Research group leaders A-Z at FyFa

Research group leaders at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, in alphabetical order.

Microscope
Microscope Photo: Pixabay-KKolosov

Physiology

Physiology is defined as the study of living organisms, organs and organ systems and how they function under normal conditions.

Central to the discipline of physiology is the study of mechanical, physical and biochemical processes which help the organisms keep certain characteristics, such as body temperature, at a healthy level.

Another important aspect of physiology is research on how the body reacts to extreme conditions or disease. Such studies can lead to new treatments or pharmacological advances.

Physiology is in some ways the mother of all biomedical research. Very little, if any, research at Karolinska Institutet is wholly without a physiological connection. Among the studies carried out at Karolinska Institutet with the strongest link to physiology is research on how muscle fatigue is brought about or why exercise reduces the risk of various diseases.

Daniel Andersson - Translational cardiac and skeletal muscle physiology

Barbara Canlon - Experimental audiology

Christopher Cederroth - Translational Auditory Neuroscience

Karima Chergui - Molecular neurophysiology

Qiaolin Deng - Germ cell biology and developmental programming in epigenetic inheritance of diseases

Lars Karlsson - Environmental physiology

Anna Krook (Juleen Zierath) - Integrative physiology

Juleen Zierath - Integrative Physiology

Johanna Lanner - Molecular muscle physiology and pathophysiology

Peter Lindholm - Hyperbaric medicine

Nicolas Pillon - Inflammation and metabolism

Jorge Ruas - Molecular and cellular exercise physiology

Carl Johan Sundberg - Molecular exercise physiology

Sebastien Talbot - Neuroimmunology of cancer

Elisabet Stener-Victorin - Reproductive endocrinology and metabolism

gloved hands in a lab holding a small glass vial
Laboratory Photo: Pixabay-Belova59

Pharmacology

Pharmacology is defined as the science of chemical substances and how substances interact with living organisms.

The field of pharmacology covers everything from composition and production of such substances to their toxic effects and medical applications. Pharmacological research will often seek to characterize a disease or atypical condition - mainly on a molecular and genetic level - so as to find better ways of treatment.

Pharmacological research at Karolinska Institutet reflects the wide content of the field of pharmacology. Pharmacological studies with a clear link to physiology and clinical (patient-oriented) research are common.

The research conducted in pharmacology at our department aims to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms that cause pain and diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and severe psychiatric diseases. By understanding more about these processes, our goal is to develop biological markers to be able to make the correct diagnosis or be able to decide which drug is suitable for a specific individual. Another goal is that the knowledge we generate will lead to the discovery of new targets that can be used to develop new drugs.

Igor Adameyko - Developmental biology and regenerative medicine

Mattias Carlström - Microvascular oxidative stress in the triad of cardiovascular, metabolic and renal disease

Cristiana Cruceanu - Developmental and Translational Neurobiology

Göran Engberg - Electrophysiological neuropharmacology

Sophie Erhardt - Neuropsychoimmunology

Magnus Ingelman-Sundberg - Section of Pharmacogenetics

Kent Jardemark - Translational Pharmacology

Volker Lauschke - Personalized Medicine and Drug Development

Jon Lundberg - Pharmacological nitric oxide research

Helin Norberg - Protein degradation pathways

Gunnar Schulte - Receptor biology and signaling

Paweł Kozielewicz - Molecular pharmacology of GPCRs

Carl Sellgren Majkowitz - Applied Developmental Neurobiology

Camilla Svensson - Molecular pain research

Ana Teixeira - Nanomedicine and Spatial Biology

Hugo Zeberg - Zeberg laboratory

someone lying under a gurney in an operating theatre. only hand visible with cords
Operation Photo: Pixabay-ThoGe

Anesthesiology and intensive care

Anesthesiology is the science of anesthesia, use of anesthetics and the care of the critically ill patient. In Sweden, anesthesiology is a medical specialty encompassing perioperative care, anesthetics, intensive care and pain medicine.

Research in anesthesiology and intensive care at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology is carried out in connection with Function Perioperative Medicine and Intensive Care at Karolinska University Hospital and Intensive Care at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital.

Our research projects are supported by an experimental research unit and a clinical research and outcome unit. This translational environment fosters strong research clusters around key areas of anesthesiology, intensive care and pain management. Experimental anesthesiology and intensive care form an important part of the translational research conducted at our home department.

We teach at both the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level. Our teaching is characterized by a combination of basic science and its clinical application, especially in highly specialized perioperative care, intensive care medicine, and pain.

We have a wide range of courses on the undergraduate and postgraduate level and carry a key role in the education of nurses and physicians in anesthesiology, surgery and intensive care.

Max Bell 

Lars I Eriksson 

Malin Jonsson Fagerlund 

Per-Arne Lönnqvist  

Johan Mårtensson 

Anders Oldner 

Eddie Weitzberg 

Content reviewer:
15-01-2025