Timeline NVS
The 1970s
1977
The Stockholm Physiotherapy Institute closes and physiotherapy training moves to a new department of physiotherapy at Karolinska Institutet. In 2002, the department becomes part of the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), (formerly Neurotec).
Sweden introduces far-reaching higher education reforms that see nursing training become a university qualification together with occupational therapy, physical therapy and related disciplines. The reforms also herald healthcare becoming a field of research.
The 1980s
1982
The Novum Research Park is built in Flemingsberg.
1986
The Stockholm Gerontology Research Center foundation is founded by Region Stockholm (the then Stockholm County Council) and the City of Stockholm with the aim of “improving living conditions for the elderly by making use of and implementing experiences and research results in areas of particular importance to the elderly in society, and to initiate and conduct research and development regarding conditions for the elderly in-house or in collaboration with or on behalf of other municipalities and organisations.”
1987
Bengt Winblad and Åke Seiger open the Department of Geriatrics.
The Kungsholmen Project, a population study on ageing, is launched and involves around 2,500 participants. The project is run by the Stockholm Gerontology Research Center in collaboration with NVS (then the Department of Geriatrics).
1988
The Centre of Healthcare Sciences and Ageing (CW) was established at Karolinska Institutet with the aim of stimulating and promoting the development of healthcare and existing research projects in the field. The CW board represents the interests of central government and the Stockholm municipality. The centre was intended mainly to address the lack of systematised research training for nurses, laboratory assistants and related roles, as the municipal university lacked fixed research resources.
Stockholm’s Geriatrics University Clinic is established as a Stockholm-wide university clinic headed by Bengt Winblad and Åke Seiger as deputy head.
The 1990s
1992
The SWEOLD research project is launched. By 2023, approximately 1,599 people living in Sweden have been interviewed about their living conditions, such as health, care and care needs, family relationships and everyday activities.
1993
Care capacity is further expanded at the university clinic, and the long-term care department changes its name to the Department of Geriatrics.
National higher education reforms extend nursing training to three years.
The Department of Geriatrics changes its name to Neurotec, and the reorganisation of KI93 sees the number of departments at Karolinska Institutet reduced from 150 to around 30.
1995
Approximately 148 geriatric inpatient places are made available at Huddinge Hospital during the year.
1996
A specialised medical centre with expertise in cognitive conditions and dementia and their effect on driving ability opens in Huddinge Hospital, south of Stockholm. The centre is still part of Karolinska University Hospital, and is one of the few centres in Sweden specialised in this field.
Since 2020, the centre has been co-managed by Dorota Religa, Professor in Geriatrics.
1998
Stockholm University of Health Sciences merges with Karolinska Institutet, which adds seven new courses for occupational therapists, audiologists, midwives, biomedical analysts, nurses, X-ray nurses, and dental hygienists.
The Division of Nursing is established at Karolinska Institutet.
The 2000s
2000
Åke Seiger becomes Head of Department at Neurotec.
Lena Borell becomes the first professor of occupational therapy in Sweden. She heads the Division of Occupational Therapy from 1998 to 2002, and 2011 to 2013.
The Aging Research Center (ARC) is established through a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University.
Construction of the Zander building begins, and is completed two years later. In 2008 and 2009, the property is partially rebuilt to create a larger foyer and living areas. The facility is a result of the merger with the Stockholm University of Health Sciences. Training rooms for nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy are created, as well as seminar and group rooms, gyms, ergonomics labs, offices and research rooms. The premises and its equipment are adapted for video conferencing, allowing students to follow group lectures remotely.
The Karolinska Dainippon Sumitomo Alzheimer Center (KASPAC) and Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals sign a five-year collaboration agreement with NVS. The project, valued at SEK 65 million, seeks to lead work on new treatment methods for Alzheimer’s.
2001
The National Research School in Health Care Science (NFV) is established. The goal is for 25 doctoral students to have completed their dissertations by the end of 2008.
2002
The Department of Physiotherapy merges with NVS, in 1999 Elisabeth Olsson became Professor of Physiotherapy; between 1993-2001 she was Head of Department at the then Department of Physiotherapy at Karolinska Institutet and then Head of Division and Assistant Head at the then Department of Neurotec (until 2005).
2003
A review conducted at Huddinge Hospital identifies geriatrics as one of eight key research areas and the clinic as Karolinska University Hospital’s strongest research clinic in terms of R&D resources.
2004
Karolinska Institutet welcomes its first female vice chancellor, Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, Professor of Integrative Physiology.
The Division of Gerontological Care Sciences is created at the then Department of Neurotec, where Sirkka-Liisa Ekman was Professor of Nursing between 2005 and 2010.
2005
The Swedish Brain Power network is launched with funding from Invest Sweden, the Knowledge Foundation, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, Sweden’s innovation agency VINNOVA, and the now defunct Vårdalstiftelsen. Since 2010, it has been financed solely by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The network has contained as many as 27 research groups from Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Linköping University, Lund University, Primärvården i Nordanstig, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Skåne University Hospital, Uppsala University and Umeå University.
The Department of General Medicine merges with NVS from Clintec. The department changes name from the Department of Neurotec to the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS).
2006
Care Sciences merges with NVS.
2008
The Swedish Council for Higher Education withdraws Karolinska Institutet’s right to award nursing degrees. Skövde and Uppsala universities also have their rights to award degrees withdrawn.
2009
Kerstin Tham becomes Head of Department at NVS.
The 2010s
2013
Maria Eriksdotter becomes Head of Department at NVS.
2015
The Center for Alzheimer Research is founded, headed by Bengt Winblad and Agneta Nordberg, as a hub for all research at Karolinska Institutet regarding Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
2018
BioClinicum is inaugurated in Solna, Stockholm, as a hub for clinical research to increase the integration between research, education and care. The centre is a hub of nearly 100 research groups across eight different departments. The building is part of the New Karolinska Solna project and will connect preclinical institutions with medical, education and research.
NVS expands with a presence in north and south Stockholm. Some clinical geriatrics and neurogeriatrics activities take place in the newly built research building Neo in Flemingsberg, while others are moved to BioClinicum. ARC moves to the Widerströmska building, which is also located in Solna.
2019
Maria Ankarcrona becomes Head of Department of NVS.
TEXT: Magnus Trogen Pahlén