KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET A medical university
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 1 The Biomedicum research block at Campus Solna, Karolinska Institutet. Photo: Erik Flyg. Cover photo: Students in front of Aula Medica, Campus Solna. Photo: Ulrich Schulte.
2 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university OUR VISION We are advancing knowledge about life and strive towards better health for all.
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 3 A word from the President
Welcome to Karolinska Institutet
The global pandemic has profoundly During normal times, being a student changed our world. For Karolinska or researcher at KI is challenging, Institutet and society as a whole, it enriching, and fun. With our shared has been a transformative time that experience from this global pande- has provided us with unique insights mic, we have also seen how student into what a medical university can and research life can dramatically truly achieve. Throughout the pan- change. Now we must look forward. demic, our students, faculty, and staff I am convinced that with under- have shown what makes Karolinska graduate and postgraduate education, Institutet one of the world’s leading and world-class research, we will medical universities. We have been contribute to better and more equi- challenged to continuously assess table health regionally, nationally, and adapt to evolving circumstances and globally. Together we will face while ensuring the continuation of the future – we invite you to join us. our core activities and developing in new and unexpected ways. As president, I am both humbled and deeply impressed by how our engaged students, dedicated teach- ers, and eminent researchers have Ole Petter Ottersen exemplified our university’s national President, Karolinska Institutet and international impact – and our contributions to advancing knowled- ge about life and better health for all. Our core activities, medical education and research, are in greater demand than ever, and the importance of our close collaboration with society continues to grow.
4 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university Medical education and research are in greater demand than ever, and the importance of our close collaboration with society continues to grow.
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 5 Education at bachelor’s and master’s level
MASTER’S STUDIES FROM TRUE MASTERS
Karolinska Institutet is a one-faculty university dedicated solely to the medical and health sciences and is consistently ranked in the top 50 universities globally and the top 10 medical universities in Europe.
SHORT FACTS Global Bachelor’s Programme Biomedicine Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project Global Master’s Programmes Bioentrepreneurship Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project Biomedicine Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project Global Health Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project Health Economics, Policy Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project and Management Health Informatics Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project Molecular Techniques in Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project Life Science
Created by Joana Pereira Nutrition Science from the Noun Project
Created by Joana Pereira Public Health Sciences from the Noun Project
Created by Joana Pereira Toxicology from the Noun Project
Created by Joana Pereira Translational Physiology from the Noun Project and Pharmacology
6 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university Karolinska Institutet (KI) offers the lish with an international focus. The widest range of medical education programmes proactively incorporate under one roof in Sweden. Most of the an interactive teaching model empha- study programmes lead to professional sising informal and close contact degrees and are taught in Swedish but between students and teachers. A have extensive exchange collabora- master’s degree from KI gives you a tions and offer study options in Eng- competitive advantage on the global lish for exchange students. labour market and prepares you for Helen Nguyen KI offers one bachelor’s programme doctoral studies if you wish to pursue Student in the Joint Master’s and ten master’s programmes in Eng- an academic career. Programme in Health Informatics:
“I am really thriving at KI – their teaching style constantly nurtures my curiosity through open discus- sions and student collaboration. One of the great things about the Master’s in Health Informatics is that it brings together computer science and healthcare students. I feel privileged to be learning and discussing challenging questions with such a perceptive and amongst both culturally and professionally diverse group of students.”
Julio Sosa Student in the Master’s Programme in Health Economics, Policy and Management:
“I chose KI because of the high- quality education provided by renowned researchers and the You will find all our educational programmes online. stimulating international environ- ment. I genuinely like Stockholm and the healthy work-life balance Contact us that characterizes Scandinavian ki.se/masterstudies culture.”
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 7 Doctoral education
SHORT FACTS As a doctoral student at KI: You will conduct supervised Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project A doctoral thesis research. at KI normally You will be offered a wide range Created by Joana Pereira comprises a num- from the Noun Project ber of constituent of courses to help you attain your papers and a degree outcomes. summary thesis. You will be in an international Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project environment, where English is likely to be the main working language.
