SEK 60 million for a new national graduate school for biomedical laboratory scientists
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.
Over the next five years, the national graduate school Biomedical Laboratory Scientists for eXcellence (BioLabX) will receive SEK 60 million in funding from the Swedish Research Council. Uppsala University is the main applicant, while Karolinska Institutet (KI) and five other universities – Umeå, Malmö, Örebro, Gothenburg, and Linköping – are co-applicants.
Karolinska Institutet will have a key role in the initiative by hosting doctoral students, developing a new doctoral course, and participating in the graduate school’s steering group.
“A key issue for the profession is that biomedical laboratory scientists are recognized as essential expertise in both clinical practice and research. However, today’s lack of development and career opportunities leads to a loss of competence. BioLabX is a crucial step toward building structures that enable long-term professional development in both environments,” says Pernilla Lång, programme director for the Study Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Science and Master's Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Science at the Department of Laboratory Medicine.
The graduate school will have a strong position in Europe and aims to educate the next generation of researchers and teachers in biomedical laboratory science. The vision is that some doctoral students will combine research training with clinical work, strengthening the link between research, education, and healthcare needs.
Lars Frelin, departmental director of education at the Department of Laboratory Medicine sees the initiative as a decisive step for the future.
“This is an important step for the profession. The need for more research-trained biomedical laboratory scientists has long been clear to ensure the supply of expertise and meet future demands in diagnostics and treatment. BioLabX gives us a unique opportunity to build a sustainable academic structure where research and clinical practice are integrated,” says Lars Frelin.
The graduate school includes specially designed courses in pedagogy, project management, and supervision, as well as regular seminars that promote collaboration between healthcare and academia. The goal is to strengthen teaching competence, improve educational methodology, and contribute to better diagnostics, treatment, and patient safety nationwide.