News archive

Hi Francesca Eroli, doctoral student at the Division of Neurogeriatrics. On November 7 november you will defend your thesis ”Toward precision medicine : sex-specific effects of multi-drug therapies in mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's pathology” What is the main focus of the thesis?

Thanks to a generous joint donation from the Lundblad and Thelin families, Karolinska Institutet (KI) has launched a strategic initiative in AI education and training, titled Advances in Artificial Intelligence – AI@KI.

Kathrin Wode, postdoctoral researcher at the Division of Clinical Geriatrics, has been awarded a prestigious prize at the World Congress “3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine” in Rio de Janeiro.

It is exciting to announce that NVS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IDAC for academic exchange and to further strengthen the academic ties between the two institutions. The MoU was signed on August 11th, 2025, by Professor Maria Ankarcrona, Head of Department, NVS and Professor Kozo Tanaka, Director of IDAC.

Four distinct subgroups of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been identified in an international study published in Nature Medicine by researchers from Karolinska Institutet, among others. The results open up for more tailored treatments for the millions of women living with the disease worldwide.

Around 200 AI enthusiasts – from SMEs, healthcare providers, academia, decision-makers, and service providers for AI development - gathered last week at KI to discuss different aspects of implementing AI in healthcare.

Procurement and services must, as far as possible be called off against KI:s framework agreements.

Work is currently underway to develop KI's operational planning in order to facilitate dialogue and follow-up at various levels within the organisation. With the President's decision on guidelines for 2026, this planning is being initiated in various parts of KI's operations.

Professor Mona Ståhle has been awarded the Sven Hellerström Medal by the Swedish Society of Medicine for her significant contributions to dermatological research. The award committee highlights how, over four decades, she has been a visionary leader at Karolinska Institutet, particularly in psoriasis research, and has educated an entire generation of clinician-scientists in Sweden

Chronic hypoparathyroidism is a rare disease that occurs when the body does not produce enough parathyroid hormone (PTH). In a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet, Wafa Kamal, doctoral student at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, examines how the disease affects patients' lives in the long term.

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.

We are happy to introduce new colleagues at the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Welcome everyone!

We are happy to introduce new colleagues at the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Welcome everyone!

We congratulate the two researchers from the Department of Medicine, Huddinge who have been awarded grants from Forte (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working life and Welfare).

In 2024, ICT educator Gina Söderlund Nåtfors and her colleagues conducted a manual review of randomly selected course rooms in Canvas, checking various aspects of digital accessibility. Read more about the results and what you can do to create more accessible course rooms in Canvas.

Exercise is known for the positive effects on metabolic diseases, partly because of the release of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) that mediate intercellular communication and organ crosstalk. In a new doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet, Zhenghao Wang, doctoral student at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, explores the molecular composition and biofunction of exercise-induced EVs, focusing on their role in health benefits and pancreatic β-cell protection.

“10 minutes of your time can make both funders, and local as well as international collaborators find you – instead of them choosing someone else.”

Hannes Hegmar from the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit (GUT), at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH) defends his thesis titled "Non-invasive predictors of prognosis in chronic liver disease", on 31 October, 2025. Main supervisor is Hannes Hagström (MedH).

The 50th annual meeting of the Scandinavian Society for Immunology (SSI) took place in Stockholm on 15-17 October. During the conference the SSI Young Investigator Award was presented to recipients from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

A new memorandum of understanding has been signed by Karolinska ATMP Center and the ATMP Center Uppsala to deepen their collaboration in the rapidly growing field of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), which includes cell- and gene-based medicines. The aim is to enhance joint capacity and competitiveness in the Stockholm–Uppsala region.

The arrival of agriculture coincided with a sharp rise in a gene variant that protected against the virus that causes winter vomiting, researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Linköping University report after analysing DNA from over 4,300 prehistoric individuals and cultivating ”mini guts”.

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?

In the afternoon of October 22, parts of Biomedicum at Campus Solna experienced a power outage. The incident affected both the electricity supply and several digital systems, including the internet, KI’s website, and other electronic support systems.

On 14–15 October 2025, Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Makerere University in Uganda celebrated 25 years of partnership advancing global health, research, and education. The milestone also marks the 5th anniversary of the jointly established Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH) — a platform for promoting sustainable health and equitable global partnerships.

Breakthrough cryo-EM structures expose multiple drug targets in an essential HSV-1 replication protein.

Fitness amongst young adults varies widely from one country to another, and is strongly associated with both socioeconomic development and gender equality, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science reports. The results indicate that levels of development and gender equality in a society can affect differences in physical capacity and therefore public health in general.

By analyzing large amounts of data, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a system for classifying individuals into different risk groups for atherosclerosis. The results enable early detection of the disease, which can lead to personalized preventive care.

We are now in the throes of the autumn term – there is a lot going on and multiple important processes and projects are being conducted in parallel. On 15 October, the University Board made its decision on the future organisation of KI’s Faculty Board and committees, with the aim of creating a good balance between collegial and line organisational structures, clarifying roles and duties, and ultimately strengthening KI as a sustainable and successful university.