Created by Joana Pereira You will have the opportunity to from the Noun Project take Swedish language courses.
Created by Joana Pereira You will be able to provide input from the Noun Project on decisions affecting doctoral education through representation on the university’s committees and boards. You will have access to support Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project functions including doctoral study directors, KI career services and international staff services.
Do you want to know more about Doctoral education at KI?
Contact us ki.se/doctoral
FUTURE BREAKTHROUGHS BEGIN WITH DOCTORAL EDUCATION
Doctoral studies at Karolinska Institutet will give you advanced skills in your scientific field and career opportunities in a wide variety of areas.
8 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university A full doctoral education comprises four years of full-time study.
There are over 2,000 doctoral students at Karolinska Institutet (KI) and close to 350 new admissions each year. Many of our doctoral students have an overseas background, and our extensive inter- national collaborations provide excellent opportunities to network with research environments around the world. As a doctoral student, you will join one of KI’s research groups and carry out a research project under professional supervision. The research project is complemented by courses and other educational activities required to achieve degree outcomes. All vacant doctoral positions are advertised on ki.se, where interested applicants can find projects throughout KI’s medical research fields. If you are admitted, you will be employed with a contractual salary. You will obtain your doctoral degree once you have acquired the knowledge and skills described in the degree out- comes and written and publically defen- ded a thesis. You will then be invited to DOCTORAL EDUCATION IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR take part in a conferment ceremony The close collaboration between KI and the Stockholm regional health authority at the Stockholm City Hall, where you means that research, education and clinical activities overlap and complement will receive a traditional doctoral hat to one another. Many who are employed in the Swedish healthcare sector symbolize that you have achieved the pursue part-time doctoral studies in parallel with their work. Our clinical highest academic level and that you doctoral students include physicians, psychologists, nurses, speech therapists, are now an independent researcher and physiotherapists, along with many other healthcare professionals. ready to start your future career.
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 9 Research infrastructure
READ MORE ABOUT RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AT ki.se/corefacilities New core facility offers world-class imaging
A new cryogenic electron microscopy (3D-EM) facility is now in operation at Karolinska Institutet. The facility has a bank of ultra-modern cryo-electron microscopes that can be used by the university’s own researchers and external customers. The 3D-EM technique enables the creation of high resolution 3D images to help scientists understand, for example, the molecular structure of a protein complex in its natural state. It also offers good opportunities for specimen production and for studying cellular material and tissue samples using cryo-electron microscopy. n
The corona virus SARS-CoV-2 is covered with spike proteins that help the virus infect its host cells. This image was produced at Karolinska Institutet’s 3D-EM facility and shows how synthetic antibodies (in red) bind to the spike proteins to prevent infection. (Source: Science, Martin Hällberg et al, 2021.)
