Lisa Dinkler

Lisa Dinkler

Assistant Professor
Telephone: +46852482305
Visiting address: Nobels väg 12a, 17165 Solna
Postal address: C8 Medicinsk epidemiologi och biostatistik, C8 MEB Bulik Projektgrupp, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • I am an assistant professor in psychiatric epidemiology and research team leader at the Centre for Eating Disorders Innovation (CEDI). My research program focuses on the causes, correlates, and course of eating disorders, with a particular emphasis on avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

    My research covers epidemiology, etiology, nosology, and diagnostics, using diverse epidemiological, family-based, and genomic approaches. This work has already informed clinical practice by improving ARFID assessment and early detection. Since joining MEB in 2021, I have built several large-scale, high-value datasets on eating and co-occurring psychiatric disorders, combining survey, register, and genomic data. I am regularly invited to speak in academic and clinical contexts in Sweden and abroad.

Teaching

  • I provide:

    • First- and second-cycle university teaching on epidemiology, genetic epidemiology (twin studies, molecular genetics, behavior genetics), scientific research methodology, developmental psychology, eating disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders
    • Supervision of MSc-level degree projects in the psychology and medical programs
    • Supervision of PhD students (main and co-), research assistants, and summer fellows
    • Clinician teaching nationally and internationally on eating disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders

    Universities tought at:

    • NOVA Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal
    • Åbo Akademi, Finland
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
    • Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
    • Uppsala University, Sweden
    • University of Gothenburg, Sweden
    • Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany

    Education & training for clinical providers internationally:

    • Folkhälsan Research Center, Finland (Dec 2025)
    • Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
    • Rådgivning om spiseforstyrrelser (ROS), Norway
    • Oslo University Hospital, Norway
    • Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK

    Teaching in KI programs:

    • Medicinsk vetenskaplig teori och metod, Läkarprogrammet
    • Applied Epidemiology 2 – Determinants of health, MSc Public Health Sciences
    • Non-communicable diseases, MSc Global Health

