Our Research
The research group contributes significantly to exercise oncology by developing personalized in-person and remote exercise interventions that reduce barriers and promote equity in cancer care. These innovations continue to shape rehabilitation and survivorship practices across oncology.
The research questions guide the methods used and mainly use self-reported data collected through individual interviews, focus groups or questionnaires. The research group uses models and methods for instrument development, person centered care, physical activity, health literacy, quality of life and symptoms. The latest medical research models framework for complex interventions guides the intervention studies.
More information about our research clinic at Karolinska Hospital in Solna (in Swedish) Rörelseglädje forskningsmottagningen Solna
Ongoing Projects
EFFECT PREFERABLE
Analysis ongoing
Project on Exercise for Fatigue Eradication in Advanced Breast cancer to improve quality of life.
PREFERABLE II – LION studies
Personalised Exercise-Oncology for improvement of supportive care: a super umbrella trial to demonstrate the (cost)effectiveness of live-remote exercise in cancer survivors.
PREFERABLE II’s overall objective is to improve supportive care strategies for cancer survivors significantly by providing (cost-)effective, personalised live-remote exercise training to all survivors who are unwilling or unable to join on-site supervised training, thereby increasing health equity in supportive care. The PREFERABLE II consortium will be conducting several sub-studies tackling different aspects of the project.
The project involves the development of the intervention, an evaluation in a full-scale randomized controlled trial (LION-RCT), an evaluation of legal, social and ethical impact work (LION-ELSI), and the development of communication standards (LION-COM).
In the LION-RCT a personalized, supervised, live-remote exercise program is offered to cancer survivors. The program is personalized to target the symptom which is the most burdensome for the participant. The four side-effects that are targeted in this study are: Fatigue; Perceived low physical functioning in daily life; Anxiety or depressive symptoms; CIPN (Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy).
The aim of the LION-COM study is to develop communication standards for health care professionals (HCPs) and develop an education module to train the future workforce. The LION-ELSI study is aimed at identifying and exploring facilitators and barriers of live-remote exercise, focusing on social and cultural factors.
Neo-Act
An app-based exercise study during preoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer.
The study focuses on individuals undergoing preoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer. This study aims to understand the impact of physical activity on treatment outcomes and overall well-being. We are looking for participants who currently exercise less than 150 minutes of moderate physical activity and less than 2 strength sessions per week. Participants need to have access to the internet and a computer or tablet, be able to read and write in Swedish, and be over 18 years of age.
Ex-Med
EX-MED Cancer Sweden involves live-remote delivery of exercise using a videoconferencing platform in order to improve availability and accessibility of exercise programs for cancer survivors to reduce long-term side effects of cancer and its' treatment and improve quality of life.
Sensi-ex
The aim of the Sensi-EX study is to compare the effects of sensory vibration training with standard strength and conditioning training on neuropathic symptoms such as loss of sensation in the hands and feet.
Prev-ex
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a structured and individualised strength training programme (occlusion training), combined with protein supplementation, in patients treated for pancreatic and biliary tract cancer.
PANCAID
PANCAID (PANcreatic CAncer Initial Detection via liquid biopsy) is an ambitious international research consortium that aims to make significant advancements in the early detection of pancreatic cancer through the development of a minimally invasive blood test.
We focus on the ethical aspects of early pancreatic cancer surveillance.
Previous projects
PRISM - A psychosocial intervention for teens and young adults with cancer
This research project aims to develop a standardized psychosocial support program for teenagers and young adults (16-30 years) who recently have been diagnosed with cancer. The support program is called PRISM which stands for Promoting Resilience in Stress Management. It has been developed and tested at Seattles Childrens Hospital in USA. We have now, together with the developers and several young patients with cancer from the patient organisation Young Cancer, adapted PRISM to our Swedish context as well as to a digital format.
OptiTrain
This randomised controlled trial compares the effect of different physical exercise regimens on the physical and mental well-being in women with breast cancer during and after chemo- and hormonal therapy. In a sub-group of participants, mitochondrial biogenesis and function and other molecular processes in skeletal muscle biopsies are studied. In another sub-group, the side-effect profile of the anti-hormonal treatment is investigated. The women are randomly allocated into three arms, a control arm with usual care and two different training arms. In a sub-set of the participants muscle biopsies will be obtained. Some women will also be asked to participate in an interview about the experiences of training during treatment.
This study will contribute to increased knowledge about the type, intensity and frequency of training that patients with breast cancer benefit most from with regards to impact on physical and mental wellbeing. Above all, the study will increase the possibility for evidence-based exercise recommendations for women with breast cancer during and after active treatment.
Long term follow-up of the intervention is currently ongoing.
Cogni-train
Long term follow- up of the intervention is currently ongoing
Other studies
aCent - a model for person-centred care and support
The purpose of the aCent research project is to develop and implement a model for person-centred systematic support interventions, as well as to evaluate how the model affects patients 'and family members' quality of life.
The project is a collaboration between Karolinska University Hospital, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Linnaeus University, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, Sophiahemmet University and Karolinska Institutet, with funding from the Swedish Blood Cancer Foundation and the Sjöberg Foundation.
Work after Allogenic stemcell transplantation (WaA)
The project consists of a finalized cross-sectional study and an ongoing prospective single-center study where quantitative and qualitative data is collected for five years. The project will provide knowledge about the life and work situation of these people and how they can be better supported during the rehabilitation phase.e.