10 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university A centre for precision medicine was established Investing in the at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska science of tomorrow University Hospital in 2021. From now until 2024, Karolinska Insti- tutet will invest in the order of SEK 500 million in core facilities and expensive scientific equipment. In addition, some SEK 200 million are annually allocated to animal housing and funding of natio- nal infrastructures. Karolinska Institutet offers advanced equipment and services in research areas such as biosafety, registries and biobanking, imaging, omics, bioeng- ineering and e-health. Most of these core facilities were founded to meet the needs of our own researchers and have since been professionalised and developed to provide the technologies and methods of tomorrow within their Collaboration will accelerate respective fields.n precision medicine
A joint centre for precision medicine – The Precision Medicine Centre Karolinska – has been established by Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital. Precision medicine is about adapting diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care to individual patients’ unique circumstances. The new centre will broaden the collaboration that has already led to the implementation of whole-genome sequencing for the clinical diagnosis of rare congenital diseases. The centre will support the introduction of precision medicine A powerful resource into larger disease groups and more diagnostic fields, with fighting COVID-19 rare diseases and cancer as two initial areas of focus. n SciLifeLab is a national resource for pioneering technologies and expertise Anna Wedell, professor at the Department of Molecular in molecular bioscience, with one of Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, is director of the its nodes located adjacent to the Precision Medicine Centre Karolinska (PMCK). KI Campus in Solna. With the support of Sweden’s largest FIND OUT private research grant body, MORE AT the Knut and Alice Wallen- scilifelab.se berg Foundation, SciLifeLab has now become a powerful re- Did you know that... source in the fight against COVID-19. The Swedish Twin Registry contains data on some This research infrastructure brings 87,000 pairs of twins and is managed by Karolinska scientists together across traditional Institutet. The registry was founded in the 1960s boundaries and enable collaborations and is the largest of its kind world-wide. The with industry and health care. Most of the available technologies can be used research conducted with the support of the registry in a range of life science disciplines, and covers a wide range of public health issues, such as staff scientists offer support through- allergies, cancer, dementia and cardiovascular disease. out the experimental process. SciLife- Sweden is exceptionally well-placed to conduct epidemiological research Lab is jointly operated by Karolinska thanks to the civic registration number system, good universal health- Institutet, the Royal Institute of Tech- care service and national registries and biobanks. Karolinska Institutet nology (KTH), Stockholm University is able to offer unique resources internationally in this field.n and Uppsala University. n
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 11 Innovation and collaboration A COMPLETE INNOVATION SYSTEM companies20 are currently Karolinska Institutet is home to world-leading research that active in KI Innovations continuously adds to our understanding of human health. DRIVE incubator Researchers who want to take the next step towards program. implementing their results can turn to KI Innovations.
KI Innovations, which comprises both Innovation support entails providing GROUND- an innovation office and an incubator, researchers inspiration, personal advice, guides researchers through the process information, and opportunities to BREAKING of developing their discoveries into investigate the potential for converting DISCOVERIES new products, methods, and services their ideas into products or services. that benefit patients and society at KI Innovations reviews how well ideas Karolinska Institutet has a proud his- large. Dedicated coaches experienced meet the needs of intended target groups tory of discoveries that have improved in commercialisation and implemen- and then investigates the possibility of the lives for people all over the world. Here is a snapshot of ideas: tation support researchers throughout developing and financing their commer- the process – from ideas for life science cialisation. KI Innovations can help you | Created by Joana Pereira 1958 THE PACEMAKER from the Noun Project innovations that lead to vital treatments gain access to a large network of custom- Åke Senning surgically implants the to healthcare sector improvements. ers, users, and investors, along with train- first pacemaker into a human being. KI Innovations offers a complete ing in entrepreneurship and innovation. 1968 | THE GAMMA KNIFE Created by Joana Pereira innovation system, providing knowled- It is essential for patients and healthcare from the Noun Project ge and contacts both within and beyond providers that research can be converted Lars Leksell develops and launches the the world of research, and has broad into products or services that benefit world’s first gamma knife, a stereotactic experience in transforming science to society. So explore your research-based device first used in the treatment of brain tumours. meet the needs of patients and society. idea – KI Innovations is here to help!
Created by Joana Pereira 1983/2012 | CUROSURF from the Noun Project The Curosurf story is a tale of success. The drug has saved the lives of around one million premature babies world- Do you want to know more about Innovation support? wide. And the story is far from over.
Created by Joana Pereira 2001 | MIPS from the Noun Project Contact KI Innovations Hans von Holst has, together with karolinskainnovations.ki.se researchers from The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), created MIPS, a technology that improves the protec- tive properties of everyday helmets.
Created by Joana Pereira from the Noun Project 2014 | EXTRODUCER Staffan Holmin has developed a micro- catheter that delivers drugs directly to the body’s organs via blood vessels.
Created by Joana Pereira 2016 | LEXPLORE from the Noun Project The eye movement of a child reading may indicate an increased risk of dyslexia or reading difficulties. This discovery was supported by a private donation and formed the company Lexplore.
