https://ki.se RSS News Listing https://news.ki.se/the-uterus-immune-system-can-regenerate-after-transplantation The immune system in the uterus can regenerate after both uterus transplantation and bone marrow transplantation. This is shown by a new study from Karolinska Institutet that has been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The new insights into how the uterine immune environment functions may be significant for the treatment of infertility and complications during pregnancy. Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:35:14 +0100 https://news.ki.se/researchers-at-karolinska-institutet-awarded-prestigious-postdoctoral-fellowships Two Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships and a Walter-Benjamin-Postdoctoral Fellowship (German Research foundation, DFG) have been granted to outstanding early-career scientists at the Division of Molecular Metabolism (MolMet) at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics. The fellowships are highly competitive and prestigious. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:22:40 +0100 https://news.ki.se/fat-surrounding-the-colon-interacts-with-the-immune-system 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. Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:00:15 +0100 https://news.ki.se/how-the-nervous-system-activates-repair-after-spinal-cord-injury After a spinal cord injury, cells in the brain and spinal cord change to cope with stress and repair tissue. A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Neuroscience, shows that this response is controlled by specific DNA sequences. This knowledge could help develop more targeted treatments. Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:00:12 +0100 https://news.ki.se/network-medicine-and-ai-shaping-the-future-of-biomedical-research-and-healthcare Karolinska Institutet is hosting a symposium focused on how network medicine and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming how we understand disease, develop therapies, and deliver patient care. The event will bring together leading researchers and clinicians to explore how network-based thinking and modern machine learning are moving biomedicine beyond traditional single-target approaches toward mechanism-based, patient-specific interventions. Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:02:01 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-study-reveals-how-mitochondrial-dna-quality-is-preserved-across-generations Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have discovered how mammalian cells prevent the gradual buildup of harmful mutations in mitochondrial DNA, the small but vital genome that powers every cell. The study, published in Science Advances, explains how mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintains its integrity despite its uniparental mode of inheritance and rapid mutation rate. Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:51:57 +0100 https://news.ki.se/epigenetic-changes-help-cells-adapt-to-low-oxygen-levels 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. Fri, 17 Oct 2025 16:01:45 +0200 https://news.ki.se/tilen-trselic-awarded-the-2025-cilla-weigelt-scholarship Tilen Trselic, a doctoral student at the Department of Medicine, Solna, has been awarded the 2025 Cilla Weigelt Prize for his research on Sjögren’s syndrome, a rare rheumatic disease that primarily affects women. The prize includes a personal scholarship and a research grant to promote scientific exchange. Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:30:28 +0200 https://news.ki.se/seeking-to-understand-rna-better-and-to-contribute-to-new-therapies RNA is central to how cells function. Through the detailed study of RNA that combines molecular biology with advanced bioinformatics, Vicente Pelechano Garcia hopes to contribute to the development of a new generation of RNA-based treatment and diagnosis. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 9 October.  Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:00:10 +0200 https://news.ki.se/from-a-crash-in-the-ditch-to-forefront-of-research When Per Uhlén was fourteen, he ended up in a wheelchair. Since then, he has become a professor, started three companies, and competed in two Paralympic Games. “Sometimes I feel like my life is a film,” he says. Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:10:11 +0200 https://news.ki.se/hoping-to-find-new-ways-to-prevent-the-spread-of-cancer It is the spread of tumours, metastases, which is the usual cause of cancer-related death. Jonas Fuxe researchers the mechanisms driving this process, with a focus on how cancer cells interact with their surroundings and mutate in order to take new paths. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 9 October. Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:00:12 +0200 https://news.ki.se/hoping-to-prepare-the-way-for-more-precise-schizophrenia-therapies Schizophrenia is a disease that causes great suffering, but today’s methods of treatment are inadequate in dealing with it. Jens Hjerling-Leffler studies what happens in the brain during the phase of life in which the disease often debuts in the hope of promoting the development of more effective drugs. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 9 October. Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:00:14 +0200 https://news.ki.se/how-mutations-in-bodily-tissues-affect-ageing Two new studies from Karolinska Institutet have investigated how mutations that occur in muscles and blood vessels over time can affect ageing. The studies, which are published in Nature Aging, show that such mutations can reduce muscle strength and accelerate blood vessel ageing. The results can be of significance to the treatment of age-related diseases. Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:00:13 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-research-confirms-that-neurons-form-in-the-adult-brain A study in the journal Science presents compelling new evidence that neurons in the brain’s memory centre, the hippocampus, continue to form well into late adulthood. The research from Karolinska Institutet provides answers to a fundamental and long-debated question about the human brain’s adaptability. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 20:00:08 +0200 https://news.ki.se/programmed-cell-death-and-tissue-regeneration-how-are-they-connected The delicate balance between cell death and regeneration is crucial for human health and longevity. Most mechanisms involved in programmed cell death (PCD) play a key role in normal tissue renewal and repair after injury. At the same time, PCD can also disrupt regenerative processes, contributing to the development of pathological conditions such as cancer, fibrosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and other age-related disorders. Sat, 28 Jun 2025 11:34:30 +0200 https://news.ki.se/bjorn-reinius-and-joyce-noble-awarded-the-prize-for-innovation-and-utilisation-2025 Björn Reinius and Joyce Noble have developed a synthetic protection for RNA molecules that is stable and can be stored at room temperature. Their innovation simplifies aspects of biomedical research and enables new analytical methods. They are now awarded the 2025 Prize for innovation and utilisation for their work. Mon, 12 May 2025 15:23:52 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-mechanism-for-how-cells-handle-stress-discovered In a study published in Nature, researchers at Karolinska Institutet and SciLifeLab, among others, have identified a new mechanism for how cells deal with stress. This could have implications for treating certain hereditary, neurodegenerative diseases, but may also be relevant for future cancer treatment. Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:00:10 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-knowledge-portal-facilitates-research-on-metabolic-diseases Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Helmholtz Munich, among others, have developed a user-friendly portal with comprehensive data on human adipose tissue. The portal offers researchers and clinicians an opportunity to explore the biology of adipose tissue, right down to the individual cell level, without any requirement for knowledge in bioinformatics. The study is published in the journal Cell Metabolism. Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:00:10 +0100 https://news.ki.se/small-structures-can-explain-severe-illness Professor Anna Wredenberg wants to understand in detail how the body works. That is why she delves into the unknown world of mitochondria. For patients with hereditary genetic diseases, this could mean a long-awaited diagnosis. Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:57:30 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-study-on-micrornas-could-lead-to-better-fertility-treatment Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have mapped how small RNA molecules, such as the recently Nobel Prize-awarded microRNAs, control cell development in the human embryo during the first days after fertilisation. The findings, published in Nature Communications, may eventually contribute to improved fertility treatment. Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:00:08 +0200 https://news.ki.se/the-nobel-prize-in-physiology-or-medicine-a-groundbreaking-discovery-that-has-finally-been-rewarded Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun share this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. They are being awarded for their discovery of microRNAs, which play a crucial role in the development of complex organisms. Research is underway at Karolinska Institutet on how these small molecules can be applied clinically. Tue, 08 Oct 2024 12:10:14 +0200 https://news.ki.se/the-nobel-prize-in-physiology-or-medicine-2024-to-victor-ambros-and-gary-ruvkun The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has decided to award the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:35:10 +0200 https://news.ki.se/researching-how-fat-cells-impact-disease-in-humans Our fat cells not only store energy, they are also involved in many physiological processes. Kirsty Spalding researches how dysfunctional fat cells impact health and disease in humans. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 3 October. Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:00:13 +0200 https://news.ki.se/seeking-a-better-understanding-of-mitochondrial-diseases Mitochondrial diseases are inherited and often affect children. With no effective treatment currently available, Anna Wredenberg hopes to discover more about mitochondrial function in order to improve both diagnosis and treatment. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 3 October. Thu, 05 Sep 2024 09:00:14 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-discoveries-reveal-that-trp14-txndc17-is-a-crucial-enzyme-for-cysteine-metabolism-and-disease-resistance New findings from an international collaborative project highlight the pivotal role of TRP14 in health and disease. Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:00:22 +0200 https://news.ki.se/rickard-sandberg-elected-to-the-royal-swedish-academy-of-sciences KI researcher Rickard Sandberg has been elected as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Academy of Sciences in the Medical Sciences category. In his research, he has developed new methods for studying genes in individual cells. Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:14:27 +0200 https://news.ki.se/scar-formation-after-spinal-cord-injury-is-more-complex-than-previously-thought New research reveals that scar formation after spinal cord injuries is more complex than previously thought. Scientists have identified two types of perivascular cells as key contributors to scar tissue, which hinders nerve regeneration and functional recovery. These findings, published in Natural Neuroscience, are also relevant for other brain and spinal cord injuries and could lead to targeted therapies for reducing scarring and improving outcomes. Fri, 07 Jun 2024 11:01:40 +0200 https://news.ki.se/advanced-cell-atlas-opens-new-doors-in-biomedical-research Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a web-based platform that provides a whole new insight into the human body at the cellular level. The aim is to create an invaluable resource for researchers worldwide to increase knowledge about human health and disease. The study is published in Genome Biology. Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:40:18 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-discovery-reveals-how-the-egg-controls-sperm-entry After the egg has been fertilized by a sperm, the surrounding egg coat tightens, mechanically preventing the entry of additional sperm and the ensuing death of the embryo. This is according to a new study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in the journal Cell. The work also explains how mutations in egg coat proteins can cause female infertility and may eventually lead to new contraceptive methods. Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:00:08 +0100 https://news.ki.se/fibroblasts-in-the-penis-are-more-important-for-erectile-function-than-previously-thought Regular erections could be important for maintaining erectile function, according to a new study on mice published in Science by researchers at Karolinska Institutet. “We discovered that an increased frequency of erections leads to more fibroblasts that enable erection and vice versa, that a decreased frequency results in fewer of these cells,” says principal investigator Christian Göritz. Fri, 09 Feb 2024 09:00:10 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-method-is-better-able-to-map-immune-response-and-paves-way-for-new-treatments A new method, developed at Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and SciLifeLab, can identify unique immune cell receptors and their location in tissue, a study published in the journal Science reports. The researchers predict that the method will improve the ability to identify which immune cells contribute to disease processes and open up opportunities to develop novel therapies for numerous diseases. Fri, 08 Dec 2023 08:14:19 +0100 https://news.ki.se/alexandra-argyriou-and-mireia-cruz-de-los-santos-receive-the-cilla-weigelt-scholarship-for-2022-and-2023 Alexandra Argyriou, doctoral student at the Department of Medicine, Solna and Mireia Cruz De los Santos, doctoral student at the Department of Oncology and Pathology, have been awarded the Cilla Weigelt Scholarship for outstanding research in molecular mechanisms related to rare and under-treated diseases. The scholarships, 50,000 SEK each, will be awarded on November 13. Mon, 13 Nov 2023 10:00:45 +0100 https://news.ki.se/researchers-present-novel-principle-for-nitric-oxide-mediated-signalling-in-blood-vessels Although a simple molecule, nitric oxide is an important signal substance that helps to reduce blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels. But how it goes about doing this has long been unclear. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now present an entirely novel principle that challenges the Nobel Prize-winning hypothesis that the substance signals in its gaseous form. Their findings are presented in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:00:07 +0200 https://news.ki.se/can-mrna-technology-disrupt-conventional-approaches-for-discovering-and-validating-in-vivo-new-therapeutic-targets Cardiogenic growth factors play important roles in heart development and in a new study published in the scientific paper Nature Communications from researchers at Karolinska Institutet shows how stem cell therapeutics and mRNA technology are beginning to converge offering major improvements in vascularization, survival, expansion, differentiation, and ultimately the function of human stem cell grafts. Fri, 08 Sep 2023 11:16:02 +0200 https://news.ki.se/how-being-in-space-impairs-astronauts-immune-system A new study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet has examined how T cells of the immune system are affected by weightlessness. The results, which are published in the journal Science Advances, could explain why astronauts’ T cells become less active and less effective at fighting infection. Fri, 25 Aug 2023 20:00:07 +0200 https://news.ki.se/chronic-stress-related-neurons-identified Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a group of nerve cells in the mouse brain that are involved in creating negative emotional states and chronic stress. The neurons, which have been mapped with a combination of advanced techniques, also have receptors for oestrogen, which could explain why women as a group are more sensitive to stress than men. The study is published in Nature Neuroscience. Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:00:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/rickard-sandberg-is-a-molecular-codebreaker Solving the logic of life. This may seem like an overwhelming task. But for Professor Rickard Sandberg, this is the objective. Fri, 09 Jun 2023 14:39:29 +0200 https://news.ki.se/memory-killer-cells-can-improve-survival-for-melanoma-patients Our skin contains specialised long-lived killer cells that protect against intruders. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the University of Copenhagen have now identified how these cells are formed, and shown that high levels of memory killer cells in cancer tissue correlate with a better survival rate in people with melanoma. The study is published in the journal Immunity. Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/progenitor-cells-offer-great-hope-for-heart-failure-patients The 5D Heart Patch Project, led by Prof Kenneth Chien, has identified human ventricular progenitor (HVP) cells that can create self-assembling heart grafts in vivo. The research has the potential to offer hope to millions of people suffering from heart failure. Fri, 21 Apr 2023 10:51:10 +0200 https://news.ki.se/nature-study-reveals-new-mechanism-for-dna-folding A hitherto unknown mechanism for DNA folding is described in a study in Nature published by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and the Max Planck Institute for Biophysics. Their findings provide new insights into chromosomal processes that are vital to both normal development and to prevent disease. Wed, 19 Apr 2023 17:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/review-article-focuses-on-the-development-of-the-next-generation-of-drugs In a recently published article published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, Professor Yihai Cao’s research group at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, charts the information about drug development for the treatment of a number of human diseases by targeting new blood vessel formation. Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:34:13 +0200 https://news.ki.se/three-ki-researchers-awarded-erc-advanced-grants Three professors at Karolinska Institutet – Gonçalo Castelo-Branco, Maria Eriksson and Björn Högberg – have been awarded ERC Advanced Grants, one of the most prestigious and competitive EU funding schemes. The funds, totaling more than 8 million euros, will support the use of innovative basic research methods to further our understanding of disease mechanisms and the tiniest building blocks of DNA. Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:11:40 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-technology-maps-where-and-how-cells-read-their-genome A new study published in Nature reports that a technology known as spatial omics can be used to map simultaneously how genes are switched on and off and how they are expressed in different areas of tissues and organs. This improved technology, developed by researchers at Yale University and Karolinska Institutet, could shed light on the development of tissues, as well as on certain diseases and how to treat them. Wed, 15 Mar 2023 17:00:04 +0100 https://news.ki.se/rickard-sandberg-awarded-the-torsten-soderberg-academy-professorship-in-medicine KI Professor Rickard Sandberg has been awarded the Torsten Söderberg Academy Professorship in Medicine by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, a donation of 10 million Swedish kronor for a five-year period. Rickard Sandberg has developed methods that make it possible to deeply penetrate the human genome by studying genes in individual cells. Tue, 07 Mar 2023 08:05:02 +0100 https://news.ki.se/two-ki-researchers-awarded-erc-consolidator-grants Two KI researchers – Simon Elsässer and Magda Bienko – have been awarded 2022 European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grants totaling four million euro (nearly 45 million Swedish kronor). The funds will support two ambitious basic research projects that aim to further our understanding of the complex nature of our cells. Tue, 31 Jan 2023 12:11:36 +0100 https://news.ki.se/cellular-messengers-improve-cancer-therapy Nano-sized membrane bubbles known as extracellular vesicles activate the immune system in mice and seem to render their tumours sensitive to a type of immunotherapy drug called a checkpoint inhibitor. This is according to a new study published in Cancer Immunology Research by researchers at Karolinska Institutet. Thu, 22 Dec 2022 15:00:06 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-findings-on-how-to-avert-excessive-weight-loss-from-covid-19 Losing too much weight when infected with COVID-19 has been linked to worse outcomes. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 infection fuels blood vessel formation in fat tissues, thus revving up the body’s thermogenic metabolism. Blocking this process by using an existing drug curbed weight loss in mice and hamsters that were infected with the virus, according to the study published in the journal Nature Metabolism. Thu, 08 Dec 2022 17:00:05 +0100 https://news.ki.se/gene-signature-points-to-prognosis-in-kidney-cancer Among patients with kidney cancer, the activity of four specific genes in the cancer cells seems to be able to predict the risk of the tumour spreading and the patient’s chances of survival. This is shown by researchers from Karolinska Institutet in a preclinical study published in Nature Communications. Mon, 17 Oct 2022 15:31:14 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-findings-on-potential-targets-for-treating-venous-ulcers Researchers at Karolinska Institutet present new insights into the role of small molecules, microRNAs, in skin wound healing. The study, published in the journal eLife, highlights possible future approaches for treating venous ulcers, a common type of chronic non-healing wounds. Wed, 10 Aug 2022 13:45:52 +0200 https://news.ki.se/a-molecule-from-ancient-bacteria-like-cells-may-shed-new-light-on-sexual-reproduction A study from Karolinska Institutet, among others, presents the theory that egg-sperm fusion, a crucial feature of sexual reproduction in plants and animals, may have originated from an ancient form of genetic exchange that involved the fusion of bacteria-like microorganisms called archaea. The results, published in Nature Communications, may open an entirely new perspective on the evolution of sex. Tue, 12 Jul 2022 17:43:10 +0200 https://news.ki.se/study-describes-new-way-of-generating-insulin-producing-cells Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden show how a molecule that they have identified stimulates the formation of new insulin-producing cells in zebrafish and mammalian tissue, through a newly described mechanism for regulating protein synthesis. The results are published in Nature Chemical Biology. Mon, 13 Jun 2022 17:00:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/unexpected-finding-on-the-3d-organization-of-chromosomes New findings reveal an advanced, unexpected two-way communication between the function and organization of chromosomes in the cell nucleus. Previous research shows that the organization of chromosomal DNA into loops regulates gene reading (transcription) and chromosome copying (replication). The new results show that, in turn, transcription and replication control chromosome looping, thus revealing a new interplay known to be important in avoiding diseases, such as cancer. Mon, 13 Jun 2022 10:33:28 +0200 https://news.ki.se/qa-metabolomics-the-stethoscope-for-the-twenty-first-century Measuring the full complement of small molecules (the metabolome) can provide important insight into the health status of an individual. The measurement of metabolites is also the main theme of the recently established KI core facility for small molecule mass spectrometry (KI-SMMS). We talk with Craig Wheelock, Head of the newly founded Unit of Integrative Metabolomics in the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), about the role of metabolomics in personalized health care. Mon, 13 Jun 2022 10:19:26 +0200 https://news.ki.se/unique-insight-into-the-inner-workings-of-our-cellular-powerplants Using advanced microscopy techniques, researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University have visualized in unprecedented detail the machinery that the cells’ powerhouses, the mitochondria, use to form their proteins. The results, which are published in Nature, raise hopes of more specific antibiotics and new cancer drugs in the future. Wed, 08 Jun 2022 17:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-cell-therapy-approach-to-regenerate-cardiac-tissue-following-a-heart-attack Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Germany’s Technical University of Munich (TUM) and AstraZeneca, among others, have identified a unique therapeutic approach with the potential to restore heart function following a heart attack. The new findings rely on so-called human ventricular progenitor (HVP) cells to promote novel heart tissue and reduce scarring after injury. This pre-clinical study is published in the journal Nature Cell Biology. Thu, 12 May 2022 17:01:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/two-new-docents-at-bionut Congratulations to Christine Delisle Nyström, who has been appointed Assistant Professor and docent in Nutrition, and to Rongrong Fan, who has been appointed docent in Cell- and Molecular Biology! Fri, 06 May 2022 11:42:18 +0200 https://news.ki.se/promising-drug-candidates-for-crimean-congo-haemorrhagic-fever-identified Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified key signalling pathways that when blocked by existing drug candidates limit reproduction of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus. The findings, published in the journal eLife, offer hope for patients affected by this potentially deadly disease. Tue, 19 Apr 2022 09:08:40 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-knowledge-on-lymphoid-cell-maturity-could-lead-to-more-effective-ibd-therapies A research group at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has analysed how certain immune cells known as innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) develop into mature cells that play a part