News archive

The Cancer Research Funds of Radiumhemmet is to donate SEK 102 million kronor to point-of-care cancer research at KI. The grant is the largest in the history of the Funds and will finance diagnosis-specific research, infrastructure and research positions.

KI researcher Federico Iovino has been awarded the Pioneer Innovator Grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Designed to fast-track the commercialisation of cutting-edge research in sustainability and health, the grant aims to support bold innovations that have real-world impact.

Currently, a PhD position within the ENDOTRAIN network is announced at Karolinska Institutet.

Iva Filipovic at the Department of Laboratory Medicine receives SEK 4,5 million from Åke Wiberg Foundation for her project on understanding how HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy affect pregnancy and early immune development.

Subtle abnormalities in kidney function — even within the range considered normal — may help identify people at risk of developing chronic kidney disease. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Kidney International. The researchers have therefore developed a web-based tool that could aid in early detection and thus primary prevention.

On 4 December 2025, a press release announced that the members of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) had elected George Belibasakis, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, as Vice-president. Read the interview with George here.

A new study shows that internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) can effectively reduce asthma-related anxiety in adults with asthma. Participants who received ICBT reported less anxiety related to their asthma, better asthma control, higher quality of life, and fewer avoidance behaviours compared to those who received standard care. Lung function was not affected by the treatment, indicating that it is safe and can be used as a complement to medical asthma treatment.

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).

The NeurotechEU Internship Program at Boğaziçi University offers undergraduate and master’s students from the NeurotechEU alliance a unique opportunity to gain hands-on research experience in cutting-edge neuroscience and neurotechnology laboratories.

The Swedish Central Association for the Promotion of Sports (SCIF) has named Eva Jansson, professor emerita at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, as the 2025 recipient of the Major Sports Research Award for an experienced researcher.

Just five extra minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a day or sitting half an hour less could make a measurable difference for public health, according to a new study published in The Lancet.

The immune system’s reaction to the common Epstein-Barr virus can ultimately damage the brain and contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS). This is shown by new research from Karolinska Institutet, published in Cell. The study provides new insight into the long-suspected link between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and MS.

Abdominal fat is not a uniform tissue. A new study from Karolinska Institutet, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, and Helmholtz Munich reveals that fat located close to the large intestine contains an unusually high number of inflammatory fat cells and immune cells. The findings suggest that this tissue is specially adapted to communicate with the immune system in the gut region. The study is published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Communications, reveals how rhythmic brain waves known as alpha oscillations help us distinguish between our own body and the external world. The findings offer new insights into how the brain integrates sensory signals to create a coherent sense of bodily self.

The University of Toronto invites doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows at KI to apply to the summer course “Summer in Design” given by “Medicine in Design” given the 8-17th of June 2026.

One of the national services offered by NBIS/SciLifeLab is the Bioinformatics Peer review Support track (a.k.a. WABI), providing competences in large-scale data analysis for genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, Cryo-EM and other technologies. This support has been enabled by funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and is part of the SciLifeLab & Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science.

The unit for Teaching and Learning invites educators and those involved in teaching to Bites of Learning, a series of lunchtime webinars where you can discuss different learning methods and research in education and its applications. Find this spring's upcoming sessions and follow the link for each session to learn more and register.

The Swedish Society for Child Care is calling for applications in support of over five million kronor for research, postgraduate education and further education in the field of pediatric diseases.

Cell and gene therapies use the body’s building blocks – cells and genetic material – to boost the immune system or correct the root cause of disease. It is a new era in healthcare, in some cases offering the possibility of a cure where previously only relief or slowing of disease was possible.

Karolinska Institutet has lost an outstanding and dedicated colleague. Professor emerita Anita Aperia has passed away after a period of illness. She was active at KI from her studies in the 1950s up to her last scientific paper, which was published in the spring of 2025.

Here you will find updates on strategic initiatives, new opportunities for researchers, and important developments in the planning and support of infrastructure. Our aim is to keep you informed about resources and initiatives that strengthen research at KI and beyond.

The longer a person has type 2 diabetes, the greater the risk of cardiovascular disease. A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Diabetes, shows that changes in red blood cells may be an important explanation, and identifies a specific molecule as a possible biomarker.

If a person damages the brain or spine, nerve cells do not regenerate spontaneously. The mechanism has been there since the embryonic stage, but is not activated. Enric Llorens Bobadilla and his research group at Karolinska Institutet are trying to find which genes should be turned on to create new nerve cells. A new film about their work is now available.

Meet Johan Björkegren, Professor of Systems Medicine at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH) since 9 December 2025.

Currently, a PhD position within the ACHILLES program is announced at Karolinska Institutet.