12 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university KENNETH CHIEN Professor of cardiovascular research at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, and co-founder of Moderna, whose COVID-19 vaccine is the company’s first approved product:
“I co-founded Moderna in 2010 with the aim of developing mRNA-based drugs, not vaccines per se. Our finding that VEGF mRNA could stimulate heart and vascular regeneration formed a strong scientific foundation that launched the company. With AstraZeneca, it is now in clinical trials in heart patients. In January 2020, CEO Stephane Bancel directed Moderna to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. A year later it was approved in the United States and the European Union. The optimization of the core mRNA technology over the past decade is a major reason for this rapid success. I’ve had assignments for bio- tech companies in parallel with my academic career for most of my professional life. It is impor- tant to make clear that academic work is all about making discove- ries; you can develop them, but your lab must never become a Academic work company. I was a scientific advisor for is all about Moderna for many years and feel honored and humbled that our making science contributed to helping so many people around the world.” discoveries
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 13 Research
MEET OUR RESEARCHERS
SAMIR EL ANDALOUSSI Researcher at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet:
“My research is on exosomes, which are tiny membrane bubbles that are released by cells. The small membrane bubbles are not waste, as initially thought, instead they are carriers of different signalling molecules that allow cells to communicate with each other in a fairly advanced way. Researchers around the world are now working on developing exosome-based therapies. By studying exosomes from the bottom up, my group has deve- loped better ways of extracting them from cells. We’re now working on new methods of filling them with various substan- ces, such as biological drugs, and making them efficiently release the substance into a recipient My group studies cell. We’re also testing ways of attaching targeted proteins onto exosomes from the surface of exosomes. My goal is to develop a concept the bottom up whereby we can reprogramme cells – for example in the liver or brain – to make them pro- duce the therapy we want, pack it into exosomes and secrete it. This will be like using an organ as a drug factory that releases exosomes containing a therapy that can target other tissues. We call this in situ-engineering.”
14 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university JUDITH BRUCHFELD Chief physician and docent in infectious diseases at the Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet:
“As a clinically active tuberculosis researcher, I am accustomed to studying airborne pandemic con- tagion. In March 2020, an increa- sing number of disturbing X-rays from COVID-19 patients began to appear with images of white lungs, which means that they were severely inflamed. We realized that we needed to find out more about the side effects of severe COVID-19 and quickly created a clinic at Karolin- ska University Hospital. We have now assessed about 800 patients with severe COVID-19 who have been cared for in hospital and 200 with prolonged symptoms receiv- ing care at home. In general, the patients have been multisymptomatic and ex- We follow patients perienced severe fatigue, breath- lessness and palpitations, muscle who have had weakness and loss of smell. Among the home care patients, autonomic severe COVID-19 nervous system impact is common. Some have developed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which produces a sharp increase in heart rate and dizziness when they change position, but no drop in blood pressure. All data is not fully analysed and more treatment studies are being planned. It is important to follow up and diagnose long-term COVID-19 patients. For patients, it means a lot to receive a diagnosis. From a research perspective, it is important to find out as much as possible about the disease and its long-term effects, and ultimately offer curative treatments.”
