Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at Karolinska Institutet is a nationally leading academic research center of high international standard where science comes first and foremost. CMB researchers publish regularly in the best international science journals, a result of a long-term in-house culture that promotes real impact and key breakthroughs.
CMB News
There is an alternative strategy to regenerate the heart muscle
There is an alternative strategy to regenerate the heart muscle
Heart progenitors spontaneously regenerate cardiac muscle via a tight junction “honeycomb” in salamanders.
Whether there are endogenous adult heart progenitors that can replenish damaged muscle cells remained controversial. Now researchers at Karolinska Institute in Sweden show that the outermost layer of the heart, called epicardium acts as a source of cardiac muscle cells through formation of an intriguing honeycomb-like structure.
The study, published in Nature Cell Biology, identifies a new paradigm for heart regeneration by studying a salamander model for heart regeneration and reports an important role for tight junctions in the process.
Maria Masucci awarded the 2021 silver medal
Maria Masucci awarded the 2021 silver medal
Maria Masucci, Professor of Virology at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, is awarded the Silver Medal for her particularly significant contribution to the subject areas of virology, tumour biology and immunology.
International cancer award to two KI researchers
International cancer award to two KI researchers
Kirsty Spalding have been granted 2021 ASPIRE Awards from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research for their innovative and bold ideas on cancer research. She is one of a total of 25 award recipients who will jointly receive nearly $9.5 million (SEK 86 million).
About half a billion SEK from Swedish Research Council to KI researchers
About half a billion SEK from Swedish Research Council to KI researchers
Olov Andersson at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology received funds of nearly 10MSEK from The Swedish Research Council (VR) 2021-2026.
New insight on the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes
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.