Karin Sundström

Karin Sundström

Principal Researcher
Visiting address: Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Huddinge, F56, 14186 Stockholm
Postal address: H9 Klinisk vetenskap, intervention och teknik, H9 CLT Centrum för Cervixcancereliminering Sundström, 141 52 Huddinge
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About me

  • I am a cancer epidemiologist and research group leader with a strong focus on
    molecular epidemiological studies conducted in the excellent Swedish register
    and biobank infrastructure. My main interest is in the elimination of human
    papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers through virological research and
    improved cervical screening and HPV-vaccination practices.
    Other chief interests include the development of biomarkers for female
    cancers including ovarian cancer. As such, I am involved with several
    projects in clinical biobanks of cytology and histology, which are strong
    resources for comprehensive studies on biomarkers for female disease.
    I collaborate with Professor Susanne Kruger Kjaer of the Danish Cancer
    Society, and the large MERMAID III initiative to prevent ovarian cancer
    (https://www.mermaidprojektet.dk/en/the-projects/ [1]).
    I previously served as Research Coordinator for NIASC, a Nordic-Baltic
    Center of Excellence in eHealth (www.nordicehealth.se [2]) where I was
    involved with projects on machine learning, text mining of medical records,
    and next-generation sequencing into metagenomics, for the improved prediction
    of screening-detectable cancer forms.
    I also have a keen interest in education at basic and advanced level and I
    lecture regularly at a number of programs at Karolinska Institutet.
    2022-2023 Swedish Cancer Society Project grant
    2020-2022 Center for Innovative Medicine (CIMED) Junior grant
    2020-2021 Grant from the Swedish Medical Society
    2019 Grant from Clas Groschinsky's Memorial Foundation
    2016. Jonas Söderquist Award for basic research in virology or immunology.
    2011. Awarded grant from Robert Lundberg Memorial Foundation for research on
    tumour-related diseases.
    2010. Research-Internship (“Forskar-AT”), to gain a medical license - AT
    at Karolinska University Hospital combined with funding for 1 year research
    time.
    2009. MD-PhD scholarship for four-year doctoral studies, awarded by the Board
    for Postgraduate Education’s Faculty Funds, Karolinska Institutet.
    2008. Winner of Idea Competition 2008. Arranged by Unit for
    Bioentrepreneurship, Karolinska Institutet.
    2008. Distinction for Excellent Scientific Project, awarded by the Committee
    for Elective Studies (KVP), Karolinska Institutet
    2007. Honorary Mention, McKinsey Award 2007. For “having shown a
    significant performance with good study results, good cooperation ability and
    great power of initiative”.
    2013. PhD in medical science, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    2009. MD, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    2005. BA in History of Art, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
    [1] https://www.mermaidprojektet.dk/en/the-projects/
    [2] http://www.nordicehealth.se

Research

  • My research revolves around the following areas:
    - Register-based optimization of cervical screening and HPV-vaccination
    - Biomarker research into new tests for cervical precancer/cancer, and
    ovarian cancer
    - Novel eScience/Big Data methods for enhancement of screening algorithms
    - Epidemiology and prevention of herpes zoster (shingles)
    Key collaborations
    - Cervical cancer and HPV infection, through the ACCES Project (acces.nu [1])
    - Deep sequencing of HPV16 infections
    - New cervical screening tests, through the BRIGHT project (Biobank- and
    register-based implementation of gynecological health technologies)
    - Biomarkers for ovarian cancer (MERMAID III)
    - Female Cancer Prediction Using Cervical Omics to
    Individualise Screening and Prevention (FORECEE.eu [2])
    - The Nordic Information for Action eScience Center (NIASC), a Nordic Center
    of Excellence in health-related eSciences (nordicehealth.se [3])
    [1] http://acces.nu
    [2] http://forecee.eu
    [3] http://nordicehealth.se

Teaching

  • /Postdoctoral supervision/
    Dr. Jiangrong Wang
    /Doctoral supervision, ongoing/
    Olof Grönlund (main supervisor)
    Qingyun Yao (main supervisor)
    Rasha Polcer (co-supervisor)
    Former co-supervisor of another 6 doctoral students, who have now defended
    their theses.
    /Master thesis supervision/
    2017, Jan-June. Supervisor of Public Health Sciences/Public Health
    Epidemiology student Teresa Kreusch's master thesis: “The association with
    cervical screening attendance - A Swedish national register-based cohort
    study”.
    /Pedagogics/Teaching/
    2019-2021
    Study Director for the KI Magister program in Diagnostic Cytology (60 HEC)
    2016
    Course in university level pedagogics, at KI, 7.5 university credits
    2015 - 2016
    Member of the KI Medical program’s Teachers’ Collegium for Primary Care
    (Primärvårdskollegium)
    2009 - 2016
    Lecturer within Scientific Development (Vetenskaplig Utveckling), a course in
    principles of science and evidence-based medicine for medical students.
    Active lecturer on semester 1, 6 and 10 during 2014-2015. Formally
    responsible for the VetU-tuition semester 6, during 2014-2015.

Articles

All other publications

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 2023-

Degrees and Education

  • Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 2013
  • University Medical Degree, Karolinska Institutet, 2009

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