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 15 Research news
AI as good as radio- FINDFLER MORE logists in identifying FORSKNINGS-RESEARCH NYHETERNEWS AT PÅ breast cancer news.ki.se.ki.se Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital have compared the ability of three different artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to identify breast cancer based on previously taken mammo- grams. The best algorithm proved to be as accurate as the average radio- logist. According to Fredrik Strand, researcher at the Department of Oncology-Pathology, the findings may lead the way in reorganising breast cancer screening for the future. The study has been published in JAMA Oncology. n
Effective prevention of hiv Antiviral treatment has been an effective tool in the work to prevent transmission of hiv from mother to baby in Tanzania between 2014 and 2016, which a study conducted in part by researchers at Karolinska New fundamental knowledge Institutet shows. The study was of the ‘abdominal brain’ published in Lancet HIV. n
Researchers have mapped the neuron types comprising the enteric nervous system in the intestine of mice. The study, led by Ulrika Marklund, researcher at Weaker skin barrier the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, leads to faster uptake describes how the different neurons form during fetal development, a process of chemicals that follows different principles to brain neurons. The study has been published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. n The rate of uptake of chemicals through the skin is faster in people with a genetically weakened skin barrier, a study from Karolinska Institutet and Lund University shows. Mutation provides The participants were exposed to a harmless dose of three common superior resilience to cold chemicals, present in pesticides, Almost one in five people lacks the protein sunscreen and smoke from firewood on their skin. After four hours, a α-actinin-3 in their muscle fibre. A study led greater dose of the chemicals could by Håkan Westerblad, professor at the Depart- be detected in the body of partici- ment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska pants with a mutation in the protein Institutet, shows that more of the skeletal muscle of filaggrin in the skin. The study was these individuals comprises slow-twitch muscle fibres, led by Karin Broberg, professor at which are more durable and energy-efficient and provide better tolerance the Institute of Environmental Medi- to cold than fast-twitch muscle fibres. The results have been published in cine, and published in Environmental the American Journal of Human Genetics. n Health Perspectives. n
16 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university Digital CBT effective for severe COVID-19 worry Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a digital self-help program based on CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy, that aims to reduce unhelpful worry about the COVID-19 pandemic. A study led by Erik Andersson, associate professor at the Department of Clinical Neuro- science, shows that the CBT program contributed to reducing the parti- cipants’ unhelpful COVID-19 worry. The study has been published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics and the program is available through 1177 Vårdguiden. Neandertal genes affect risk of COVID-19
Hugo Zeberg, researcher at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, has together with 1.7 research colleague Svante Pääbo, also at the Max Planck Institute, shown that million women participated in a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet Neandertals have given us gene variants that both increase and decrease the risk published in The New England Journal for severe COVID-19. A study published in Nature shows that a segment of DNA of Medicine that showed that HPV that causes their carriers to have an up to three times higher risk of developing vaccination protects against invasive severe COVID-19 is inherited from Neandertals. In a study published in PNAS, cervical cancer. n the same research duo shows that Neandertals also contributed a gene variant that reduces the risk of needing intensive care by 20 per cent. n Immune cells in the blood can predict severe COVID-19 Climate smart school Patients with severe COVID-19 have significantly elevated levels of a lunches prove popular certain type of immune cells in their A lunch with 40 per cent less climate impact, no increased cost and no reduc- blood, called myeloid-derived supp- tion in consumption: this is the result of a new method of delivering sustaina- ressor cells. Blood levels of these ble school lunches developed by Patricia Eustachio Colombo as part of her immune cells early in the course of disease seems to reflect subsequent doctoral thesis at Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Global Public Health. disease severity. This is according to Her project was based on the annual food purchases of three schools. a study led by Anna Smed Sörensen, The researchers then assembled a nutritious school lunch with a 40 per cent associate professor at the Depart- lower climate footprint that was similar in composition and cost to standard ment of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska school lunches. Studies at three schools revealed that the students neither Institutet, published in the Journal of ate less nor discarded more when the optimised lunches were served. n Clinical Investigation. n
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 17 The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
THOMAS PERLMANN Secretary-General of the Nobel Assembly and professor of molecular developmental biology at Karolinska Institutet.
Each year in early October, in keeping with Alfred Nobel’s last will and testament, the Nobel laureates in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Litera- ture and Peace are announced – the first announcement is for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Once the Nobel Committee has carefully examined, analysed and reduced the hundreds of nomina- tions submitted during the year, 50 researchers gather to vote in the Nobel Forum at Karolinska Institutet. All are professors at Karolinska Institutet and mem- bers of the Nobel Assembly, a body that is independent of the university to guarantee secrecy surrounding the prize. When the votes have been cast, Every year, we the winning discovery is announced. must reward the “It is a big task,” says Thomas Perlmann. very best we have “In times when peo- ple question what on the table is and isn’t true, many people find it particularly im- portant with prizes that focus on scien- tific discoveries. So we must continue doing our meticulous work. Every year, we must reward the very best we have on the table.”
