Ferdinand von Walden

I am an Associate Professor of Physiology and Principal Investigator of the Muscle Biology, Mobility and Exercise (MyoMove) Lab at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet. I am also a pediatrician working at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic at Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, NKS, Solna.

The Muscle Biology, Mobility and Exercise (MyoMove) Lab conducts multidisciplinary research aimed at understanding how skeletal muscle and physical activity influence human health and function across the lifespan. Our research spans preclinical models and human studies, including both typically developing, healthy individuals and individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions across different stages of life.

A major focus of the group is molecular muscle biology, with a particular interest in ribosomes, the protein-producing machinery of the cell. We investigate whether and how different types of ribosomes can shape the capacity of skeletal muscle to produce force and energy and adapt to physiological challenges such as inflammation and muscle damage. This translational research program focuses on understanding conditions of muscle dysfunction, such as neuromuscular disorders and sarcopenia.

Another major research focus of the group is exercise physiology, where we study both acute responses and long-term adaptations to endurance and resistance exercise. Our studies include children, adolescents and adults, with a particular interest in how puberty and biological maturity shape the physiological response to exercise. We combine human physiology with molecular analyses of skeletal muscle to better understand the mechanisms underlying exercise adaptation.

A third area focuses on skeletal muscle and physical activity in cerebral palsy. Here, we investigate muscle function, cardiorespiratory fitness and physical capacity using physiological, functional and molecular approaches. We also study how exercise and interventions focused on gross motor function can be used to support physical function in children with cerebral palsy, including the use of frame running. These studies aim to bridge fundamental muscle biology with real-world improvements in mobility, health, and quality of life.