Pediatric Oncology and Pediatric Surgery

Pediatric oncology is a constellation of interdisciplinary research groups that are conducting laboratory, clinical, survivorship and healthcare research with the common goal to improve the survival, quality of life, care and treatment of children and adolescents with cancer or hematological diseases. Education is also performed at many academic levels, and we arrange courses and national and international meetings.

Better Cure and Care - Childhood Cancer Research Symposium 2025
Better Cure and Care - Childhood Cancer Research Symposium 2025 Photo: N/A

Better Cure and Care - Childhood Cancer Research Symposium 2025

Registration opens March 15

The scientific symposium in childhood cancer will focus on the advancements made in childhood cancer research over the past three decades. This event symbolizes ongoing progress and the hope for better treatments and outcomes. It highlights that research continues to evolve, potentially offering new therapeutic options and improved survival rates. 

For early-career researchers, including PhD students and postdocs, the symposium offers unique networking opportunities, exposure to leading figures in the field, and a platform to present their work. 

Pediatric Oncology

Childhood Cancer Epidemiology - Päivi Lähteenmäkis Research group
sick child Photo: Getty images.

Childhood Cancer Epidemiology - Päivi Lähteenmäkis Research group

We perform epidemiological studies of children with cancer at a national, Nordic and international level. The research group develops registry applications for storing and collecting data and supports clinical studies. In addition, CCEG offers epidemiological and statistical support to scientists within the field of childhood cancer research.

 

Infections and immunity in children with cancer – Anna Nilsson's research group
Portrait of Anna Nilsson Photo: Rickard Kilström

Infections and immunity in children with cancer – Anna Nilsson's research group

Children who have undergone treatment for cancer often lose the protection against infection provided by vaccinations. I am studying how cancer therapies affect the immune system in order to improve vaccination guidelines. By preventing infections, these vaccinations play a crucial role in improving the health outcomes of childhood cancer survivors.

NORDFERTIL Research Lab – Jan-Bernd Stukenborg's research group
Photo: Barncancerfonden

NORDFERTIL Research Lab – Jan-Bernd Stukenborg's research group

The research of this network is centralized at the NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm at Karolinska Institutet and includes research areas including pluripotent stem cell cultures as well as the development of novel in vitro systems for male gonadal cell development and differentiation.

Childhood Cancer Healthcare Research
healthcare staff Photo: Getty Images,Getty Images/iStockphoto

Childhood Cancer Healthcare Research

The research group consists of different teams that perform childhood cancer healthcare research and education with the aim to improve the care of children and adolescents affected by cancer and their families.

 

Pediatric Surgery

Gastrointestinal pediatric surgery – Tomas Wester's research group
Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images

Gastrointestinal pediatric surgery – Tomas Wester's research group

Our research group is involved in research projects on malformations and surgical disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in children. We focus on the short- and long-term outcomes of the surgical treatment. These studies are important to inform the parents about what to expect when their child gets older. We are also involved in interventional studies and studies to better understand etiology and pathogenesis.

Malformation genetics - Agneta Nordenskjölds Research group
Photo: Getty Images

Malformation genetics - Agneta Nordenskjölds Research group

Two percent of all newborns have a congenital malformation. The parents often ask why this has happened, how it is treated, if there is a recurrence risk and what will happen in the future.

 

Tissue engineering – Magdalena Fossum Research group
two surgents in a operating room Photo: Pexels Shvetsa

Tissue engineering – Magdalena Fossum Research group

Pediatric Surgery deals with the surgical treatment of a variety of malformations in different organs. In Pediatric Urology, some patients are treated with reconstructions because of small, incompliant bladders and other patients need urethral reconstructions because of hypospadias.

List of project proposals
A person writing on a computer Photo: Gettyimages.

List of project proposals

Welcome to contact our research groups regarding degree projects, master's projects, bachelor's theses, ST projects, research internships or similar.

Staff and contact

Group leader

All members of the group

Pediatric oncology/Pediatric Surgery - Background

A child with cancer is sitting on a hospital bed

Pediatric oncology

Pediatric oncology works actively in both clinical and laboratory studies with the aim to improve diagnosis, treatment and outcome. In addition, we also perform care and psychosocial research with the aim to improve the care of affected children and their families.

The most common cancer forms are leukemias and brain tumors, which comprise one third of all cancers each, while one third suffers from other forms of tumors.

The treatment used for childhood cancer has improved successfully, and currently almost 80% of all affected children are cured. Nevertheless, childhood cancer is still the most common cause of death in children between 1 and 14 years of age, followed in frequency by deaths caused by accidents.

An important basis for Swedish research on pediatric leukemia was laid in 1978, when the Swedish Pediatric Leukemia Register was started, a valuable bank of information, which was further developed into the Swedish Pediatric Cancer Register (located at pediatric oncology).

In 1996, the Childhood Cancer Research Unit (now pediatric oncology) was initiated at Karolinska University Hospital. In 2018, the laboratory research moved to the newly built BioClinicum. Much of the research is done in collaboration with professionals at the pediatric oncology and other units at the Karolinska University Hospital and other researchers at Karolinska Institutet, as well as with researchers from other parts of Sweden and abroad.

Pediatric Surgery 

The Pediatric Surgery Research Unit comprises two research groups; Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology.

The research activities range from basic studies on genetic and molecular mechanisms behind malformations and tissue engineering to clinical studies on long-term outcomes of children with malformations and epidemiological studies. The main goal is to provide high-quality care for children with malformations, including management of complications and impaired function up to adult age. The Unit is also involved in education at different levels.

Students for projects

At our division we are welcoming students for different types of short term projects, for example Degree projects, Master thesis, Bachelor projects, ST-projects, research training etc. On this page we list current projects that would be suitable for short term work in our research groups.