Christina Carlander
About me
Senior Consultant of Infectious Diseases, sub-specialized in HIV care, at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital.
Assocate professor (docent in Swedish) and Group leader at the Department of Medicine Huddinge. Also affiliated to the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at KI, Solna.
Since 2021, I am the Director (registerhållare in Swedish) of the National Quality Register of HIV (InfCareHIV).
Research
My research is focused on register-based studies, mainly studying comorbidity in people living with HIV. Through linking of the Swedish National HIV Register InfCareHIV with other nationwide demographic and health registers we collect population-based data on an individual level to study time-trends, prediction-models, mortality rates and risk factors of comorbidity in people living with and without HIV. Read more about current projects here.
Articles
- Article: VACCINE. 2025;62:127580Moller IK; Hedberg P; Wagner P; Sparen P; Gisslen M; Naucler P; Aleman S; Bergman P; Carlander C
- Article: BLOOD ADVANCES. 2025;9(13):3170-3181Hedberg P; Blixt L; Sylvan SE; Moller IK; Lindahl H; Kahn F; Nilsdotter-Augustinsson A; Fredrikson M; Nystrom S; Bergman P; Carlander C; Aleman S; Osterborg P; Osterborg A; Hansson L
- Journal article: HIV MEDICINE. 2025;26(8):1311-1316Nilsson J; Elvstam O; Sorstedt E; Wagner P; Nowak P; Brannstrom J; Carlander C
- Article: OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2025;12(4):ofaf110Baeckdahl T; Hedberg P; Vesterbacka J; Carlander C; Sonnerborg A; Nowak P
- Article: LAKARTIDNINGEN. 2025;122:24097Carlander C; Borgfeldt C; Hammarstedt Nordenvall L
- Article: OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2025;12(2):ofaf016Elvstam O; Ryom L; Neesgaard B; Tau L; Gunthard HF; Zangerle R; Vehreschild JJ; Wit F; Sonnerborg A; Kovari H; Abutidze A; Petoumenos K; Jaschinski N; Hosein S; Bogner J; Grabmeier-Pfistershammer K; Garges H; Rooney J; Young L; Law M; Kirk O; RESPOND Study Grp F
- Article: INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2025;57(2):178-191Killander Moeller I; Hedberg P; Wagner P; Lindahl H; Nystroem S; Blixt L; Eketorp Sylvan S; Nilsdotter-Augustinsson A; Oesterborg A; Fredrikson M; Hansson L; Kahn F; Sparen P; Gisslen M; Naucler P; Bergman P; Aleman S; Carlander C
- Article: JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. 2025;155(2):387-397.e6Lindahl H; Kahn F; Nilsdotter-Augustinsson A; Fredrikson M; Hedberg P; Moeller IK; Hansson L; Blixt L; Sylvan SE; Osterborg A; Aleman S; Carlander C; Nilsdotter-Augustinsson A; Nystrom S; Bergman P
- Article: EJHAEM. 2025;6(1):e1077Hedberg P; Blixt L; Granath F; Bergman P; Carlander C; Aleman S; Hansson L; CLHIP SG
- Journal article: VALUE IN HEALTH. 2024;27(12):s453Sörstedt E; Nduva G; Hiltunen S; Repits J; Månsson F; Mellgren Å; Fernvik E; Stubbs A; Schroeder M; Brännström J; Carlander C
- Article: CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2024;79(5):1242-1257Tusch E; Ryom L; Pelchen-Matthews A; Mocroft A; Elbirt D; Oprea C; Guenthard HF; Staehelin C; Zangerle R; Suarez I; Vehreschild JJ; Wit F; Menozzi M; Monforte AD; Spagnuolo V; Pradier C; Carlander C; Suanzes P; Wasmuth J-C; Carr A; Petoumenos K; Borgans F; Bonnet F; De Wit S; El-Sadr W; Neesgaard B; Jaschinski N; Greenberg L; Hosein SR; Gallant J; Vannappagari V; Young L; Sabin C; Lundgren J; Peters L; Reekie J
- Journal article: BLOOD. 2024;144:4634Blixt L; Hedberg P; Sylvan SE; Moller IK; Lindahl H; Kahn F; Nilsdotter-Augustinsson A; Fredrikson M; Nystrom S; Rosenquist R; Bergman P; Carlander C; Aleman S; Osterborg A; Hansson L
- Article: EUROSURVEILLANCE. 2024;29(42):2400058Lundgren E; Locke M; Romero-Severson E; Dimitrijevic M; Axelsson M; Andersson E; Carlander C; Brannstroem J; Norrgren H; Mansson F; Elvstam O; Gisslen M; Fohlin L; Sonnerborg A; Albert J; Leitner T
- Article: LANCET HIV. 2024;11(10):e660-e669Pantazis N; Sabin CA; Grabar S; van der Valk M; Jarrin I; van Sighem A; Meyer L; Carlander C; Gill J; Anne AV; Spire B; Tariq S; Burns F; Costagliola D; Ruiz-Burga E; Touloumi G; Porter K