in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The findings could pave the way for more effective treatments against IBD, a disease that causes considerable suffering and that is linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. The results are published today in the journal Science Immunology. Fri, 15 Apr 2022 20:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-strategy-to-preserve-insulin-producing-cells-in-diabetes High blood glucose is responsible for several complications in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a new antidiabetic substance that preserves the activity of insulin-producing beta cells and prevents high blood glucose in mice. The study is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Wed, 30 Mar 2022 20:00:11 +0200 https://news.ki.se/study-identifies-new-protection-mechanism-in-breast-cancer Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a protein that protects against breast tumour growth and that can be linked to a better prognosis in breast cancer patients. The results, which are published in the journal Nature Communications, may contribute to the development of new therapies for difficult-to-treat forms of breast cancer. Tue, 22 Mar 2022 11:01:08 +0100 https://news.ki.se/network-medicine-opens-new-ways-of-understanding-complex-diseases The causes of complex diseases can be identified by representing them in the form of mathematically produced networks. This method was used to find bacteria that drive atopic dermatitis, for example. Wed, 16 Mar 2022 14:41:59 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-tool-reveals-function-of-enigmatic-gene-sequences While the large proportion of our genome that does not instruct our cells to form proteins has been harder to study than protein-coding genes, it has been shown to have vital physiological functions. Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have now developed new high-precision tools able to identify what these noncoding sequences do. The study, which is published in the journal Nature Genetics, may eventually contribute to the development of new, targeted drugs. Thu, 03 Mar 2022 17:00:08 +0100 https://news.ki.se/rna-molecules-control-repair-of-human-dna-in-cancer-cells A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows how certain RNA molecules control the repair of damaged DNA in cancer cells, a discovery that could eventually give rise to better cancer treatments. The study is published today in the journal Nature Communications. Wed, 23 Feb 2022 11:00:06 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-technique-allows-mapping-of-mechanisms-of-tissue-development In a new study published in Science, researchers at Yale University, in collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet, have developed a technique that gives very precise information about the location of activated and inactivated genes in a specific tissue. This can provide important knowledge about how different tissues develop and how epigenetic regulation contributes to the development of disease. Thu, 10 Feb 2022 20:00:06 +0100 https://news.ki.se/they-are-awarded-erc-proof-of-concept-grants Three research group leaders at Karolinska Institutet receive European Research Council Proof of Concept (ERC PoC) 2022 grants, which are awarded to researchers who already have funding from the ERC and now wish to develop the innovative potential of their discoveries. Projects funded at KI include working towards commercialisation of a new sequencing method and scaling up production of artificial spider-silk textiles. Mon, 07 Feb 2022 12:57:02 +0100 https://news.ki.se/cervical-samples-could-reveal-risk-of-breast-and-ovarian-cancer An international team of scientists, including from Karolinska Institutet, has discovered a means of identifying the risk of breast and ovarian cancer by analysing cell samples from the cervix. By measuring epigenetic changes in cervical samples from over a thousand women, the researchers have found two unique signatures for breast and ovarian cancer. The results are presented in two papers in the journal Nature Communications. Fri, 04 Feb 2022 08:50:40 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-genetic-clues-on-multiple-sclerosis-risk An international team of researchers led by Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have discovered that a cell type in the central nervous system known as oligodendrocytes might have a different role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) than previously thought. The findings, published in the journal Neuron, could open for new therapeutical approaches to MS. Fri, 28 Jan 2022 17:00:09 +0100 https://news.ki.se/protective-gene-variant-against-covid-19-identified An international metastudy led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet has identified a specific gene variant that protects against severe COVID-19 infection. The researchers managed to pinpoint the variant by studying people of different ancestries, a feat they say highlights the importance of conducting clinical trials that include people of diverse descents. The results are published in the journal Nature Genetics. Thu, 13 Jan 2022 17:00:06 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-study-reveals-how-the-lungs-immune-cells-develop-after-birth From our first breath, our lungs are exposed to microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. Thanks to immune cells in the lungs, so-called macrophages, we are protected from most infections at an early age. In a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, researchers from Karolinska Institutet show how lung macrophages develop; new findings that can help to reduce organ damage and that are significant for the continued development of important lung disease treatments. Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:00:07 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-findings-may-contribute-to-better-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-liver-cancer In a new study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified the presence of a specific connection between a protein and an lncRNA molecule in liver cancer. By increasing the presence of the lncRNA molecule, the fat depots of the tumor cell decrease, which causes the division of tumor cells to cease, and they eventually die. The study, published in the journal Gut, contributes to increased knowledge that can add to a better diagnosis and future cancer treatments. Wed, 12 Jan 2022 11:00:06 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-findings-on-the-link-between-crispr-gene-editing-and-mutated-cancer-cells A protein that protects cells from DNA damage, p53, is activated during gene editing using the CRISPR technique. Consequently, cells with mutated p53 have a survival advantage, which can cause cancer. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found new links between CRISPR, p53 and other cancer genes that could prevent the accumulation of mutated cells without compromising the gene scissors’ effectiveness. The study, published in Cancer Research, can contribute to tomorrow’s precision medicine. Thu, 18 Nov 2021 10:00:06 +0100 https://news.ki.se/mitochondria-of-diabetic-patients-cant-keep-track-of-time Muscle cells in patients with type 2 diabetes have a disrupted biological clock discover researchers at the University of Copenhagen and Karolinska Institutet. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, suggest that treatments for type 2 diabetes may be more or less effective depending on the time of day they are given. Wed, 20 Oct 2021 20:53:38 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-biomarker-for-severe-covid-19 During the pandemic, it has become evident that people with cardiovascular disease and obesity are at much higher risk of developing very severe, even fatal COVID-19 disease. