasting symptoms, lower quality of life, and more physical health problems than other depression cases without TRD.

In a significant step for European collaboration in neuroscience and technological innovation, the Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI) has officially joined The European University of Brain and Technology – NeurotechEU.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, largely due to late detection, when treatment options are limited. Detecting the disease earlier and tailoring treatments more precisely are essential to improve survival and quality of life for patients.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, with around 9,600 new cases diagnosed each year in Sweden. The breast cancer can spread to other parts of the body, and the first spread is usually to the lymph nodes that run from the breast to the armpit on the same side. Knowing whether the cancer has spread to these lymph nodes is crucial, as it helps determine the most appropriate treatment.

A new doctoral thesis by Giorgi Beridze, recently published at Karolinska Institutet, sheds light on the relationship between multimorbidity and kidney health in older adults. The research explores how kidney function is ascertained in older adults, how chronic diseases cluster into patterns and how these patterns influence kidney function and the risk of developing albuminuria—a condition marked by the presence of protein in urine, often an early sign of kidney damage.

Hi Anahita Amirpour, doctoral student at the Division of Nursing. On November 20 you will defend your thesis "Assessment and identification of cognitive changes after surgery in older adults". What is the main focus of the thesis?

Self-promotion can often be a challenge, but speaking about oneself to secure a job, a place on a
study programme, or a scholarship carries even greater pressure.

Hi Kajsa Söderhielm, dcotoral student at the Division of Occupational therapy. On October 24 oktober you will defend your thesis ”Supporting person-centred, team-based stroke rehabilitation with ICT : implementation and evaluation of F@ce 2.0”. What is the main focus of the thesis?

A new thesis from Karolinska Institutet studied how mental health problems run in families. Using nationwide Swedish registers, the researchers followed millions of parents and their children over decades, revealing several important findings about how and why mental health problems pass from parents to children, and importantly, how to interrupt this cycle.

Hi Melissa Kotte, doctoral student at the Division of Nursing. On October 24, you will defend your thesis ”Reaching cancer survivors where they are : effects and experiences of live-remote exercise”. What is the main focus of the thesis?

Hi Magdalena Fresk, doctoral student at the Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care . On October 10 you will defend your thesis ”International classification of functioning, disability and health in the sickness certification process” What is the main focus of the thesis?

The NeurotechEU is gearing up for its annual hackathon!

On September 2, we held a kick-off for the Doctoral School in Health Sciences (FiH) with 14 doctoral students, including eight from NVS and the rest from six other departments.

Once again, the Aging Research Center (ARC) at Karolinska Institutet (KI) will host the course titled "Societal and Life-course Perspectives on Inequalities in Aging" this fall semester. The course is arranged in partnership with the Swedish National Graduate School on Ageing and Health (SWEAH, Lund University) and brings together students from various universities throughout Sweden.

A new thesis from Karolinska Institutet focuses on advanced statistical methods to better predict long-term patient outcomes, supporting healthcare decision-making. The application focused on chronic myeloid leukemia with the goal to inform clinical and policy insights.

In this episode we take a closer look at open science, why it matters, and how it can help us meet some of the major challenges facing research today. With growing concerns about research funding, especially recent cuts in the US that may affect core scientific infrastructure, the need for openness, collaboration, and resilient research practices has never been greater.

On 2 June 2025, a group of 19 doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers from ARC came together for a one-day retreat at the Skepparholmen conference venue in Nacka. The retreat theme was visual communication in research.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men globally. Diagnosing prostate cancer involves examining tissue samples under a microscope, a process that can be inconsistent and yield different results by different pathologists for the same sample, potentially affecting patient treatment. In some unclear cases, extra testing called immunohistochemistry (IHC) is used, but it adds cost, time, and lab work.

Hi Vilma Alanko, doctoral student at the Division of Clinical Geriatrics. On June 13 you will defend your thesis ”Translational studies on biological signatures, risk profiles, and prevention of dementia.” What is the main focus of the thesis?

Together with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), KI organises a vaccinology course titled "Vaccines in a Changing World: Innovation and Access".

After cycling 90 kilometres through sunshine, hail and beech forests, Pernilla Alencar Siljehag arrived in Tomelilla with tired legs and a heart full of impressions. Together with the initiator Oskar Jonsson, she has cycled a leg of the tandem tour that takes researchers around southern Sweden to give lectures on ageing and health. She shares her reflections on the conversations along the way, the audience at the library, and why research journeys are sometimes at their best when on two wheels.

Karolinska Institutet (KI) and the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) have continued their tradition of academic collaboration by organizing a joint course for doctoral students once again this year. Held at the UTokyo Hongo Campus in Japan, the course titled "Bioinformatics Analysis and Visualization of Medical Genomics Data (H7F5633)", led by Dr. Carsten Daub, brought together 11 students from KI and 16 from UTokyo.

Within the national quality assurance system, universities are responsible for initiating and organising external reviews of their educational programmes. KI has decided that all education must undergo an external review every eight years, and this year it is the doctoral education’s turn. KI has only one doctoral education, in medical science, so all departments are affected.

The tandem tour is a popular science initiative where researchers cycle through southern Sweden, giving lectures on ageing and health at libraries and community centres. The aim is to reach a broader audience, foster dialogue, and spark interest in the role of research in society. The tour, organised in collaboration with the graduate school SWEAH, runs from 4–27 May 2025 and is made possible thanks to support from the Sten K Johnson Foundation.

Hi Anna Rennie, doctoral student at the Division of Clinical Geriatrics. On June 9 you will defend your thesis ”Does white matter matter? Neuroimaging in dementia with Lewy bodies and related conditions.” What is the main focus of the thesis?