News archive

Treatment with so-called BTK inhibitors has improved the prognosis for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). At the same time, these drugs affect the immune system and may cause side effects over time. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet.

KI’s resource allocation model for research funding continues to evolve. The President has issued guidelines to support the work on prioritisation, allocation and monitoring within the campus groups. The first announcements regarding the 2027 allocation are expected shortly.

Karolinska Institutet’s leadership course for research group leaders has recently concluded. Participants describe how the course provided new perspectives on leadership and valuable peer exchange – insights they hope will inspire colleagues to apply for the next round in autumn 2027.

A new research project at the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (NASP) will investigate measures used to reduce suicides on the railway and metro systems. The project has a total budget of SEK 5 million, will run from 2026 to 2030, and is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket).

Three 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 during their careers, and will be presented at this October’s installation ceremony.

The choice of technique in thoracic aortic surgery can affect the risk of complications and treatment outcomes. On June 5, 2026, Erik Braatz will defend his doctoral thesis "Perfusion and surgical management in patients with thoracic aortic disease" in which he has investigated how thoracic aortic surgery can become even safer.

A new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet shows that brief questionnaires may be used to aid the assessment of persistent physical symptoms in primary care, and that internet-delivered therapy can be beneficial for patients with pronounced symptoms and distress.

Get to know Erica Sundell, new PhD student at the Division of Nursing.

Hannes Hagström, adjunct professor at Karolinska Institutet and consultant in gastroenterology at Karolinska University Hospital, has passed away suddenly. We remember a valued friend, colleague, physician and researcher whose work made a lasting impact both within his field of research and on all those who had the privilege of meeting and working with him.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified new properties of CD4-positive T cells in the human intestines and liver. The cells display a combination of features from both the adaptive and innate immune systems, according to a study published in Science Advances.

SRP Diabetes is happy to announce the awardees of seven Blue Sky Grants for high-risk, high-gain innovative projects.

This thesis explores how diverse sleep features relate to biological markers of aging and Alzheimer’s risk, revealing strong links between poor sleep and key indicators of cognitive decline.

From 11–13 May, Karolinska Institutet hosted two major meetings within the European university alliance NeurotechEU. Hundreds of participants from across Europe gathered in Stockholm to discuss the future of education, research and innovation in neuroscience and neurotechnology.

Sven Alfonsson and Agnes Elmberger are the first two to receive the KIPRIME Research Grant. The call for applications was announced in the autumn and involves a three-year research grant. Around twenty applications were received and reviewed by an international panel of researchers.

A university is both a place of study and a workplace where students and staff can thrive and develop. At the heart of a university is the idea that it is a place for curiosity, creativity and a strong spirit of collaboration. The staff survey recently conducted shows overall positive results, and in some areas even very positive ones.

The Department of Medicine, Solna has purchased some mobile gyms that can be borrowed within the department. Having exercise equipment nearby can be a good way to get a few minutes of exercise during the day - good for both body and mind.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that people’s own reports of heart attacks in the family only partially correspond with register data. The findings suggest that heart attacks among relatives are often underreported, particularly for events occurring early in life.

The Swedish government has announced a national investment in precision medicine to strengthen its long‑term implementation in Sweden. The initiative involves the allocation of state funding to regional precision medicine centres across the country. For Precision Medicine Center Karolinska, this represents important support for ongoing, long‑term efforts to integrate precision medicine into everyday healthcare.

Many pilots and cabin crew members go to work despite suffering from mental or physical health issues. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis by Filippa Folke at Karolinska Institutet.

Academic freedom is under increasing pressure worldwide. The SAR Sweden network and the CASI project invite you to a webinar.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that different SSRI medications affect metabolic processes in developing nerve cells in distinct ways. Alterations in energy metabolism, oxidative stress and lipid profiles suggest that these drugs are not biologically equivalent. The findings provide new insights into biological mechanisms but do not show that SSRIs used during pregnancy cause autism, ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Businessman and life-science investor Mats Arnhög and his family have pledged SEK 50 million to the research being done at Karolinska Institutet into epilepsy, glioblastoma and Parkinson’s disease. The aim of the donation is to strengthen the early and long-term research that future medical breakthroughs require, an area in which Arnhög often sees a serious mismatch between resources and needs.

Many young adults who have been treated for cancer experience sexual problems. This is shown in a doctoral dissertation at Karolinska Institutet, which also highlights gaps in information provided by the healthcare system.

A major donation now enables researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University to follow children’s development from infancy to ten years of age. The long-term project called Early Autism/ADHD Sweden (EASE) combines several advanced research methods and has already contributed new knowledge about early signs of autism and ADHD. The extension now makes it possible to examine how children’s development changes over time.

As Abiodun Sogbesan reaches the halfway point of his doctoral journey, his research is already shedding new light on how medical oxygen services function across Nigeria’s health system. By examining policy implementation, facility readiness, and the everyday adaptations made by healthcare workers and families, the project is uncovering critical insights that could help improve equitable and sustainable access to lifesaving oxygen for children.

Karolinska Institutet has been invited by STINT (The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education) to nominate three candidates to participate in the exchange programme for teaching staff called Teaching Sabbatical.

On May 1, 2026, Anna Lantz Lantz took up the position as the new research group leader for MMK Urology. She succeeds Olof Akre, who is now handing over the leadership but he will continue as an active and important member of the group.