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified some metabolic processes that SARS-CoV-2 uses to attack lung tissue. The results, which are published in Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, could one day be used to treat COVID-19, and potentially for other viruses like the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and HIV-1. Fri, 08 Oct 2021 08:34:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/detailed-analysis-of-the-brain-region-that-controls-our-movements Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have participated in a large international research project that has identified all cell types in the motor cortex, the part of the brain that controls movement. The research has resulted in a detailed cell atlas presented in a large special package of scientific articles in Nature today. The long-term goal of the collaboration is to create a cell atlas of the whole brain in order to increase knowledge of brain diseases and contribute to better treatments. Wed, 06 Oct 2021 17:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-insight-on-the-link-between-obesity-and-type-2-diabetes It is well known that obesity affects the body's insulin production and over time risks leading to type 2 diabetes and several other metabolic diseases. Now researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have found further explanation for why fat cells cause metabolic morbidity. The study, published in Nature Medicine, may have an impact on the treatment of comorbidity in obesity with already available drugs. Mon, 04 Oct 2021 17:00:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-findings-on-b-cells-may-improve-vaccine-design Our bodies can fine-tune the immune response to an infection and make it proportional to the threat at hand. New research from Karolinska Institutet describes how B lymphocytes, the immune cells that make antibodies, choose between different cell fates to balance the magnitude of the acute immune response and the memory response that protects against future threats. The study, published in Immunity, may contribute to the optimisation of vaccines to fight viruses or other pathogens. Tue, 14 Sep 2021 17:00:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/only-one-human-fat-cell-subtype-responds-to-insulin-stimulation It is well known that fat cells can influence our sensitivity to insulin. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have discovered that there are three different subtypes of mature fat cells in white adipose tissue and that it is only one of these, called AdipoPLIN, that responds to insulin. The findings may be relevant for future treatments of metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. Tue, 10 Aug 2021 17:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/fetal-development-of-the-brain-identified-down-to-the-smallest-detail Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a detailed molecular atlas of the fetal development of the brain. The study published in the top journal Nature is based on so-called single-cell technology and has been done on mice. In this way, researchers have identified almost 800 different cells that are active during fetal development – many times more than previously known. Wed, 28 Jul 2021 17:22:43 +0200 https://news.ki.se/study-shows-how-meningitis-causing-bacteria-may-sense-fever-to-avoid-immune-killing Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a mechanism through which meningitis-causing bacteria can evade our immune system. In laboratory tests, they found that Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae respond to increasing temperatures by producing safeguards that keep them from getting killed. This may prime their defenses against our immune system and increase their chances of survival, the researchers say. The findings are published in PLoS Pathogens. Thu, 29 Apr 2021 20:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/technique-allows-mapping-of-epigenetic-information-in-single-cells-at-scale Histones are tiny proteins that bind to DNA and hold information that can help turn on or off individual genes. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a technique that makes it possible to examine how different versions of histones bind to the genome in tens of thousands of individual cells simultanously. The technique was applied to the mouse brain and can be used to study epigenetics at a single-cell level in other complex tissues. The study is published in Nature Biotechnology. Mon, 12 Apr 2021 17:00:04 +0200 https://news.ki.se/ki-researchers-awarded-the-goran-gustafsson-prize-in-medicine-and-molecular-biology-2021 Igor Adameyko and Gonçalo Castelo-Branco have been awarded the Göran Gustafsson Prize 2021. The prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and consists of a research grant of SEK 5.1 million each, spread over three years, with a personal prize of SEK 250,000. Wed, 10 Mar 2021 14:27:38 +0100 https://news.ki.se/advances-in-research-on-the-most-general-type-of-stem-cells Stem cell research is the prerequisite for regenerative medicine, which with the help of the body's cells recreates and heals important organs. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet, SickKids in Canada and KU Leuven in Belgium have found a method for defining the most general type of stem cells, that can develop into all cell types in the body. The study of totipotent stem cells in mice has been published in Nature Cell Biology. Fri, 08 Jan 2021 17:00:04 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-research-highlights-the-importance-of-the-thymus-in-successful-pregnancies How the immune system adapts to pregnancies has puzzled scientists for decades. Now, findings from an international group of researchers, led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, reveal important changes that occur in the thymus to prevent miscarriages and gestational diabetes. The results are published in the journal Nature. Wed, 23 Dec 2020 17:00:04 +0100 https://news.ki.se/novel-principle-for-cancer-treatment-shows-promising-effect Researchers at Karolinska Institutet report in the journal Nature that they have developed novel first-in-class inhibitors that compromise mitochondrial function in cancer cells. Treatment with the inhibitors stopped cancer cells from proliferating and reduced tumour growth in mice, without significantly affecting healthy cells. Wed, 16 Dec 2020 17:00:03 +0100 https://news.ki.se/study-shows-why-some-people-may-become-seriously-ill-from-meningococcal-bacteria Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have come one step closer toward understanding why some people become seriously ill or die from a common bacterium that leaves most people unharmed. In a study published in The Lancet Microbe, the researchers linked RNA mutations within the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis to invasive meningococcal disease, marking the first time a non-coding RNA in a bacterium has been linked to disease progression. Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:30:02 +0100 https://news.ki.se/findings-about-hair-like-structures-on-cells-inside-vessels-may-be-relevant-for-diabetes-treatment A new study from Karolinska Institutet and the Helmholtz Diabetes Research Center shows that primary cilia, hair-like protrusions on endothelial cells inside vessels, play an important role in the blood supply and delivery of glucose to the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets. The findings are published in eLife and may be relevant for transplantation therapies in diabetes, as formation of functional blood vessels is important for the treatment to be successful. Fri, 04 Dec 2020 10:23:12 +0100 https://news.ki.se/they-are-on-the-2020-highly-cited-list Thirteen researchers connected to Karolinska Institutet are on the 2020 list of highly cited researchers presented by Clarivate, the company behind Web of Science. Wed, 18 Nov 2020 12:01:42 +0100 https://news.ki.se/14-million-sek-in-grants-from-the-swedish-research-council-awarded-to-bionut-researchers We wish to congratulate Luca Jovine, Juha Kere, Janne Johansson and Eckardt Treuter at the Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, who have been awarded grants from the Swedish Research Council within the area of Medicine and Health as well as the area of Natural and Engineering Sciences for the years 2020-2024. Thu, 05 Nov 2020 16:14:51 +0100 https://news.ki.se/synthetic-antibody-can-block-sars-cov-2-infection By screening hundreds of synthetic antibodies, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and EMBL Hamburg in Germany have identified an antibody that may prevent the new coronavirus from infecting human cells. The study, which is published in the journal Nature Communications, also shows how antibodies can be quickly produced in the event of future pandemics. Wed, 04 Nov 2020 11:00:04 +0100 https://news.ki.se/study-explains-the-process-that-exacerbates-ms People with multiple sclerosis (MS) gradually develop increasing functional impairment. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now found a possible explanation for the progressive course of the disease in mice and how it can be reversed. The study, which is published in Science Immunology, can prove valuable to future treatments. Fri, 16 Oct 2020 20:00:04 +0200 https://news.ki.se/ki-researchers-comment-on-the-2020-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-fantastic-at-last The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences have decided to award the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna for the development of a method for genome editing. Here, KI researchers who uses the method in their own research comment on this year’s prize. “It’s what we’ve been waiting for,” says Fredrik Lanner. Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:28:44 +0200 https://news.ki.se/neandertal-gene-variant-increases-risk-of-severe-covid-19 A study published in Nature shows that a segment of DNA that causes their carriers to have an up to three times higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 is inherited from Neandertals. The study was conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Wed, 30 Sep 2020 11:00:04 +0200 https://news.ki.se/strong-activation-of-anti-bacterial-t-cells-linked-to-severe-covid-19 A type of anti-bacterial T cells, so-called MAIT cells, are strongly activated in people with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease, according to a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden that is published in the journal Science Immunology. The findings contribute to increased understanding about how our immune system responds against COVID-19 infection. Mon, 28 Sep 2020 16:00:04 +0200 https://news.ki.se/early-nk-cell-mediated-immune-response-may-contribute-to-severe-covid-19 Researchers may have come one step closer toward understanding how the immune system contributes to severe COVID-19. In a study published in Science Immunology, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden show that so-called natural killer (NK) cells were strongly activated early after SARS-CoV-2 infection but that the type of activation differed in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. The discovery contributes to our understanding of development of hyperinflammation in some patients. Fri, 21 Aug 2020 20:00:03 +0200 https://news.ki.se/key-gene-identified-for-improving-ms-treatment The disease multiple sclerosis (MS) attacks the central nervous system and, with time, can give rise to muscle tremors and loss of balance. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now identified a gene, Gsta4, that protects a certain kind of cell in the brain from being destroyed. It is hoped that the results of the study, which is published in Nature Communications, can help to improve the treatment of this serious disease. Fri, 14 Aug 2020 10:40:09 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-method-for-mapping-brain-areas In a new study researchers at Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology have developed a new kind of brain atlas based on an innovative method of mapping brain tissue into areas according to their molecular profile. The study is published in Science Advances. Mon, 29 Jun 2020 08:00:03 +0200 https://news.ki.se/study-gives-insights-into-how-human-fat-cells-are-affected-by-age Knowledge of how human fat tissue is affected by age has long been defined by numerous mouse-based studies. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have now, for the first time, been able to conduct a prospective study on humans that provides novel insights into how our fat cells reduce lipid metabolism with age. The study is published in the journal Cell Metabolism. Thu, 25 Jun 2020 17:02:10 +0200 https://news.ki.se/lack-of-mitochondria-causes-severe-disease-in-children Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that excessive degradation of the power plants of our cells plays an important role in the onset of mitochondrial disease in children. These inherited metabolic disorders can have severe consequences such as brain dysfunction and neurological impairment. The study is published in EMBO Molecular Medicine. Thu, 11 Jun 2020 12:00:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-understanding-of-rna-movements-can-be-used-to-treat-cancer Research from Karolinska Institutet published today in Nature shows that an RNA molecule involved in preventing tumour formation can change its structure and thereby control protein production in the cell. The finding can have important clinical implications as it opens for new strategies to treat different types of cancer. Wed, 27 May 2020 17:00:08 +0200 https://news.ki.se/women-with-neandertal-gene-give-birth-to-more-children One in three women in Europe inherited the receptor for progesterone from Neandertals – a gene variant associated with increased fertility, fewer bleedings during early pregnancy and fewer miscarriages. This is according to a study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Tue, 26 May 2020 16:02:59 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-method-reveals-where-dna-is-at-risk-in-the-cell Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a new sequencing method that makes it possible to map how DNA is spatially organised in the cell nucleus – revealing which genomic regions are at higher risk of mutation and DNA damage. The technique is described in an article published in the scientific journal Nature Biotechnology. Mon, 25 May 2020 17:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/finding-the-needle-in-the-haystack In a study recently published in Nature Methods, researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Oxford University have developed a method to identify molecules that are attached to proteins in the membrane. Wed, 13 May 2020 10:17:24 +0200 https://news.ki.se/advances-in-production-of-retinal-cells-for-treating-blindness Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and St Erik Eye Hospital in Sweden have discovered a way to refine the production of retinal cells from embryonic stem cells for treating blindness in the elderly. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, they have also managed to modify the cells so that they can hide from the immune system to prevent rejection. The studies are published in the scientific journals Nature Communications and Stem Cell Reports. Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:00:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/egg-stem-cells-do-not-exist-new-study-shows Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have analysed all cell types in the human ovary and found that the hotly debated so-called egg stem cells do not exist. The results, published in Nature Communications, open the way for research on improved methods of treating involuntary childlessness. Mon, 02 Mar 2020 11:25:19 +0100 https://news.ki.se/a-molecular-atlas-of-skin-cells Our skin protects us from physical injury, radiation and microbes, and at the same time produces hair and facilitates perspiration. Details of how skin cells manage such disparate tasks have so far remained elusive. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have systematically mapped skin cells and their genetic programs, creating a detailed molecular atlas of the skin in its complexity. The study is published today in the scientific journal Cell Stem Cell. Thu, 27 Feb 2020 17:00:06 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-possible-treatment-strategy-against-fatty-liver-disease Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have identified a molecular pathway that when silenced could restore the normal function of immune cells in people with fatty liver disease. The findings could lead to new strategies for treating the condition, which is a major health risk for people with obesity. The study is published in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine. Wed, 26 Feb 2020 20:00:05 +0100 https://news.ki.se/hiv-1-mimics-an-enhancer-to-maintain-activation-potential-but-avoid-detection When Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) infects a cell, the virus often becomes invisible to both the immune system and drugs. Now research from Karolinska Institutet shows that the integrated virus mimics a specific chromatin structure that lets the virus sequence remain accessible while preventing production of new viruses. Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:01:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-discovery-on-the-activity-and-function-of-mait-cells-during-acute-hiv-infection In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers at Karolinska Institutet show that MAIT cells (mucosa-associated invariant T cells), part of the human immune system, respond with dynamic activity and reprogramming of gene expression during the initial phase of HIV infection. The study fills a knowledge gap, as previously there has been a lack of awareness of the function of MAIT cells during this particular phase. Tue, 14 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/washing-proteins-with-soap-reveals-new-clues-for-drug-development Using a trick involving detergent and mass spectrometry, a research group has been able to wash and weigh protein molecules to determine which lipids make the protein work. The findings may help design molecules that stick to individual membrane proteins and pave the way for the development of new drugs including antibiotics and cancer therapies. The study is published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition. Tue, 07 Jan 2020 13:53:35 +0100 https://news.ki.se/a-molecular-map-of-the-brains-decision-making-area Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have come one step closer toward understanding how the part of our brain that is central for decision-making and the development of addiction is organized on a molecular level. In mouse models and with methods used for mapping cell types and brain tissue, the researchers were able to visualize the organization of different opioid-islands in striatum. Their spatiomolecular map, now in Cell Reports, may further our understanding of the brain’s reward-system. Tue, 24 Dec 2019 17:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/researchers-support-new-strategies-for-hiv-control The search for a cure to AIDS has partly focused on ways to eradicate infected cells. Now, new research from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. shows that this approach may not be necessary for a functional cure. In a study focusing on a subset of HIV-positive individuals who can live with the virus without needing treatment, the researchers found that these people’s lymphocytes suppress the virus but do not kill off infected cells. Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/free-tool-simplifies-cancer-research Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a new method for identifying which proteins are affected by specific drugs. The tool and the results it has already generated have been made freely available online. The method is described in the scientific journal Nature Communications. Mon, 16 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/they-are-this-years-wallenberg-academy-fellows-at-ki Six of the 29 new Wallenberg Academy Fellows appointed in 2019 will conduct their groundbreaking research at Karolinska Institutet. The five-year grant is financed by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation to provide the young and talented researcher leaders with long-term research funding in Sweden. Mon, 02 Dec 2019 16:16:17 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-principle-for-activation-of-cancer-genes-discovered Researchers have long known that some genes can cause cancer when overactive, but exactly what happens inside the cell nucleus when the cancer grows has so far remained enigmatic. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have found a new mechanism that renders one canonical driver of cancer overactive. The findings, published in Nature Genetics, create conditions for brand new strategies to fight cancer. Fri, 29 Nov 2019 09:57:04 +0100 https://news.ki.se/ki-researchers-in-the-2019-highly-cited-list Twelve researchers at Karolinska Institutet qualify for the annual list of highly cited researchers compiled by Web of Science. Tue, 19 Nov 2019 12:44:45 +0100 https://news.ki.se/possible-new-treatment-strategy-against-progeria Progeria is a very rare disease that affects about one in 18 million children and results in premature aging and death in adolescence from complications of cardiovascular disease. In a study on mice and human cells, researchers at Karolinska Institutet and IFOM, the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology in Italy, have identified how antisense oligonucleotide therapies could be used as a new possible treatment option for the disease. The results are published in Nature Communications. Mon, 18 Nov 2019 11:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-research-tool-for-studying-mitochondrial-disorders-and-ageing Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a new research tool for studying how mitochondrial protein synthesis is affected by disease, pharmaceuticals, ageing and different physiological situations such as exercise and diet. The study is presented in the scientific journal Cell Reports. Tue, 05 Nov 2019 16:46:10 +0100 https://news.ki.se/people-with-atopic-eczema-have-more-s-aureus-bacteria-in-their-skin People with atopic eczema have many more Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in their skin than those with healthy skin or psoriasis, according to a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Helsinki in Finland. The study, published in the Nature Communications, shows how the S. aureus bacteria displaced other potentially health-promoting bacteria. The discovery may be important for future treatments of the skin disease. Fri, 18 Oct 2019 09:52:31 +0200 https://news.ki.se/ki-collaboration-projects-awarded-eur-19-million-in-erc-synergy-grants Two research projects at Karolinska Institutet have been awarded synergy grants from the European Research Council (ERC). In total, the researchers and their international partners were awarded about EUR 19 million (SEK 209 million) over a six-year period for studies that aim to widen our understanding of disease-causing fat cells and unlock new cancer treatments. Fri, 11 Oct 2019 12:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/generous-harvest-of-eu-funding-for-ki Altogether SEK 170 million. This is this year's allocation from the European Commission under the funding programme for health in Horizon2020. A total of 20 research projects at Karolinska Institutet are being supported, three of them also coordinated from here: a survey of what we are exposed to in the environment; mapping of the brain's different nerve cells; and a project to bring down the mortality rate in childbirth in four African countries. Thu, 10 Oct 2019 10:27:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/breakthrough-in-sex-chromosome-regulation Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have uncovered a chromosome-wide mechanism that keeps the gene expression of sex chromosomes in balance in our cells. The findings shed light on molecular reasons for early miscarriage and could be important for the emerging field of regenerative medicine. The study is published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. Thu, 03 Oct 2019 17:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/close-to-135-million-in-kaw-project-funding Four research projects at Karolinska Institutet receive funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW) in the project call of 2019. In all, researchers at KI are awarded close to SEK 135 million over a five-year period for studies into MS, mitochondrial disease, and vaccine against rheumatism. Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:40:02 +0200 https://news.ki.se/improved-mapping-of-swedish-genes People – or more specifically just Swedes – are more like chimpanzees than previously known. This is indicated in a genetic mapping of one thousand Swedish individuals, where new DNA sequences that should be included in the reference genome have been identified. The study is published in the scientific journal Molecular Biology and Evolution. Wed, 25 Sep 2019 06:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-method-for-imaging-biological-molecules Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have, together with colleagues from Aalto University in Finland, developed a new method for creating images of molecules in cells or tissue samples. The method is based on the use of DNA snippets and is called DNA microscopy. The approach is currently described in the scientific journal PNAS. Thu, 05 Sep 2019 09:58:43 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-pain-organ-discovered-in-the-skin Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new sensory receptor organ that is able to detect painful mechanical damage, such as pricks and impacts. The discovery is being published in the scientific journal Science. Fri, 16 Aug 2019 08:50:57 +0200 https://news.ki.se/sek-ten-million-for-research-on-brain-development Sten Linnarsson, professor of molecular systems biology at Karolinska Institutet, is trying to understand the development of the human brain. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is now giving him this year’s Torsten Söderberg Academy Professorial Chair in Medicine for his work in achieving a detailed map of the human brain. The grant consists of SEK ten million over a five-year period. Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:42:14 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-signaling-pathway-controlling-breast-cancer Cells exposed to cancer-driving mutations respond by triggering a stress reaction called cellular senescence, which halts cell proliferation and thereby constitutes the major protective barrier to cancer. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now discovered a previously unknown signaling pathway that controls cellular senescence in breast cancer. Fri, 09 Aug 2019 11:41:10 +0200 https://news.ki.se/protein-composition-changes-stimulate-brain-development-and-neuronal-communication Subtle changes in protein composition by a process called ‘citrullination’ are thought to be involved in causing several diseases, including multiple sclerosis. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet now show in the journal Cell Reports that the enzyme PAD2, the main protein responsible for this process in the brain, also plays an important role in the normal development of a subset of brain cells, known as oligodendrocytes, and in their function in stimulating neuronal communication. Tue, 23 Apr 2019 13:32:18 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-resource-expands-use-of-lab-technique-to-visualise-dna-in-cells Researchers at Karolinska Institutet present a publicly available resource that can accelerate the use of so-called FISH techniques for studying how the genome is spatially organised in the cell nucleus. The new platform, which enables more cost-effective analyses for both research and diagnostic labs, is described in the scientific journal Nature Communications. Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:00:01 +0200 https://news.ki.se/they-are-the-2019-wallenberg-scholars Three researchers at Karolinska Institutet have been appointed Wallenberg Scholar in 2019: Ernest Arenas, Sten Linnarsson, and Randal S. Johnson. The researchers – among the foremost in their field in Sweden – receive SEK 18 million each from the Wallenberg Foundations in the form of a five-year grant for free research. Mon, 25 Mar 2019 09:10:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/newly-discovered-disease-opens-for-future-diabetes-treatment Knowledge of a newly discovered genetic disorder, which means that a person cannot produce the protein TXNIP (thioredoxin interacting protein) in their cells, can open for the development of new diabetes drugs. This is shown in a study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Diabetes. Tue, 12 Feb 2019 11:01:30 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-insight-into-cell-receptors-opens-the-way-for-tailored-cancer-drugs New research on how cancer mutations influence a certain type of receptor on the cell membrane opens the way for the development of tailored drugs for certain cancers, such as rectal cancer and lung cancer. Fri, 08 Feb 2019 14:37:43 +0100 https://news.ki.se/promising-results-for-new-acute-porphyria-treatment Acute porphyria is a group of uncommon diseases that can cause severe, potentially life-threatening attacks of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and paralysis. Liver transplantation is currently the only effective treatment available for the most seriously afflicted patients. A clinical trial conducted in collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now shows that a new drug candidate can prevent attacks in these patients. The study is published in The New England Journal of Wed, 06 Feb 2019 23:05:05 +0100 https://news.ki.se/treatable-mechanism-identified-in-patients-with-schizophrenia For reasons that are unclear, schizophrenia patients have fewer connections between the neurons in the brain. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and Massachusetts General Hospital, USA, have now succeeded in creating human cell models that show that there is an excessive degradation of connections in the brain of these patients, and they have been able to link this to a genetic risk variant for the disease. Mon, 04 Feb 2019 17:00:43 +0100 https://news.ki.se/old-cells-repair-damage-in-the-brains-of-ms-patients A new study shows that there is a very limited regeneration of cells in the brain of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). These findings underline the importance of treating MS at an early stage of the disease progression, when the affected cells can repair the damage as they are not replaced by new ones. The results are published in the journal Nature by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University. Wed, 23 Jan 2019 19:00:19 +0100 https://news.ki.se/protein-map-using-new-method-of-analysis-shared-in-open-database Thu, 03 Jan 2019 17:01:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-possible-target-for-treating-major-common-diseases There is a large, untapped potential for developing drugs against cancer, fibrosis and cardiovascular diseases by targeting a family of receptors known as Frizzleds, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden believe. In a new study published in Science Signaling, they identify how these receptors are activated in the cell membrane and the processes that are then triggered within the cell. Tue, 04 Dec 2018 20:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/detailed-atlas-of-the-nervous-system Thu, 09 Aug 2018 11:30:39 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-method-reveals-cell-development Wed, 08 Aug 2018 19:05:39 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-potential-target-for-treatment-of-diabetes Tue, 24 Jul 2018 17:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/molecular-brake-on-human-cell-division-prevents-cancer Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the University of Sussex have discovered that the process of copying DNA generates a brake signal that stalls cell division. This molecular brake ensures that the cell has two complete copies of DNA before it divides and thus prevents DNA damage and cancer development. The study is published in the scientific journal Molecular Cell. Thu, 28 Jun 2018 17:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/250000-developmental-cells-sequenced Researchers from the global Human Cell Atlas Consortium report that they have sequenced a quarter of a million separate cells that are of importance for early development of organs such as the liver, skin and kidneys. Sten Linnarsson at Karolinska Institutet is participating in the project. Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:59:06 +0100 https://news.ki.se/atlas-of-brain-blood-vessels-provides-fresh-clues-to-brain-diseases Wed, 14 Feb 2018 19:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/graphene-oxide-is-sensed-by-specialised-immune-cells Fri, 26 Jan 2018 09:04:16 +0100 https://news.ki.se/flying-membrane-protein-aids-cancer-drug-design Thu, 18 Jan 2018 18:00:44 +0100 https://news.ki.se/children-with-alagille-syndrome-have-malformed-bile-ducts Tue, 21 Nov 2017 12:54:49 +0100 https://news.ki.se/harder-for-t-cells-to-fight-cancer-in-absence-of-vegf-a Tue, 14 Nov 2017 08:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/unexpected-finding-in-the-cells-power-plant Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/ki-researcher-circadian-rhythm-affects-almost-all-functions-of-the-cell This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded for work dedicated to the connection between celestial body movements and molecular fluctuations in our cells. Or, in simpler terms, to our internal biological clocks, also known as our circadian rhythm. Tue, 03 Oct 2017 17:11:01 +0200 https://news.ki.se/the-nobel-prize-in-physiology-or-medicine-2017-to-jeffrey-c-hall-michael-rosbash-and-michael-w-young Mon, 02 Oct 2017 11:36:11 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-potential-treatment-for-aggressive-types-of-childhood-cancer Tue, 11 Jul 2017 08:01:11 +0200 https://news.ki.se/hope-for-new-treatment-for-huntingtons-disease Mon, 20 Feb 2017 08:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/chemical-switch-may-help-decrease-crucial-symptoms-of-schizophrenia A new study, in which researchers at Karolinska Institutet participated, has found that in mice adjusting levels of a compound called kynurenic acid can have significant effects on schizophrenia-like behavior. The study is published in the journal Biological Psychiatry. Tue, 07 Feb 2017 12:01:58 +0100 https://news.ki.se/short-rna-molecules-mapped-in-single-cell Mon, 31 Oct 2016 14:17:32 +0100 https://news.ki.se/self-renewable-killer-cells-could-be-key-to-making-cancer-immunotherapy-work Fri, 28 Oct 2016 09:50:22 +0200 https://news.ki.se/nerve-insulating-cells-more-diverse-than-previously-thought Thu, 09 Jun 2016 20:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-nanoparticle-technology-to-decipher-structure-and-function-of-membrane-proteins Tue, 08 Mar 2016 13:29:53 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-subgroups-of-ilc-immune-cells-discovered-through-single-cell-rna-sequencing Mon, 15 Feb 2016 17:10:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/potent-combination-of-two-methods-reveals-neuronal-identity Mon, 21 Dec 2015 17:10:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/high-intensity-exercise-changes-how-muscle-cells-manage-calcium Tue, 03 Nov 2015 08:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/recycling-histones-through-transcription Thu, 26 Mar 2015 09:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/a-boost-for-cellular-profiling Mon, 23 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-method-enables-smarter-analysis-of-individual-cells Only by viewing a Georges Seurat painting at close range can you appreciate the hidden complexities of pointillism – small, distinct dots of color applied to form an image from a distance. Similarly, biologists and geneticists have long sought to analyze profiles of genes at the single cell level but technology limitations have only allowed a view from afar. Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/solved-at-last-why-spinach-makes-us-strong Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/unique-screening-method-simplifies-identification-of-novel-drugs Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/mapping-of-protein-inhibitors-facilitates-development-of-tailor-made-anticancer-agents Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/free-radicals-maybe-good-for-you Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100