Ingrid Kockum

Ingrid Kockum

Professor
Visiting address: L8:05, CMM Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset Solna, 17176 Stockholm
Postal address: K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 Neuro Kockum, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • You can reach me by phone: +46 76 7808001

    Professor of Genetic Epidemiology with focus on Multiple Sclerosis 2016-present

    Director of Doctoral studies at Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Karolinska Institutet 2019-present

    Vice-chair Nordic society for human genetics and precision medicine .

    Currently receives research funding from Swedish Medical research Council, Horizon Europe, Vinnova, Hjärnfonden, National MS society (USA), Margaretha af Ugglas foundation and Karolinska Institutet

    Currently supervises 4 PhD student and co-supervises 3 PhD students

    Professor Ingrid Kockum grew up on a farm in Skåne in Southern Sweden. She completed her undergraduate studies in 1989 at Newnham College, Cambridge, UK, in natural sciences majoring in zoology with focus in molecular biology. She started her PhD studies in immunogenetics of type 1 diabetes at Lund University, Sweden and University of Washington, Seattle, USA, but defended her thesis at Karolinska Insitutet in 1995. She continued her research in the genetics of type 1 diabetes as a postdoc at the Wellcome Trust Center for Human Genetics, Oxford University, UK (1996-1997) and at Karolinska Insitutet, now focusing on the role of genes outside of the MHC region.

    Between 2001-2005 she lead the Multifactrorial disease genetics research group at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at Karolinska Insitutet and studied genetics of type 1 diabetes, atopic dermatitis, bipolar disease and alcoholism. In 2006 she joined the Neuroimmunology Unit at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and changed the focus of her research to genetic epidemiology of multiple sclerosis, having since 2014 led the Multiple Sclerosis genetic epidemiology research group. In 2007 she became Associate Professor in genetics. Between 2017 and 2023 she was coordinating the Horizon 2020 funded MultipleMS project. Currently coordinates the Horizon Europe funded WISDOM project.

    Education
    - BA (2-1 hon) Natural Sciences (Cell and molecular biology), University of Cambridge, UK 1989
    - Population-based analysis of the HLA associated risk for IDDM’ Karolinska Institutet 1995
    - Docent in Genetics, 2007, Karolinska Institutet

Research

  • During the most recent years Ingrid’s research has focused on

    - identification of novel genetic susceptibility variants for multiple sclerosis conducted in collaboration with IMSGC and deCODE genetics
    - identification of genetic control of severity/progression of MS which also including investigating novel ways of measuring severity of MS
    - identification of interactions between genetic and lifestyle risk factors for MS
    - study of the role of viral infections in MS
    - identification of novel protein biomarkers for MS
    - precision medicine for multiple sclerosis including modeling of MS risk and prognosis of MS

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2027
    Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the leading cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults in Europe. The etiology is unclear. Twin studies suggest that environment and/or lifestyle play a crucial etiological role. We have initiated a population-based case-control study, called EIMS, where individual and environmental factors are investigated systematically with concomitant genetic information. Newly diagnosed cases of MS and randomly chosen controls are identified and asked about e.g. socio-demographic factors, lifestyle/environmental factors, sunlight exposure, hormonal factors, vaccinations, infections, atopic disease, trauma, various work-related exposures and psychosocial factors. For both cases and controls blood samples are taken for genetic analysis since environmental exposure probably contributes to disease only in individuals with certain genotypes. Cases are followed regarding course of disease. Today, data from 4300 cases and 7200 controls have been gathered and so far very interesting and important findings have emerged. If environmental and/or lifestyle factors can be identified as contributing causes to the onset- or course of MS, this will enable preventive measures, which can lead to important gains regarding health, working life and economics, both on the individual and societal level. Funds are sought for collection of data, analysis of a set of factors that have not yet been explored and in-depth analyzes of previously identified factors.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2028
    Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a complex autoimmune disorder affecting mainly young adults, with a higher prevalence in women. Its diverse symptoms and inherent progression complexity hinder early detection and personalized prognostic evaluations. This proposal aspires to enhance health outcomes, elucidate MS’s intricate mechanisms, and reduce neurological disabilities through innovative, transformative methodologies.The objective is to develop advanced predictive models by harnessing extensive multimodal data, facilitating early detection, and personalized interventions. The project is organized in 6 different but interconnected tasks and will run for 5 years. We will integrate clinical, lifestyle, and ´omics´ data. By targeting the prodromal phase of MS, we aspire to devise impactful intervention strategies and project disease progression, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) serving as the cornerstone for analyzing data. We will test the MS prediction among first degree relatives. We will also identify biomarkers for MS risk and severity and genetic factors associated with MS severity. A special focus will be on role of sex hormones.Employing advanced analytical techniques, network theories, autoencoders and deep learning, we will probe the multifaceted nature of MS using one of the world’s leading MS-specific databases. This will contribute to more comprehensive and individualized MS treatment approaches.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
    In MS, immune cells from the blood enter the central nervous system causing damage to nerve tracts. With time, MS becomes progressive with increased disabilities. Some therapies can dampen the relapse rates up to 90%, but act broadly on immunity, which can lead to severe complications.  Since MS is due to inflammation, the disease should be curable. We study the causes, pathogenesis and severity/progression of MS in large-scale clinical MS materials, integrated with molecular genetics/immunology and studies in rodent models, to achieve prevention and precise treatment. The current project focus on function of factors we have found to be strongly associated to disease, and thereby deemed relevant and often unique for MS, providing a basis for precision medicine. We aim to: 1) Further define, lifestyle/environmental factors and pathways that drive MS risk and severity/progression. 2) Decipher gene-environment interactions, and interactions between environmental factors. 3) Define the function of selected MS gene loci and environmental factors. 4) Define disease relevant T cells, and explore precise tolerance therapies
    first in rodent MS models, in which the detailed knowledge of auto-antigenic targets have enabled precise therapies and cure. Translation to human MS is expected. 5) Develop MS biomarkers in blood samples for diagnosis, severity, prognosis and disease heterogeneity. We approach these aims in ten different, but strongly inter-related sub-projects.
  • VINNOVA
    15 November 2021 - 31 January 2022
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2024
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2024
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2024
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2020 - 31 December 2023
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2018 - 31 December 2022
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2018 - 31 December 2020
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2017 - 31 December 2020
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2016 - 31 December 2018
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2013 - 31 December 2017
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2009 - 31 December 2011
  • Fine Mapping of type I diabetes susceptibility genes and investigation of their role in type II diabetes susceptibility
    Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
    1 October 2000 - 30 September 2005
  • Fine Mapping of type I diabetes susceptibility genes and investigation of their role in type II diabetes susceptibility
    Breakthrough T1D
    1 October 2000 - 30 September 2005

Employments

  • Professor, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2016-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2007

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