- Article: HIV MEDICINE. 2024;25(9):1058-1074Hutchinson J; Neesgard B; Kowalska J; Grabmeier-Pfistershammer K; Johnson M; Kusejko K; De Wit S; Wit F; Mussini C; Castagna A; Stecher M; Pradier C; Domingo P; Carlander C; Wasmuth J; Chkhartishvili N; Uzdaviniene V; Haberl A; Monforte AD; Garges H; Gallant J; Said M; Schmied B; van der Valk M; Konopnicki D; Jaschinski N; Mocroft A; Greenberg L; Burns F; Ryom L; Petoumenos K
- Article: INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2024;56(8):657-668Naver L; Albert J; Carlander C; Gisslen M; Pettersson K; Soeria-Atmadja S; Sonnerborg A; Westling K; Yilmaz A; Pettersson K
- Article: AIDS. 2023;37(13):2041-2048Dinh S; Malmstroem S; Moeller IK; Yilmaz A; Svedhem V; Carlander C
- Journal article: JAIDS-JOURNAL OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES. 2023;94(3):e5-e8Stenberg E; Carlander C; Cao Y; Ottosson J; Naeslund E
- Article: HIV MEDICINE. 2023;24(10):1045-1055Moller IK; Gisslen M; Wagner P; Sparen P; Carlander C
- Article: BMJ OPEN. 2023;13(5):e070837Ruiz-Burga E; Tariq S; Touloumi G; Gill J; Nicholls EJ; Sabin C; Mussini C; Meyer L; Anne AV; Carlander C; Grabar S; Jarrin I; Van der Valk M; Wittkop L; Spire B; Pantazis N; Burns FM; Porter K
- Article: BMJ OPEN. 2023;13(3):e069688Carlander C; Brannstrom J; Mansson F; Elvstam O; Albinsson P; Blom S; Mattsson L; Hovmoller S; Norrgren H; Mellgren A; Svedhem V; Gisslen M; Sonnerborg A
- Article: AIDS. 2022;36(13):1829-1834Elvstam O; Marrone G; Engstrom G; Nilsson PM; Carlander C; Treutiger CJ; Gisslen M; Bjorkman P
- Article: CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2022;74(7):1199-1207Wangdahl A; Sonden K; Wyss K; Stenstrom C; Bjorklund D; Zhang J; Askling HH; Carlander C; Hellgren U; Farnert A
- Article: AIDS. 2022;36(3):447-457Failure to restore CD4+ cell count associated with infection-related and noninfection-related cancerMalmstrom S; Wagner P; Yilmaz A; Svedhem V; Carlander C
- Article: AIDS. 2021;35(14):2367-2374Carlander C; Lagheden C; Eklund C; Kleppe SN; Dzabic M; Wagner P; Sparen P; Dillner J
- Article: AIDS. 2021;35(1):115-123Carlander C; Wagner P; Yilmaz A; Sparen P; Svedhem V
- Article: CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY BIOMARKERS & PREVENTION. 2020;29(12):2662-2668Carlander C; Lagheden C; Eklund C; Kleppe SN; Dzabic M; Wagner P; Yilmaz A; Elfgren K; Sonnerborg A; Sparen P; Dillner J
- Article: INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2020;52(10):705-712Krifors A; Radberg G; Golbob S; Omar Z; Svensson C; Heimer D; Carlander C
- Article: AIDS. 2018;32(11):1475-1484Carlander C; Wagner P; van Beirs A; Yilmaz A; Elfgren K; Dillner J; Sonnerborg A; Sparen P
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS. 2018;51(5):733-738Sorstedt E; Carlander C; Flamholc L; Hejdeman B; Svedhem V; Sonnerborg A; Gisslen M; Yilmaz A
- Article: BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY. 2017;124(11):1680-1687Carlander C; Marrone G; Brannstrom J; Yilmaz A; Elfgren K; Sparen P; Sonnerborg A
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER. 2016;139(7):1471-1479Carlander C; Wagner P; Svedhem V; Elfgren K; Westling K; Sonnerborg A; Sparen P
- Show more
All other publications
- Review: PLOS ONE. 2024;19(12):e0295462Karakosta A; Ruiz-Burga E; Tariq S; Touloumi G; Nicholls EJ; Pantazis N; Jarrin I; Van der Valkid M; Sabin C; Mussini C; Meyer L; Anne AV; Carlander C; Grabar S; Wittkop L; Spire B; Gill J; Porter K; Burns F
- Conference publication: VALUE IN HEALTH. 2024;27(12)Sorstedt E; Nduva G; Hiltunen S; Repits J; Mansson F; Mellgren A; Fernvik E; Stubbs A; Schroeder M; Brannstrom J; Carlander C
- Conference publication: JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY. 2024;27:273-275Timiryasova A; Greenberg L; Domingo P; Tarr PE; Egle A; Martin C; Mussini C; Wit F; Cingolani A; Vehreschild JJ; Castagna A; Petoumenos K; Sabin C; El-Sadr W; Bonnet F; Lundgren J; Botanelli M; Hosein S; Carlander C; Amstutz A; Grabmeier-Pfistershammer K; Garges H; Marongiu A; Young LA; Peters L; Ryom L