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Towards better detection, structured care pathways, and targeted interventions for ARFID
    Jane and Dan Olssons Foundations
    9 June 2025 - 28 February 2027
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    10 December 2024 - 30 November 2025
    Between 2014 and 2024, a multidisciplinary team of investigators at the Centre for Eating Disorders Innovation (CEDI) at Karolinska Institutet collected extensive clinical and self-report data and biological samples for genomic and other -omic studies from over 24,000 individuals with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, atypical anorexia nervosa, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder) and appropriately matched controls. CEDI studies were funded by Swedish (e.g., Swedish Research Council, FORTE, Hjärnfonden, ALF)
    Danish (Lundbeckfonden)
    American (National Institute of Mental Health)
    industry (Shire/Takeda)
    and philanthropic sources (e.g., Klarman Family Foundation, Actum Foundation)—an unprecedented investment in eating disorders science.CEDI data and samples represent a global resource that is poised to answer future questions about the biology, psychology, and environmental factors that influence risk, maintenance, and recovery from eating disorders and co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Moreover, our discovery of a metabolic genetic component to anorexia nervosa lends our data and samples to investigations of conditions of global public health relevance such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. No eating disorders collection in the world rivals the depth and completeness of our resource. To ensure its longevity, utility, and accessibility in accord with FAIR principles, we propose the development of CEDIX—a comprehensive, harmonized, searchable database comprising data and metadata from all CEDI studies linked with a searchable and accessible biobank of DNA, saliva, microbiome, plasma, and other study-specific biological samples housed in the KI Biobank. We will develop and systematize a self-supporting scheme for requesting data and sample access
    for verifying ethical approval and GDPR compliance
    and a mechanism for growing CEDIX by requiring deposit of created variables and novel findings back into the database. FORTE support would provide the personnel and infrastructure to refine, thoroughly test, and publicize availability of the resource. CEDIX and its biorepository will be an invaluable resource for current researchers as well as future global investigators who develop novel hypotheses and apply emerging methodology to address etiology, treatment, recovery, and relapse of these life-impairing and too frequently fatal conditions.
  • Decoding ARFID: Single disorder entity or spectrum of related conditions?
    Jeansson Foundations
    20 October 2024 - 31 October 2027
  • ARFID in children with neurodevelopmental conditions: Physical and mental health, quality of life and impact on family
    Stiftelsen Sunnerdahls Handikappfond
    27 September 2024 - 31 December 2025
  • National Institute of Mental Health
    6 May 2024 - 28 February 2029
    PROJECT SUMMARY We propose the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative 2 (EDGI2), a new collaborative R01 in response to PAR- 23-050 Clinical Studies of Mental Illness. Its single-site predecessors, EDGI1 (R01 MH120170) and ARFID-GEN (R56 MH129437) have been resoundingly successful. We now unite the four original EDGI1 sites with exceptionally productive global new sites to advance genomic discovery across all major eating disorders (EDs) to identify biologically, clinically, culturally, and therapeutically meaningful and actionable insights. Aim 1: EDGI2 extends our core business by increasing sample size, diversity, and ED phenotypes. Using our comprehensive harmonized online assessment battery, we will phenotype and bio-sample 20,000 new participants with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder (BED), avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and controls. EDGI2 emphasizes co-production—with representatives from minoritized and marginalized communities, we will ascertain 30% of samples from underrepresented groups. We will also over- sample individuals with severe and enduring AN (SE-AN), whose DNA may be enriched for causative alleles. Aim 2: We will apply statistical genetic analyses to explicate heterogeneity and biology of EDs by: conducting standard GWAS analyses on diagnoses, trans-diagnostic behaviors, and continuous phenotypes including polygenic risk score (PRS), and rare variant CNV analyses
    identifying clinically meaningfully patient subsets
    and intensively evaluating our proposal that AN is a metabo-psychiatric disorders using LDSC, PRSet, pheWAS, and Mendelian randomization to clarify direction of causation. Aim 3: We will evaluate the relative roles of genetic and environmental risk and resilience factors to inform risk prediction by phenotypically characterizing cases and controls with high and low PRS for EDs and then by genotypically characterizing those with severe ED phenotypes. We will characterize distinct genetic or molecular groupings/patterns across cases and controls and phenotypically characterize identified molecular subtypes. Aim 4: To determine where in the body EDs “live”, we will identify brain cell types and anatomical regions implicated by genomic studies of EDs
    predict genetically regulated gene expression (GREx) in brain, gut, adipose, and other ED-relevant tissues
    use snRNAseq atlases to sharpen preliminary GTEx and TWAS analyses to identify brain cell types strongly implicated by the genomics of each ED
    expand to relevant non-brain cell types (e.g., adipose, muscle, liver, salivary)
    and use dynamic GREx to model gene expression in ED-relevant contexts (e.g., sex, BMI, stress) enabling precise and personalized modelling of gene expression. Aim 5: EDGI2 will culminate in a Translational Summit uniting forward-thinking stakeholders from multiple sectors to develop a translational roadmap for evidence-based ED prevention and treatment. EDGI2 will yield critical knowledge about genetic and environmental risk for EDs, reveal mechanisms that potentiate or protect against genetic risk, and transition ED genetics from discovery to clinical translation.
  • Pre- and perinatal risk factors for ARFID in Swedish twin and register data
    Fredrik och Ingrid Thurings Stiftelse
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2025
  • Creating clarity from chaos: A multi-method approach to elucidating the etiology of ARFID