18 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 10 facts about the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
1 Nobel laureates from The prize sum was Karolinska Institutet SEK 10 million per prize in 2 2020 and can be shared by a Of the eight Swedes to have been The prizes were maximum of three people. awarded the Nobel Prize in established by Alfred Nobel’s last will Physiology or Medicine, five and testament in 1895 and were from Karolinska Institutet. were first awarded in 1901. Hugo Theorell 1955 for his dis- 3 coveries concerning the nature and The final vote takes place mode of action of oxidation enzymes. just before the announcement of Ragnar Granit 1967 (shared) the laureate(s) on the first Monday 4 in October every year. The decision for their discoveries concerning the cannot be appealed. After the week in October primary physiological and chemical when the announcements are visual processes in the eye. made, the process begins again, and invitations are sent out for Ulf von Euler 1970 (shared) the next round of nominations. for their discoveries concerning the 5 Self-nomination is not permitted. humoral transmitters in the nerve terminals and the mechanism for The news is usually relayed to the laureate(s) their storage, release and inactivation. just before the announce- 6 Sune Bergström and Bengt ment is made. Samuelsson 1982 (shared) for their The building where the Nobel Assembly meets discoveries concerning prostaglandins is called the Nobel Forum and related biologically active substances. 7 and is on the Karolinska Institutet campus in Solna. More Nobel laureates Only specially The assembly chamber In 2015 Swede Tomas Lindahl was invited researchers was designed specifically one of three outstanding researchers may nominate candidates for its meeting. to be awarded the Nobel Prize in for the prize. They include Chemistry, the selection for which is former Nobel laureates and professors at medical made by the Royal Swedish Academy faculties around the world. of Science. Many of Tomas Lindahl’s 8 groundbreaking discoveries were made in the 1970s in a basement laboratory at No one has been Karolinska Institutet. His achievements 9 awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine include demonstrating that DNA is not more than once. The nominees remain as stable as once thought and descri- confidential for 50 years. bing the mechanism by which a cell repairs damage to its genome. In 1981 the Nobel Prize in Physio- 10 logy or Medicine was awarded to Torsten Wiesel, Roger W. Sperry and All Nobel Prizes are conferred by the King of Sweden, David H. Hubel. Torsten Wiesel had with the exception of the Peace Prize, which is awarded in Oslo by the Norwegian king. In Sweden, the prizes are awarded in studied medicine and begun his research the Stockholm Concert Hall on 10 December every year. career at Karolinska Institutet. His and In 2020, the ceremony was cancelled due to the pandemic, David H. Hubel’s research at Harvard so the prizes were awarded at each laureate’s home university. demonstrated how the brain images the world around it, and the ability of brain cells to adapt during development.
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 19 KI in numbers
A global, engaged and groundbreaking university
Collaborations with internationally leading education and research environments are necessary for the exchange of ideas, methods, and results that drive education and science forward. Karolinska Institutet’s international standing and influence is very much based on the extent to which its researchers and teachers establish collaborations and co-author articles within these environments. The following numbers are from the KI Annual Report 2020. Comparative figures for 2019 are shown in parentheses.
SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES CO-PUBLISHED WITH PARTIES 70 % OUTSIDE OF SWEDEN
During the period 2018–2020, scientific articles were published together with researchers in approximately 170 different countries.