- Preprint: MEDRXIV. 2023Karakosta A; Ruiz-Burga E; Tariq S; Touloumi G; Nicholls EJ; Pantazis N; Jarrin I; Van der Valk M; Sabin C; Mussini C; Meyer L; Anne AV; Carlander C; Grabar S; Wittkop L; Spire B; Gill J; Porter K; Burns F; Collaboration C
- Conference publication: HIV MEDICINE. 2023;24:696-697Nilsson J; Elvstam O; Sorstedt E; Nowak P; Brannstrom J; Carlander C
- Conference publication: HIV MEDICINE. 2023;24:686-688Moller IK; Hedberg P; Sparen P; Gisslen M; Naucler P; Carlander C
- Review: INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2020;52(5):295-329Eriksen J; Carlander C; Albert J; Flamholc L; Gisslen M; Naver L; Svedhem V; Yilmaz A; Sonnerborg A
- Conference publication: HIV MEDICINE. 2019;20:195-196Carlander C; Wagner P; Sparen P; Svedhem V
- Doctoral thesis: 2018Carlander C
- Review: INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2018;50(7):495-506Naver L; Albert J; Carlander C; Flamholc L; Gisslen M; Karlstrom O; Svedhem-Johansson V; Sonnerborg A; Westling K; Yilmaz A; Pettersson K
- Letter: BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY. 2017;124(11):1795Carlander C
- Review: INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2017;49(1):1-34Eriksen J; Albert J; Blaxhult A; Carlander C; Flamholc L; Gisslen M; Josephson F; Karlstrom O; Naver L; Svedhem V; Yilmaz A; Sonnerborg A
- Review: INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2016;48(2):93-98Gaines H; Albert J; Axelsson M; Berglund T; Gisslen M; Sonnerborg A; Blaxhult A; Bogdanovic G; Brytting M; Carlander C; Flamholc L; Follin P; Haggar A; Hagstam P; Johansson M; Naver L; Blom JP; Samuelson A; Strom H; Sundqvist M; Johansson VS; Wisell KT; Tegnell A; Thorstensson R
- Review: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2014;46(10):673-677Albert J; Berglund T; Gisslen M; Groon P; Sonnerborg A; Tegnell A; Alexandersson A; Berggren I; Blaxhult A; Brytting M; Carlander C; Carlson J; Flamholc L; Follin P; Haggar A; Hansdotter F; Josephson F; Karlstrom O; Liljeros F; Naver L; Pettersson K; Johansson VS; Svennerholm B; Tunback P; Widgren K
- Review: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2014;46(6):401-411Naver L; Albert J; Bottiger Y; Carlander C; Flamholc L; Gisslen M; Josephson F; Karlstrom O; Lindborg L; Svedhem-Johansson V; Svennerholm B; Sonnerborg A; Yilmaz A; Pettersson K
Grants
- Swedish Research Council1 January 2025 - 31 December 2028Anal cancer incidence is rising globally. The International Anal Neoplasia Society recommends screening high-risk individuals using high-resolution anoscopy (HRA). However, most countries lack anal cancer screening guidelines, and HRA's limited availability necessitates more efficient risk stratification methods. This project aims to advance anal cancer prevention through comprehensive register-based research and innovative biomarker discovery, with a particular focus on women, an understudied population in anal cancer research. Our objectives are toI) quantify Sweden's anal cancer burden, stratifying by immune status to identify risk groups, II) evaluate the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and acceptability of implementing international anal cancer screening guidelines for women with HIV, III) investigate DNA methylation markers' predictive potential for precancerous anal lesion progression, and IV) assess circulating HPV DNA in plasma as a pre-diagnostic biomarker for anal cancer. We will utilize national registers and international collaborations throughI) a nationwide register-based cohort study of anal cancer burden, II) a prospective register-based study of anal cancer screening in women with HIV, III) analysis of DNA methylation markers in anal samples, and IV) an international register-based nested case-control study of circulating HPV DNA. This project will generate crucial knowledge to inform evidence-based anal cancer prevention policies for high-risk groups.