    Swedish Society for Medical Research
    1 July 2023 - 30 June 2026
    Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a relatively recently defined feeding and eating disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1-5%. Our poor understanding of ARFID etiology impedes treatment development and currently, we have no evidence-based treatments for ARFID. To develop such treatments it is crucial to elucidate the causes of ARFID, and to identify and fully characterize subgroups with different therapeutic needs within this heterogeneous population. Using the largest samples of people with ARFID ascertained to date, I will triangulate evidence from phenotypic and genetically informative designs. In 33,902 Swedish twins, I will first test whether we can predict ARFID from neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and somatic disorders and their multi-polygenic risk scores. Second, I will identify sub-phenotypes of ARFID based on genetic links with other disorders using the twin design. Lastly, I will test and refine the derived sub-phenotypes in a US sample including 3,000 people with ARFID. The findings will provide unprecedented insights into the causes of ARFID and represent crucial steps in improving clinical definitions of ARFID with important implications for the further refinement of diagnoses and the development of prevention and treatment interventions. Ultimately, this work will contribute to enabling the appropriate integration of ARFID prevention, detection, and treatment into health care systems in Sweden and internationally.
  • ARFID in adolescence: genetic etiology and relation to other eating disorders
    Swedish Brain Foundation
    1 July 2023 - 31 December 2025
    The aim is to add ARFID, as the most under-researched major eating disorder, to the global effort of elucidating the genomics of eating disorders. We collect online surveys and DNA via saliva from 1,500 Swedish adolescents with ARFID and 500 controls. Data will be combined with genotypes of people with ARFID or other eating disorders worldwide. We will provide the most detailed phenotypic information about ARFID in adolescence to date, conduct comprehensive genomic analyses to identify the genetic factors contributing to ARFID, and clarify ARFID’s relationships with other eating disorders.
  • Fonden för Psykisk Hälsa
    1 May 2023 - 30 April 2024
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 November 2022 - 30 September 2026
    Research problem and specific questions. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is a serious, taxing, and potentially life-threatening condition that affects 1-5% of the population. First recognized in 2013, we know little about causes, course, maintenance factors, and outcome
    however, nutritional, medical, and psychosocial consequences are severe. We propose establishing a re-contactable, longitudinal cohort (ARFID InitiativE Sweden: ARIES) to study genetic and environmental contributors to ARFID through a developmental lens. ARIES will include rich phenotyping, DNA samples, and stool samples in a national data- and biorepository linkable to Swedish population health and quality registers to answer fundamental questions about this pernicious, life-impairing, and understudied condition. Data and method. We will first form a community-based Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) to guide our assessment domains and then recruit 500 children ages 4-9 with ARFID and 500 age and gender matched controls
    collect parental report via online questionnaires on development, feeding history, food preferences, behavior, mood, feeding-related adverse events, and other domains suggested by the PAC
    and create a biobank of saliva (for DNA) and stool (for intestinal microbiota and microbiome). Plan for project realisation. We will launch a national recruitment campaign using our country-wide collaborations with eating disorders clinicians and pediatricians and our social media channels to reach parents of children with ARFID. After an online eligibility screen, parents will complete questionnaires
    submit saliva samples for their children
    and provide a stool sample. Families will enroll in ARIES, agreeing to regular follow-ups. In addition to baseline research aims, ARIES will enable identification of predictors of transient versus enduring illness course, impact of puberty on ARFID symptoms, and impact of ARFID on educational achievement. Linking ARIES with population registers will allow research questions about ARFID comorbidity and healthcare utilization. Relevance. No evidence-based treatment for ARFID and no national guidelines exist. Parents desperately seek guidance on managing ARFID and fear for their child’s long-term well-being. ARIES will be the foundation for understanding ARFID, identifying factors related to onset, maintenance, and outcome, and be a national and international resource for essential research.

Employments

  • Research and Training Associate, Stockholm Center for Eating Disorders, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2025-
  • Research and Training Associate, Adult Psychiatry Helsingborg, Region Skåne, 2021-
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 2023-2029
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 2021-2023

Degrees and Education

  • PhD, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, 2020
  • Master of Science in Psychology, Goethe University Frankfurt, 2014
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 2012

Leadership and responsibility assignments

  • Research team leader, Centre for Eating Disorders Innovation (CEDI), Karolinska Institutet, 2025-
  • Co-chair ARFID Sub-working group, Eating Disorders Workgroup, Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, 2024-
  • Invited scientific expert for developing the national guidelines for eating disorder treatment, National Board of Health and Welfare, 2023-2023

Distinction and awards

  • Two of the top 10 Papers at the International Conference on Eating Disorders (ICED), 2025
  • Elected Member of the Eating Disorders Research Society (EDRS), 2024
  • Presenter in Top Newcomers Session at XXIXth Annual Meeting of the Eating Disorders Research Society (EDRS), 2023

Supervision

  • Supervision to doctoral degree

    • Liv Hog
    • Helena Johansson

Visiting research fellowships

  • Visiting Researcher, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2023-2023
  • Visiting Researcher, Kochi Medical School, 2018-2021

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