Kristian Dreij

Kristian Dreij

Principal Researcher | Docent
Visiting address: Nobels väg 13, 17177 Stockholm
Postal address: C6 Institutet för miljömedicin, C6 Biokemisk toxikologi Dreij, 171 77 Stockholm
Part of:

About me

  • Head of Unit and Research Group Leader at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.


    I earned my Ph.D. in Toxicology in 2005 from the laboratory of Prof. Jernström at KI. My research focused on the protective role of cellular metabolism and DNA repair against carcinogenic environmental contaminants. Following my Ph.D., I worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Prof. Scicchitano at the Department of Biology, New York University, where our project focused on the effects of chemical interactions with DNA and how cells deal with the resulting damage.


    My current research aims to shift the focus from studying the genotoxic effects of single chemicals to understanding the effects of complex mixtures found in our environment. We investigate genotoxicity in exposed populations and on human cells using environmental samples. This allows us to identify mechanisms of mixture toxicity and improve health risk assessment of environmental pollution. Current projects focus on urban and rural air pollution, and past projects have investigated genotoxic mixture effects in the context of soil contamination, indoor air quality in pre-schools, and occupational exposure to pesticides. We also study the effects of genotoxic chemicals and mixtures on transcription and replication fidelity by analyzing RNA and DNA mutagenesis.


    In 2016, I was appointed Associate Professor/Docent in Toxicology, and I am also Deputy Program Director of the global Master's Programme in Toxicology at Karolinska Institutet.

Selected publications

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 July 2025 - 30 June 2029
    he circular economy is important for sustainable industry, including the construction industry, which requires substantial amounts of materials and energy. Humans have reused building materials since we first carved building blocks and made bricks
    such reuse helps make the most of limited materials and energy. However, reusing construction materials may harm the workers processing these materials. Moreover, determining which materials contain harmful substances remains difficult as does assessing which recycled materials do not meet current building standards. To fill knowledge gaps around worker safety and reuse of building materials, we ask these questions: 1. What chemical exposures occur in the circular construction industry? 2. How do these affect the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease? And, 3. How can we mitigate these risks? In the CircCon project, we will use technical and occupational hygiene methods to study the properties of the materials for reuse and exposure to toxic substances via inhalation and will use new, advanced methodology to estimate the risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease from exposure to particles collected from laboratory experiments and from workplaces using recycled materials. The cancer risk will be determined using a novel method that can replace animal and epidemiological studies, and the cardiovascular effects will be assessed by omics-based determination of inflammatory potential. The results from the study will inform the development of new standards for building materials, and provide new knowledge about exposure and cancer risk involved in processing used building materials that can be implemented in risk assessment and mitigation.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2026
    Vital knowledge has been gained from studying driver mutations of cancer, but a few mutations in a limited number of genes cannot fully describe the complexity of carcinogenesis. The recent development of NGS has enabled the identification of genome wide mutational signatures and provided important insights into the underlying causes of human cancer. Although humans mainly are exposed to complex mixtures of agents contributing to cancer development, like air pollution and lung cancer, this research has entirely focused on single mutagens, which likely has impeded the application of mutational signatures in cancer research. The public health impact of understanding these associations is significant
    identifying causes of cancer is essential for effective preventative interventions. Here, the aim is to determine mutational signatures of environmental complex mixtures using urban air PM samples and normal lung and liver cells. Mutational signatures will be determined by whole genome sequencing followed by somatic variant-calling, and the air PM samples have been collected in three cities differently impacted by emission sources. The signatures will be functionally validated by transcriptome gene expression analysis and association analyses between enriched pathways and mutational signatures. The proposed project comprises a novel approach by combining advanced NGS technology and environmental samples to establish the mutagenic impact of complex mixtures in cancer development.
  • Swedish Research Council for Environment Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2026
    Biomass burning is a global concern in terms of climate change, biological diversity, and health hazards. Globally, ca 3 billion people are exposed to biomass particulate matter (PM). Biomarkers of exposure and effect are fundamental for understanding environmental exposures, mechanistic pathways, and monitoring early adverse outcomes. Our aim is to assess the acute cardiopulmonary (CP) health effects due to short-term exposure to biomass PM among the population in Amazon deforestation arc together with in vitro analyses of sampled PM in a lung cell model to provide a mechanistic characterization of the health hazard. The project is based on a panel study in Amazon, with measurements of CP health and effect biomarkers using an exposure lag of 1-7 days during the wet and dry season with exposure assessment based on personal PM monitoring and urinary metabolites. The mode of action is assessed by in vitro studies using sampled PM. The project addresses the so far neglected and less understood issue of acute CP effects due to short-term exposure to PM from wildfires. This project will be the first of its kind to combine personal monitoring of exposure, specific CP biomarkers, and functional tests with mechanistic in vitro studies of collected PM in Amazon. How does this translate to public awareness? To reduce the gap between high-quality research and effectively engaging affected communities we will use environmental education strategies among the exposed population.
  • Swedish Research Council for Environment Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2025
    Air pollution, which include hazardous gases and particles, causes staggering economical losses and is the largest environmental health risk factor for disease and pre-mature death. Road traffic is a large source to particles, black carbon and hazardous polycyclic aromatic compounds, and is thought to be responsible for a substantial portion of the total pre-mature deaths caused by particles. Vehicular particle emissions comprise tail-pipe emissions, different wear particles and road dust re-suspension.Research on vehicular emissions is mostly conducted on a single vehicle or a single engine whose emissions are difficult to extrapolate to the diverse vehicle fleet actually running on the roads. To address this issue, this project will conduct sampling of collectively emitted traffic related PM10 and PM2.5 close to a heavily trafficked highway for the timespan of a whole year.The organic fraction present on the collected particles will be characterized using nontarget analytical chemical methods using complementary instrumental techniques to obtain a comprehensive chemical profile of the organic fraction emitted from vehicular traffic. Combined chemical analyses and in vitro assays will be made to identify health relevant traffic related organic chemical compounds.In order reduce the negative health impact from road traffic emissions it is of necessity to understand the composition of these emissions and the health risks associated with those emissions.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2020 - 31 December 2021
  • Swedish Research Council for Environment Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning
    1 January 2020 - 31 December 2022
  • Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education
    1 January 2020 - 1 January 2023
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2018 - 31 December 2021
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2017 - 31 December 2019
  • Measurement of PAHs in indoor and outdoor air at preschools in Stockholm.
    Stockholm Regional Council
    1 February 2016 - 31 December 2018
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2013 - 31 December 2016
  • Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
    1 January 2013 - 1 January 2021
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2012 - 31 December 2014
  • FP7 Marie Curie International Reintegration Grants
    1 May 2010 - 1 May 2012

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-2025
  • Researcher, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2015-2021

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2016
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2005

Leadership and responsibility assignments

  • Head of unit, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-
  • Deputy Programme Director, Master's Programme in Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2012-

Supervision

News from KI

Events from KI