6,832 37 % Created by GreenHill SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES from the Noun Project INTERNATIONAL Source: Web of Science and Medline, year 2019. (2018 figure: 6,298) DOCTORAL STUDENTS The proportion of newly admitted doctoral students from another 1.9 Field-normalised citation score country in 2019 according to UKÄ. (There are no statistics for 2020) The average value for EU’s 28 member states is 1.1 compared to 1.9 at KI. (1.7)
20 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university KI in numbers
FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENTS 27 % DEGREES MEN 73 % 6,560 WOMEN 2,488 (6,421) (2,417)
DOCTORAL DEGREES DOCTORAL STUDENTS 40 % (PHD) MEN 60 % 2,039 WOMEN 334 (2,108) (355)
EXTERNAL RESEARCH PROFESSORS 66 % GRANTS MEN 34 % SEK 327 WOMEN 4 billion (328) (3.9)
FULL TIME EQUIVALENT 38 % teachers EMPLOYEES MEN 813 of which 62 % WOMEN 4,735 93 % has a PhD (4,549) (831 teachers of which 93 % has a PhD)
Sources: Ladok, Primula, Unit4 Business World (UBW).
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 21 KI in numbers
7.3 SEK billion in revenue (7.1)
43 % 84 % DIRECT GOVERNMENT RESEARCH FUNDING
16 % 57 % EDUCATION EXTERNAL FUNDING
The numbers are from the KI Annual Report 2020. Comparative figures for 2019 are shown in parentheses.
3 % 1 % 3 % 3 % REVENUE FOR 2020, TOTAL SEK 7,322 MILLION 8 % 1 % 3 % irect overnment undin 8 % esearc councils tatsansla t er overnment a encies 43 % orsknin sr d 16 % unici alities and county councils vri a statli a edis oundations and or anisations 43 % orei n oundations and or anisations 16 % Kommuner oc re ioner edis com anies venska sti telser oc or anisationer 5 % orei n com anies tl ndska sti telser oc or anisationer inancial income venska reta 7 % Source: UBW. 5 % tl ndska reta 14 % inansiella int kter 7 % 14 % Karolinska Institutet’s history in brief
1810 1813 1874 1895 1937 Karolinska Institutet (KI) is As one of KI’s first professors, KI is licensed Alfred Nobel’s testament Nanna Svartz is appointed founded by King Karl XIII on Jöns Jacob Berzelius lays the to confer bequeaths KI the right to professor at KI, becoming 13 December. foundation of KI’s scientific medical degrees. select the Nobel Prize in Sweden’s first state-employed orientation. Physiology or Medicine. female professor.
22 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university KI in numbers
TEN LARGEST EXTERNAL SOURCES OF FUNDING 2018–2020, SEK MILLION
DONATION PURPOSE 2018 2019 2020 CHANGE 2019–2020
e edis esearc ouncil uro ean nion e edis ancer ociety e allen er oundations orte e edis ild ood ancer und e ion tock olm e edis oundation or trate ic esearc Astra eneca oyal Institute o ec nolo y K t er Total 3,295 3,249 3,187 -2%
cludin asset mana ement ource
263 201 37 Created by Gregor Cresnar from the Noun Project Created by tezar tantular Created by Adrien Coquet from the Noun Project SEK million in ongoing from the Noun Project ERC projects revenue from the EU EU financed At the end of 2020, KI participated Including scholarships and projects in 37 European Research Council other transfers (ERC) projects (180) Source: Funding & tender opportunities (225) Source: UBW. portal, Cordis. (33) Source: Funding & tender opportunities portal, Cordis.
Education and research at Karolinska SOLNA Institutet is conducted on two campuses: university Campus Solna and Campus Flemingsberg, and through the healthcare sector in 1 the Stockholm region. campuses 2 FLEMINGSBERG
1955 1997 1998 2010 2020 Hugo Theorell becomes KI is granted official status as a university, The Stockholm University KI celebrates Education and research at KI KI’s first Nobel Laureate, with a mission to “contribute to the of Health Sciences is its 200th continuously assess and adapt receiving the Nobel Prize improvement of human health through incorporated into KI. anniversary. to the COVID-19 pandemic in Physiology or Medicine. research, education and information”. circumstances.
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 23 Donations and gifts
The donation from the Erling- Persson Family Foun- dation enabled the Large donations for construction of COVID-19 research Aula Medica.
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation has made large invest- ments in both research infrastructure and grants to individual researchers and COVID-19 projects at KI.