The Government's budget proposal for 2026 represents a positive addition for Karolinska Institutet. The President has therefore decided that KI's campus groups will receive more funding for joint priorities in 2026. At the same time, several measures are being taken to address KI's adminstrative capital.

Thirteen medical professionals from the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, China, recently spent an intensive week at Karolinska Institutet, diving into clinical research methodology from a global public health perspective. The professional education course offered a dynamic mix of lectures, discussions, and collaborative learning.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Umeå University have investigated how the protein HIF2α affects neuroblastoma, a severe form of childhood cancer. The results show that high levels of HIF2α can reduce the growth of tumor cells and promote their maturation into a less aggressive cell type.

How can students develop the skills and strategies needed to navigate a world where generative AI is becoming an increasingly common part of their studies? That was the question the Karolinska Institutet University Library (KIB) was tasked with answering resulting in a new web resource on AI. Developed using user experience (UX) methodologies and agile work practices, the resource has been designed to meet the authentic needs of KI students.

Leif Lundblad, entrepreneur, inventor and honorary doctor at Karolinska Institutet, has died at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife Irene and daughter Ulrika and family.

The Aging Research Centre (ARC), one of Sweden’s leading research centres looking into the health and living conditions of older people is celebrating its 25th anniversary. With its multidisciplinary research and broad-based collaborations, the ARC contributes to a deeper understanding of ageing and how society can promote a more favourable environment for a dignified and healthy old age.

It is time to register expenses for this year's wellness allowance before it goes unused. By 30 November, expenses must be registered on the PA website.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet suggests that some widely used heartburn medications may be linked to kidney problems over time. Researchers followed nearly 300,000 patients for up to 15 years to explore how these drugs might affect kidney and heart health.

Several colleagues and affiliates from the Aging Research Centre (ARC) recently participated in the 21st European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) Congress, held from 24 to 26 September 2025 at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavík, Iceland. This year’s congress, themed “New Landscapes in Geriatric Medicine”, brought together experts from across Europe and beyond to address the evolving challenges and innovations in the care of older adults.

Karolinska Institutet has updated its guidelines for applying for docent. The new guidelines and instructions for appointment as a docent will come into effect on 1 November.

Living in a neighbourhood where people feel safe and supported is linked to a reduced risk of psychosis among Stockholm residents – but only for people of Swedish or European origin. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet and UCL published in the journal Nature Mental Health. For people of North African or Middle Eastern origin, an increased risk of psychosis was seen in the same neighbourhoods.

Paediatric allergist and KI researcher Caroline Nilsson has been awarded this year's Mogren Prize in Medicine, Sweden's largest prize for clinically active doctors. The prize money of SEK 250,000 is motivated by her work to link patient encounters directly to research, which has a life-changing effect on children with severe food allergies.

At the 14th European Congress for Tropical Medicine and International Health in Hamburg, Philipp Gerlach presented key findings from his Global Health master’s thesis, shedding light on the burden and diagnostic challenges of childhood urinary tract infections in the WHO African Region. His presentation highlighted the urgent need for improved diagnostic tools in resource-limited settings.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered how cells can adjust their gene activity to survive when oxygen runs low. The study, published in Nature Cell Biology, reveals that cells use a previously unknown mechanism to control which proteins are produced – and how quickly.

A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in npj Precision Oncology, shows that support cells in the adrenal gland can regenerate hormone-producing tissue after birth. The same cells may also act as a starting point for adrenal tumors, offering new insights into cancer development and potential treatment strategies.

Nearly 240 participants gathered in the Eva & Georg Klein Hall at Karolinska Institutet on 14 October to mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of natural killer (NK) cells. The full-day symposium featured presentations on scientific advances, offering both historical reflections and future outlooks.

On 7 October, Christina Dalman, Professor and former research group leader for EPiCSS, was thanked by colleagues at the department as she now enters partial retirement. After decades of research in psychiatric epidemiology and public health, she now steps back from administrative responsibilities. Christina will remain active as a senior professor, focusing fully on research projects, without leadership roles. She looks forward to more personal time while continuing to contribute

Medical digital twins are computerised versions of patients, enabling different treatments to be tested and the most effective one identified, without any risk to the patient’s health. And in the future, we will each have our own, according to researcher Mikael Benson.

Karolinska Institutet now has its own institutional repository for the dissemination and long-term preservation of research data – the KI Data Repository. The Data Access Unit at the University Library is the support function that manages and provides support in matters concerning the use of the service.

In MBB’s employee survey, HR Puls, sent out on 23 April, we asked about your work environment and your work situation. 158 MBB employees answered the questions.

In the spring of 2026, Karolinska Institutet is offering the course “Sustainability, Inclusiveness & Integration for University Support Services (SiiUSS)”. The online course is designed to empower support staff in higher education institutions to contribute more strategically to institutional goals.

Drugs targeting the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) offer several positive effects for individuals with type 2 diabetes, including the lowering of blood glucose and the reduction of body weight and of cardiovascular risk. In a study in mice, researchers at KI SÖS and Södersjukhuset have shown that the specific weight loss properties of these treatments are key to also improve neurological recovery after suffering from stroke.