A new study from Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet in collaboration with Uppsala University Hospital and Uppsala University shows suspected small vessel disease in young patients with Wilson’s disease. The study was recently published in Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

Tahnee Marquardt is an advisor in Clinicum’s network and works as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Compliance & Data Office at Karolinska Institutet. Tahnee provides support in areas such as REDCap, ethical issues, and the registration of clinical studies and trials.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that the nervous system's own immune cells help protect the spinal cord from age-related damage. The results, which may contribute to new knowledge about how certain neurological diseases arise, are published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

The medals are awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to support KI's activities and are available in three categories: the gold medal, the large silver medal, and the silver medal.

That means users cannot log into UBW to approve/certify invoices or requisitions or make purchases in UBW e-commerce system etc. during this time.

A small set of common blood biomarkers predicts which older adults will develop specific combinations of chronic diseases – and how quickly, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in Nature Medicine reports.

The protein p53, best known as the “guardian of the genome” for its role in preventing cancer, can affect blood vessels in different ways. However, it has not been clear how p53 can slow blood vessel growth in some cases and damage blood vessels in others.

Several decisions are now coming into force that aim to create clearer responsibilities and a more cohesive organisation at KI. Among the changes are new bodies and functions, and certain activities being relocated within KI. KI's organisational plan and the President's decision-making and delegation rules have been revised. Further revisions will also be made in 2026.

The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) has awarded 102 grants in medicine and health in five categories to 101 researchers at Karolinska Institutet. In total, KI will be allocated just over SEK 526,6 million for the period 2025-2031.

The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) has decided on four calls and awarded funding to 39 researchers at Karolinska Institutet (KI) in the areas of clinical therapy research, international post docs within medicine and health, research into viruses and pandemics, and career grants within primary care.

Valentyna Yasinska at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, has been awarded a grant from the Asthma and Allergy Association's Research Fund.

Elisabeth Morén is a newly qualified doctor at the Department of Odontology at Karolinska Institutet. Here she talks about her research, her time as a doctoral student and what lies ahead after her thesis defence.

The Cancer and Allergy Fund (Cancer- och allergifonden) is awarding a total of SEK 3,3 million to 19 research projects in the field of cancer and allergy. Of these, eleven researchers at Karolinska Institutet will be awarded SEK 2 million. Several of these projects focus on cancers with poor prognoses, such as pancreatic cancer, where more research and knowledge are needed.

As the year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your commitment and professionalism. Together, we are advancing knowledge about life and working to improve dental health for everyone – work that makes a real difference.

Professor Tore Midtvedt, Oslo, passed away on December 2nd at the age of 91. He is mourned by his wife Kari, his sons Karsten, Per and Öyvind with their families, as well as a large circle of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.

On 18 November, the alumni relations office of KI, in collaboration with alumni relations at KTH and SU under the umbrella of the Stockholm Trio University Alliance, hosted an alumni mixer and panel discussion on the important topic of Compassionate Societies – Death is a public health issue.

The Swedish Research Council is investing SEK 60 million in Sweden’s first graduate school for biomedical laboratory scientists, with Karolinska Institutet playing a central role. The initiative aims to strengthen the supply of expertise and meet healthcare’s need for research-trained biomedical laboratory scientists.

Girls who are vaccinated against HPV are not only well protected against cervical cancer; they are also less likely to develop severe precancerous lesions of the vulva and vagina, particularly if they were vaccinated before the age of 17. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in JAMA Oncology.

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?

The Committee for Research at Karolinska Institutet has decided on recipients from the Jonas Söderquist scholarship foundation for basic research in virology and immunology. The awarded are Annika Niehrs and Thomas R. Müller at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, and Andrea Fossati at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology.

While in Sweden for psychological rehabilitation through the Repower project, Ukrainian combat medics visited Stockholm for a day of discussions and experience-sharing with Swedish healthcare professionals, decision-makers, and other actors within the Swedish total defence system.

The Promobilia Foundation is donating SEK 25 million to enable four research groups from Karolinska Institutet and Lund University to join forces in a major research project designed to develop new treatment strategies for the fundamental causes of Parkinson’s disease. The quartet will be using innovative methods, including advanced gene therapies and target-specific vectors, which are able not only to reach but also to protect the most vulnerable cells in Parkinson’s disease.

The Swedish Cancer and Allergy Foundation has allocated SEK 3.3 million to support 19 innovative projects in the fields of cancer and allergy research. Among the recipients are three researchers from the Department of Laboratory Medicine, who will receive grants to advance studies focused on some of the most challenging and hard-to-treat cancer types.

The ANA Futura service team is present working days and bridge days during the Christmas holidays.

After the Nobel week and the celebration of research that has been of greatest benefit to humankind, I feel nothing but immense gratitude and admiration for this year’s laureates. Particularly momentous was, of course, having the honour to present and listen to the Medicine laurates’ lectures in Aula Medica on 7 December, when Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi talked about their discoveries on how the immune system keeps itself in balance.