Cesare Patrone

Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer

Researh Group: https://ki.se/en/kisos/the-neurocardiometabol-group

The diabetic population is at a very high risk for developing central neurological complications such as stroke. To address this major unmet need, I was recruited in February 2009 to KI SÖS to establish a preclinical research group. Since then, the group has expanded into a larger translational research environment that integrates both basic and clinical research.

I am responsible for planning, coordinating, and conducting research in experimental neuroscience and stroke in diabetes, and I share the leadership of the group with Professor Thomas Nyström. Our team currently includes two senior researchers, one assistant professor, one postdoctoral fellow, and two PhD students. In addition, eighteen clinicians and researchers from the Department of Internal Medicine at Södersjukhuset are scientifically affiliated with the group, contributing to a strong translational and collaborative framework.

2001-2009: Senior Researcher and Manager at Neuronova AB, Stockholm, Sweden

2000-2001: Postdoctoral Fellow, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

1998-2000: Postdoctoral Fellow, Uppsala University, Sweden

1998: PhD in Neurobiology, Milano University, Italy

Research grants and awards as Principal Investigator

Diabetesfonden; 2026

STROKE Riksförbundet; 2025

STROKE Riksförbundet; 2026

The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskasprådet); 2022-2025

Hjärnfonden 2022

Hjärnfonden 2021

Diabetesfonden; 2020-2021

The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskasprådet); 2018-2021

European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes/Sanofi European DiabetesResearch Programme in Macrovascular Complications; 2019

 
Award “Investigator Study IIS” Boehringer Ing. Sweden; 2018

Konung Gustaf V:s och Drottning Victorias Frimurarestiftelse; 2012-2017

 
Åhlén Stiftelse; 2012-2018

O. E. och Edla Johanssons Stiftelse; 2016-2018

 
Magnus Bergvalls Stiftelse; 2011-2016

 
STROKE Riksförbundet; 2018-2020

 
Diabetesfonden; 2014-2015

Novo Nordisk Foundation; 2014

Syskonen Svensson Stiftelse; 2017

 
European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes; 2013

 
Diabetes Wellness; 2010

Stohnes stiftelse; 2010, 2012, 2015

 
STROKE Riksförbundet; 2011-2014

 
European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes; 2009

Courses

2018 Assess the structure of examination of projects, Workshop, Karolinska 
Institutet

2013 Docent in neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet

2011 Course in "Assessment in Higher Education", Karolinska Institutet

2011 Basic Course in Education for University Teachers, Karolinska 
Institutet

2010 Introductory Doctoral Supervision Course, Karolinska Institutet

2010 Work environment issues and manager responsibilities , Karolinska 
Institutet

2009 Laboratory Animal Science (FELASA) certificate, Karolinska Institutet

2008 Applied Project Management Courses, Wenell Management AB, Stockholm

2007 Courses in Clinical Trials, Trial Form Support AB, Lund

1998 PhD in Neurobiology, University of Milan, Italy.

1992 University of Milan, Italy, Laurea and M.Sc. Biological Sciences

Stroke and Diabetes
The focus is along two research lines, see also the Research Group at: https://ki.se/en/kisos/the-neurocardiometabol-group

1. The identification of efficacious preclinical therapies for the treatment of stroke in diabetes.
2. The study of the cellular mechanisms at the basis of the neurological complications of diabetes.

Stroke affects several million people worldwide, of which a substantial proportion of cases present in patients suffering from diabetes. Diabetes is
widespread and represents a leading cause of death. About 90 % of the medical and social costs associated with diabetes are dominated by care for macrovascular complications such as stroke. Therefore it is important to identify strategies aimed at prevent stroke in diabetes but also improve
post-stroke outcome in diabetic individuals.

1. We recently showed that inducing weight loss in diabetes to the extent that glucose metabolism is normalized significantly improves stroke outcome: https://news.ki.se/weight-loss-may-repair-the-brain-after-stroke-in-diabetes [1] . The findings have been published in /Cardiovascular Diabetology/ and in Diabetologia Weight loss with GLP-1 analogues in diabetes benefits stroke recovery | Karolinska Institutet (2)
2. GLP-1R agonists are commonly used drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. We were the first in 2012 to show that the activation of the glucagon-like receptor 1 (GLP-1R) is neuroprotective against stroke in type 2 diabetic rodents. The findings have been published in /Clinical Science/:https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/22150224/ [3]
3. In 2021, we showed that this pharmacological strategy can also improve post-stroke functional recovery. The findings have been published in the British Journal of Pharmacology/https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/33973246/ [4]
4. We demonstrated a similar stroke efficacy as for the GLP-1R agonists for another class of clinically used drugs against diabetes called DPP-4 inhibitors. The findings were published in /Diabetes/ in 2012 https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/23209191/ [5] and 2021 https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/32540876/ [6]. See also the press release about the findings 2012 https://news.ki.se/diabetes-drug-may-reduce-brain-damage-after-stroke [7]
5. We identified several cellular mechanisms that are induced by diabetes and play a detrimental role in the impairment of stroke recovery. Among the most recent publications are the findings recently published in /Clinical Science /https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/31235555/ [8] and /Acta Neuropathologica Communications /https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/29471869/ [9]

[1] https://news.ki.se/weight-loss-may-repair-the-brain-after-stroke-in-diabetes

[2] Pre-stroke weight loss by glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor and neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 activation improves post-stroke functional recovery in male diabetic mouse models - PubMed
[3] https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/22150224/
[4] https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/33973246/
[5] https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/23209191/
[6] https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/32540876/
[7] https://news.ki.se/diabetes-drug-may-reduce-brain-damage-after-stroke
[8] https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/31235555/
[9] https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.kib.ki.se/29471869/

July 2013- ongoing*, Project Coordinator/Examiner in degree projects in medicine, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics [1], KI. The 
position involves reviewing the students’ work-plan, half time and final thesis, arrange seminars and examine the work.

In this course, I have coordinated and examined a few hundred students.

 
2015- 2020* Visiting Professor (1 week/year), Univ. of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
[1] http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=9600&;amp;l=en