Elizabeth Arkema

Elizabeth Arkema

Principal Researcher | Docent

Epidemiologist focused on immune-mediated diseases, using observational data to generate real-world impact.

Visiting address: Maria Aspmans gata 30A, 17164 Solna
Postal address: K2 Medicin, Solna, K2 KEP Askling Arkema, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • I am a researcher focused on advancing understanding of complex immune-mediated diseases, including lupus and sarcoidosis. My work integrates epidemiologic methods with clinical data to investigate risk factors, biological signatures and outcomes to improve how these conditions are understood and managed. I have extensive experience working with large-scale data and in multidisciplinary collaborations, bringing together epidemiology, biostatistics and clinical research.

    I lead a team of students and researchers focused on leveraging observational data to strengthen the evidence base for the care of people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. My overall goal is to generate findings that can have real-world impact. I currently serve as Chair of the Strategic Research Area in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (SFO Epi) at Karolinska Institutet where I lead efforts to strengthen collaboration, support research development, and shape strategic research priorities in epidemiology.

    Education

    Doctoral degree in epidemiology 2013, Harvard School of Public Health

    Master's degree in epidemiology 2009, Harvard School of Public Health

    Bachelor's degree 2004, Princeton University


    Awards and honors
    Young Scholar Award, Strategic Research Area in Epidemiology at KI, 2017
    Docent in Epidemiology, 2018
    Sven and Ebba Hagberg Prize, 2020

    Professional activities

    Chair, SFO Epidemiology (SFO EpiBiostats), Karolinksa Institutet, 2026-2029

    Member, Educational Committee, Global Public Health Department, Karolinska Institutet, 2022 to present

    Member of numerous doctoral thesis defense committees

Research

  • I lead a team investigating the causes and consequences of chronic inflammatory diseases, applying epidemiological methods to observational data. My research focuses on sarcoidosis and systemic lupus erythematosus, two complex and heterogeneous immune-mediated diseases. I am principal investigator of two large multi-register data linkage projects which we use to fill critical gaps in knowldge about sarcoidosis and SLE.

    Sarcoidosis
    We have several completed and ongoing projects examining the long-term effects of sarcoidosis with the aim of providing information for patients and doctors to make evidence-based decisions in treatment and care. I am also the principal investigator of a study on preclinical sarcoidosis which aims to better understand the causes of sarcoidosis and identify biomarkers for disease. 

    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
    Our focus is on quantifying risks of comorbidities associated with lupus, and examining the effect of medications on comorbidity risk. I have several projects studying adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with lupus and adverse events in their children.

Teaching

  • Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (Master's Program in Global Public Health, Epidemiology Track, course 4FH099), organizer and lecturer

    Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PhD Course 2790), lecturer (former organizer)

    Supervised PhD and Master’s students in epidemiology with trainees progressing to roles in academia, clinical research and industry.

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
  • Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2021
    Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that primarily affects the lungs, but other organs can also be affected. Sweden has the highest incidence of sarcoid in the world with 1100 new diagnoses per year. The disease has a significant negative impact on the quality of life and reduces life expectancy. Previous research suggests that sarcoid is linked to cancer because they share a defective immune system. Sarcoidosis patients are more often affected by cancer, moreover, sarcoidosis usually occurs after treatment in cancer patients. Knowledge of a link between sarcoid and cancer is limited because it is difficult to explore two diseases that are challenging to diagnose. We will combine large data sets from health data and quality registries with more detailed information from patient records. We will apply epidemiological methods to investigate whether sarcoid patients develop malignancy more frequently than the general population. In addition, we will investigate whether cancer patients are more often affected by sarcoid and whether the treatment affects the risk of developing sarcoid. Clinical information will be examined in detail from patients with both sarcoid and malignancy to validate the diagnoses with the goal of reducing misclassifications of sarcoid and malignancy, respectively, in the future. Our results will lead to new fundamental knowledge. This knowledge is necessary to improve our strategy for diagnosing and treating both sarcoid and cancer. Our research will lead to better understanding of how sarcoid and malignancy are related to each other. We want to identify factors that make it easier to distinguish between malignancy and sarcoid, so that unnecessary treatments and tests can be avoided.
  • Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2018 - 31 December 2021
  • Novel Anti-Citrullinated Peptide to antibodies,Cytokines and RA
    Arthritis Foundation
    1 July 2012 - 30 June 2013

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2018

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