- Swedish Research Council1 January 2025 - 31 December 2028Despite an increased risk of cancer in people with HIV, the only current HIV specific cancer screening guideline is for cervical-cancer-screening, to which our research-group has earlier contributed. Clearly, there is a need for HIV specific screening guidelines for other cancersbreast, lung, anal, and colon cancer, where an increased risk, earlier debut, or poorer prognosis among people with HIV has been identified. The aim of this project is to firstly develop predictive models for cancer risk in people with HIV, using unsupervised machine learning techniques on datasets based on demographic, socioeconomic, HIV-related, and comorbidity factors. Secondly, we aim to evaluate these prediction models through counterfactual prediction to justify the development of a clinical user-friendly tool to help guide individualized cancer prevention and screening for the population with HIV. To our knowledge this is the first project using machinelearning to create cancer-prediction models in an HIV-population. In summary, our aim is to create a clinical tool "HIVigilant: Cancer Screening Guide”, for individualized cancer prevention and screening of the population with HIV. This clinical tool can be integrated in the HIV register for easy access and use for all HIV clinicians in Sweden. This will save lives and reduce the burden of cancer among people with HIV. The knowledge that this project contributes can also be useful in the work of cancer prevention in the general population.
- Swedish Research Council1 January 2025 - 31 December 2028Despite an increased risk of cancer in people with HIV, the only current HIV specific cancer-screening guideline is for cervical-cancer-screening, to which our research-group has earlier contributed. Clearly, there is a need for HIV specific screening guidelines for other cancersbreast, lung, anal, and colon cancer, where an increased risk, earlier debut, or poorer prognosis among people with HIV has been identified. The aim of this project is to firstly develop predictive models for cancer risk in people with HIV, using unsupervised machine learning techniques on datasets based on demographic, socioeconomic, HIV-related, and comorbidity factors. Secondly, we aim to evaluate these prediction models through counterfactual prediction to justify the development of a clinical user-friendly tool to help guide individualized cancer prevention and screening for the population with HIV. To our knowledge this is the first project using machine-learning to create cancer-prediction models in an HIV-population. In summary, our aim is to create a clinical tool "HIVigilant: Cancer Screening Guide”, for individualized cancer prevention and screening of the population with HIV. This clinical tool can be integrated in the HIV register for easy access and use for all HIV clinicians in Sweden. This will save lives and reduce the burden of cancer among people with HIV. The knowledge that this project contributes can also be useful in the work of cancer prevention in the general population.
- Swedish Research Council1 December 2024 - 30 November 2028Anal cancer incidence is rising globally. The International Anal Neoplasia Society recommends screening high-risk individuals using high-resolution anoscopy (HRA). However, most countries lack anal cancer screening guidelines, and HRA´s limited availability necessitates more efficient risk stratification methods. This project aims to advance anal cancer prevention through comprehensive register-based research and innovative biomarker discovery, with a particular focus on women, an understudied population in anal cancer research. Our objectives are toI) quantify Sweden´s anal cancer burden, stratifying by immune status to identify risk groups, II) evaluate the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and acceptability of implementing international anal cancer screening guidelines for women with HIV, III) investigate DNA methylation markers´ predictive potential for precancerous anal lesion progression, and IV) assess circulating HPV DNA in plasma as a pre-diagnostic biomarker for anal cancer. We will utilize national registers and international collaborations throughI) a nationwide register-based cohort study of anal cancer burden, II) a prospective register-based study of anal cancer screening in women with HIV, III) analysis of DNA methylation markers in anal samples, and IV) an international register-based nested case-control study of circulating HPV DNA. This project will generate crucial knowledge to inform evidence-based anal cancer prevention policies for high-risk groups.
- Comorbidity in people with HIVThe Gilead Sciences Nordic Fellowship, unrestricted1 January 2023 - 1 January 2025
- Immunological non-response despite viral suppression-incidence and risk factorsSwedish Doctors against AIDS Research foundation1 January 2022 - 1 January 2025
- Swedish Research Council1 June 2021 - 31 May 2025
- Risk of severe COVID-19 in people living with HIVThe Gilead Sciences Nordic Fellowship, unrestricted1 January 2020 - 1 January 2023
- Employment status of people living with and without HIV in SwedenSwedish Doctors against AIDS Research foundation1 January 2019 - 1 January 2021
Employments
- Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2025
- Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2025
Degrees and Education
- Associate professor, Infectious Diseases, Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2024
- Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2019