Companies such as Nordstjernan, EQT, Tetra Pak and Bure Equity made donations early on in the pandemic.
The Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation and the Jonas & Christina af Jochnick Foundation are examples of foundations that have contributed to COVID-19 research.
Thanks to gifts from private individu- als, foundations and companies, KI was also able to announce its own internal call for COVID-19 research funding. GIFTS CAN HELP ADVANCE RESEARCH Donations, funding and gifts from private individuals, 60 foundations and companies are important to Karolinska million SEK were donated in 2020 by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Institutet’s ability to sustain the outstanding quality of Foundation for COVID-19 research. its research.
Donations and gifts contribute valu- Gifts are always used in accordance The Development Office (DO) is KI’s able resources and allow scientists to with donors’ wishes. Donors often unit for donations and sponsorships and works to increase external private try novel approaches to important re- have a research field, or even a parti- financing of KI research. search questions. A donation can also cular research group, in mind. If not, fund a long-term project or studies DO assists in finding suitable research Contact DO of previously untested ideas. In the projects and, in consultation with E-mail: [email protected] spring of 2020, private funding made both the donor and recipient, draws Postal address: Karolinska Institutet it possible for Karolinska Institutet to up a deed of gift. If the donor wishes, Development Office, quickly start many of its COVID-19 an annual report is made describing 171 77 Stockholm research projects. Even smaller dona- how funds have been used.
Source: KI Development Office and the 2020 KI Annual Report. and the 2020 KI Annual Office KI Development Source: tions can help advance research.
24 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university ANN NORDGREN Adjunct professor of clinical genetics at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet:
“Thanks to the endowment from the Hållsten Research Founda- tion, I’ve dared to take a holistic approach and broaden the com- petence within what was prima- rily a clinical genetics-orientated research group. I’ve now been able to recruit a doctoral student and experts in machine learning, epidemiology and psychology. Through the Hållsten Foundation, I have been able to start the UNIKA project in which research- ers from a range of disciplines work together to map rare syn- dromes on the basis of everything from genetic mutations and cellular mechanisms to physical symptoms, behaviour and every- day lives. In my research I apply meti- culous clinical characterisation, modern sequencing techniques and functional studies to find new genes and common signal pathways of significance to can- cer onset and fetal development. My ultimate goal is to offer individuals with previously undiagnosed or rare deformity syndromes – with or without intellectual impairment or autism I’ve dared to take – and children with cancer and their families an optimal diag- a holistic approach nostic investigation and holistic care.” in my research
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 25 KI ALUMNI Former students and employees can maintain contact with Karolinska Institutet (KI) through the KI Alumni Network, with over 15,000 members around the world. Alumni are invited to events, seminars and get updates on KI’s latest news and developments. Welcome to KI Alumni! ki.se/en/alumni
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Karolinska Institutet – A medical university
Production and design: Communications and Public Relations Office Photo: Pages 2, 4-5, 8-9, 11, 14, 18, 24-25 and 27: Erik Flyg, cover and pages 6-7: Ulrich Schulte, pages 11, 16-17, 19, 24: Getty Images, page 10: Martin Hällberg, page 11: Stefan Zimmerman, page 12: Jesse Orrico, Unsplash, page 13: Jon Chase, page 15: Martin Stenmark, page 16: Mattias Karlén, page 17: Björn Öberg, page 19: © ® The Nobel Foundation. Graphics: Noun Project, Getty Images and datamaps.world
26 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university The Neo research and education block on Campus Flemingsberg, Karolinska Institutet. Photo: Erik Flyg.
Karolinska Institutet – A medical university 27 Karolinska Institutet (KI) is one of the world’s leading medical universities. Our vision is to advance knowledge about life and strive towards better health for all.
As a university, KI is Sweden’s single largest centre of medical academic research and offers the country’s widest range of medical courses and programmes.
Since 1901 the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has selected the Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine.
28 Karolinska Institutet – A medical university