Pauliina Damdimopoulou, ERC ambassador, appointed professor at KBH
Pauliina Damdimopoulou has been appointed professor at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health (KBH), Karolinska Institutet.
She now looks forward to building new collaborations to strengthen research in women’s and children’s health.
"It feels surreal but wonderful. I have had a strong connection to KI for over 20 years, and I look forward to continuing to contribute through research, teaching, and public engagement," says Professor Pauliina Damdimopoulou.
How do today’s chemicals affect our ovaries and fertility? This is the question that has driven Pauliina’s research for over a decade. Her work focuses on how the environment - particularly increased exposure to chemicals - affects female reproductive capacity. She emphasises that women are born with all their egg cells already formed, making them particularly vulnerable to lifelong environmental influences, from the fetal stage to adulthood.
"We know that certain treatments, such as chemotherapy, can damage the ovaries, but we still know far too little about how chemical pollution in the environment impacts fertility," she explains.
During her postdoctoral research in Paris, she worked with fish eggs and frog embryos to develop biosensors for water pollutants. Her interest in reproduction and environmental chemicals grew, and she returned to Sweden and KI to delve deeper into ovarian and embryonic biology. Ten years ago, she established her own laboratory at Swetox, Swedish Toxicology Sciences Research Center, where she has since integrated her background in biochemistry, environmental science, and reproduction.
ERC Grant and Ambassadorship
In 2023, Pauliina was awarded a prestigious grant from the European Research Council (ERC). The funding marked not only financial support but also a significant recognition of her research. As an ERC ambassador, she now advocates for the importance of academic freedom, without political control or predetermined research agendas.
"It was a crucial milestone. Gaining ERC support demonstrated that my ideas are relevant and have the potential to make a difference. It also motivated me to become an ERC ambassador. We must safeguard researchers’ freedom to pursue their own ideas—that is how innovation and long-term societal benefit are achieved," says Pauliina.
A New Phase – and New Opportunities
The research group is currently relocating from Flemingsberg to Solna, a transitional phase that also marks a fresh start. New colleagues, new team members, and new collaborations lie ahead.
"I am eager to get everything in place. The future looks exciting, not least with our new projects funded by the ERC, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund, and StratRegen. This is a unique opportunity to advance knowledge on women’s health at a time of increasing environmental impact," says Pauliina.
In her spare time, she unwinds through kickboxing, a way to clear her mind after intense workdays.