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, Hjärnfonden, Pfizer, Region Stockholm (ALF), Åke Löwnertz stiftelse and Karolinska Institutet

    Currently main supervisor for 2 PhD students and co-supervisor for 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 (https://www.multiplems.eu/). Currently coordinates the Horizon Europe funded WISDOM project (https://wisdomhorizon.eu/).

    Education
    - BA (2-1 hon) Natural Sciences (Cell and molecular biology), University of Cambridge, UK 1989
    - PhD '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 with particular focus on molecular mimicry
    - 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

  • Deciphering Multiple Sclerosis: A Data-Intensive Approach to Unraveling Clinical and Molecular Complexities through Graph and Language Modeling
    The SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science
    1 May 2026 - 30 April 2030
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2026 - 31 December 2028
    Multiple sclerosis (MS) is common among young adults. Serious neurological deficits evolve. There are efficient treatments, but with risks. Progressive disease ensues despite treatments. Development of precise treatments is hampered by insufficient knowledge of the pathogenesis. Autoimmunity to the central nervous system (CNS) tissue is a likely mechanism, perhaps triggered by molecular mimicry to pathogens like Epstein Barr virus (EBV), along with other lifestyle/environmental factors. They interact with MS disposing genes. We will: 1) determine how molecular mimicry between MS associated pathogens may lead to and perhaps perpetuate MS. 2) Establish the relevance of viral cross-reactive immune responses to central nervous system (CNS) tissue antigens by extensively characterizing their frequency, function and pathogenicity. 3) Identify novel autoantigenic targets of pathogenic immune responses, not necessarily resulting from pathogen molecular mimicry. 4) Test the CNS inflammatory pathogenic potential of selected mimicry antigens, and other novel autoantigens in mouse models experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). 5) Use spatial transcriptomics, to localize target autoantigens and their expression in MS brains/lesions, healthy human brains and in EAE. 6) The Epstein Barr virus1, EBNA1 molecule has a central role in molecular mimicry and viral replication. We therefore will construct a mouse transgenic model for immune and therapeutic studies.
  • Improving prediction of multiple sclerosis, algorithmic approaches and biomarkers
    Region Stockholm ALF Medicin
    1 January 2026 - 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 4 different but interconnected tasks and will run for 3 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. 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 earlier diagnosis of MS and opening up for reduction of the disease by personalized changes in lifestyle and possibly preventative treatments in the future.
  • PREDICT- Prospective study to develop a disease-risk stratification model in a cohort of relatives of MS patients
    Åke Löwnertz Stiftelse för Neurologisk Forskning
    1 January 2026 - 31 December 2026
  • Unlocking the therapeutic potential of EBV in MS
    Pfizer (United States)
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2026
  • 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 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.
  • Deep-learning methods for risk and heterogeneity in MS
    Hjärnfonden
    1 July 2024 - 30 June 2026
  • European Commission
    1 December 2023 - 30 November 2028
    Enabling integration of medical and research data, secure data sharing and leveraging responsible state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI)-mediated models opens immense possibilities to mitigate the impact of chronic immune-mediated diseases (CIMDs) affecting 10% of Europeans. Eight European universities, leaders in the medical and analytical field, three SMEs, one research institute and one company, at the forefront of clinical AI implementation, data infrastructure, and security, and a Patient Organisation formed the consortium WISDOM. The consortium's overarching aim is to convert complex biological information from the existing data sources into actionable insights. WISDOM builds on the premise that computational tools can provide valuable knowledge and guide decision-making at critical stages in the individual patient journey, from diagnosis to treatment initiation and optimisation. To unlock the potential of the existing data, WISDOM will address barriers of data integration and accessibility and deploy novel approaches for data processing, harmonisation, integration, and secure, trustworthy data sharing with federated access. WISDOM aims to develop computational risk stratification and outcome prediction models and tools in different CIMD use cases, building on large EU-funded multimodal datasets, and prospectively validate them on technical, clinical and user aspects to facilitate data-driven and patient-focused diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. WISDOM aims to promote the widespread utilisation of data and facilitate responsible and critical assessment of the use of AI in healthcare using an end-user guided approach leveraging collaboration among clinicians, researchers, legal and AI experts, patient associations and rich stakeholder expertise. WISDOM’s ultimate ambition is to revolutionise the integration, management, and analysis of health data across diseases and borders to promote personalised interventions and well-being.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
  • Genetic and protein biomarkers for severity of multiple sclerosis
    Karolinska Institutet
    1 October 2022 - 30 September 2026
    The overall aim of this study is to identify genetic polymorphisms associated with severity and progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and biomarkers of MS and MS severity. The long-term goal is to identify biological processes that control severity in MS, which will allow identification of target molecules for novel treatments of the progressive MS phase. Identification of biomarkers for early detection of MS and those who are at risk of developing severe disease will improve the use of current treatments.
  • Analysis of pathogenic variants in the galactosylceramidase gene in patients with diagnosed primary progressive multiple sclerosis. A collaboartive study with Neurogene INC
    Neurogene INC
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2023
  • Genetic and lifestyle data applied to disentangling Multiple Sclerosis susceptibility and prognosis in order to accelerate personalized medicine
    Åke Löwnertz Stiftelse för Neurologisk Forskning
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2022
  • Genetiska och protein biomarkörer för risk och svårighetsgrad av multipe skleros för applikation till skräddarsydd behandling
    Region Stockholm ALF Medicin
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2024
  • VINNOVA
    15 November 2021 - 31 January 2022
  • Genetiska och protein biomarkörer för risk och svårighetsgrad av multipe skleros
    Hjärnfonden
    1 July 2021 - 30 June 2023
  • Early detection of multiple sclerosis patients using combined genetic, lifestyle and social environment risk score
    Genomics Medicine Sweden
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2022
  • Swedish Research Council
    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 2021 - 31 December 2025
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Employments

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

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2007

Leadership and responsibility assignments

  • Director of studies, Director of Doctoral Studies, Department of clinical neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2019-

Supervision

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