A new study shows that gambling is common among Swedish junior elite football players, including underage players. The prevalence of gambling problems is considerably higher than in the general population, while awareness of clubs’ gambling policies is low.

Thank you for your participation. Positive and stable results in KI’s 2026 Employee survey.

The WHO handbook on integrated care for older people – ICOPE – is now available in Swedish. The handbook, translated by Jesper Dalum at Karolinska Institutet, provides guidance on how older people, together with healthcare providers, can monitor, strengthen and maintain their intrinsic capacity over time.

A single dose of the psychedelic substance psilocybin can provide rapid relief from depressive symptoms – within just a few days. This is shown by the first randomised, double-blind study in Sweden of psilocybin for depression. The effect persisted for over three months, according to researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

How can artificial intelligence help researchers understand complex disease processes and identify previously hidden patterns? That was the focus when Fang Fang, professor at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, was interviewed for the internationally renowned medical journal JAMA’s podcast series JAMA+ AI Conversations.

Leading international researchers in immunology, antibody biology, and therapeutic engineering will gather at the Nobel Forum at Karolinska Institutet on 4-5 June 2026, for Nobel mini-symposium No. 63, "Advances in Antibody Diversification and Engineering: Mechanisms, Technologies, and Therapeutic Potential".

During a few intensive days in May 2026, Karolinska Institutet’s Flemingsberg campus served as a hub for knowledge exchange and experience sharing on personality disorders, bringing together more than 300 clinicians and researchers. The week began with the international conference on Good Psychiatric Management (GPM), held on 4–5 May, and continued with the Swedish Congress on Personality Psychiatry on 6–7 May.

The survival rates of patients with oesophageal and gastric cancers have improved. However, many survivors continue to experience long- term symptoms. On May 29, Kenneth Färnqvist will defend his thesis "The architecture of survivorship : patterns of quality of life, symptom dynamics, and self- care in oesophageal and gastric cancer" in which he has investigated how quality of life, symptoms, and self-care develop over time.

On May 12, Jonas F Ludvigsson, professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and senior pediatrician at Örebro University Hospital was re-elected for another 3 years as Scientific Chair of the Swedish Society of Medicine.

People with post-COVID conditions may experience persistent impairments in physical and mental health long after the infection. A new doctoral dissertation at Karolinska Institutet follows developments over time and examines whether individually tailored rehabilitation can support recovery.

The Swedish government has decided to introduce changes to the current migration legislation that will affect students holding a residence permit for studies. These changes are scheduled to take effect on 11 June 2026.

Karolinska Institutet and MSD are celebrating ten years of strategic research collaboration focused on patient-centred, registry-based research. Over the past decade, the collaboration has resulted in more than 40 joint studies and, to date, around 30 scientific publications in areas such as vaccines, oncology, cardiometabolic diseases, immunology, and neurology.

This call for proposals is aimed at initiatives involving cutting-edge technology or methods that are time-critical. A maximum of SEK 16 million has been allocated for innovative, needs-driven investments to strengthen KI’s research infrastructure. The funds are to be used during 2027.

Karolinska Institutet and the Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB) at the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Thessaloniki, Greece, have signed a formal agreement to strengthen and expand their academic cooperation in research, education, and innovation.

The Health Bridge project held its first annual onsite meeting in Stockholm, bringing together partners from Sweden, Ukraine, and Latvia. The gathering marked a key step in strengthening regional cooperation amid ongoing geopolitical and health system challenges. Discussions highlighted the growing importance of health diplomacy and academic collaboration across the Baltic Sea Region and Eastern Europe.

Congratulations to Anna Martling and Richard Rosenquist Brandell, who have both been elected as Faculty Representatives of the Faculty Board. The term of office runs from 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2029.

The committee for higher education has decided to award Nicola Orsini and Karin Garming Legert KI's Pedagogical Prize in 2026.
The prize is awarded during the inauguration ceremony in Aula Medica in October.

From Thursday 14 May, a new entrance to Campus Solna will open for pedestrians and cyclists. The new entrance is located at the junction of Solnavägen and Nobels väg. The current entrance to the campus, at the corner of Solnavägen and the access road to the E4/Essingeleden, will be closing shortly.

Artificial intelligence could, in the long term, improve the care of patients in need of organ transplantation but only if the technology is used responsibly. In a new guidance article published in the journal Transplant International, the European Society for Organ Transplantation presents recommendations on how AI should be developed and implemented. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have contributed to the work.

Karolinska Institutet has received a grant of DKK 10 million (approximately SEK 15 million) from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for research on cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The project is led by Johan Ericson, professor at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and aims to help move laboratory research closer to clinical application.

The Swedish Developmental Biology Organization (SWEDBO) has awarded Sandra de Haan at Karolinska Institutet its prize for the best doctoral thesis. The thesis focuses on how the inner ear develops and provides new knowledge about how cells in the cochlea are organised.

For the first time, KI is conducting a Teaching Pulse (Lärarbarometern) — a complement to existing surveys that gives teaching staff and supervisors the chance to share their experiences in depth. You are now invited to take part.

Recently, the University Library (KIB) has undergone several changes. On January 1, 2025, the History and Cultural Heritage of Medicine (MHK) was integrated into KIB, and as of January 1, 2026, KIB is part of the Administrative support (GVS). To be responsive to employees’ perspectives, a new forum for dialogue, Coffee with Miriam, was introduced internally at KIB in the fall of 2025.