Magnus Ingelman-Sundberg

Professor of Molecular Toxicology since 1996 and research group leader in Pharmacogenetics at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology since 2006. Section Head.

Previous positions at Karolinska Institutet were Research Assistant in Physiological Chemistry 1976-1977; Lecturer in Physiological Chemistry 1977-1987 (appointed 1982); and Acting Professor of Physiological Chemistry 1987-1996.

Currently leading a research group of approximately eight members.
Our research focuses on genetic factors that contribute to interindividual variability in drug response and adverse drug reactions. A key area of our work involves a novel 3D hepatic in vitro model, which we use to study liver function, mechanisms of drug-induced enzyme induction, hepatotoxicity, and liver diseases such as steatosis, hepatitis, and fibrosis as well as its potential to characterize specificity, toxicity and stability of different siRNA drugs. Additionally, we investigate the neurological effects—such as ataxia and depression—resulting from CYP2C19 overexpression in the fetal mouse and human brain.

Education
Civil Engineer, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 1975
PhD in Physiological Chemistry 1975
Docent in Physiological Chemistry 1977
BSc. Med (med kand), Karolinska Institutet 1978.

Academic honours, awards and prizes
More than 550 original papers, 38, 961 citations (62, 092 in Google Scholar), and an h-factor of 101 (ISI) or 134 (Google Scholar). Member of The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet 2008-2018. Member of Editorial Advisory Boards of e.g. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (Editorial Board), Pharmacogenetics and Genomics, Pharmacogenomics, Drug Metabolism Reviews, Drug Metabolism and Disposition, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 

Ranked among the world's most cited authors in Pharmacology (2014–2016, ISI Highly Cited). Recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate in 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Recipient of the ERC Advanced Grant (2017–2022) and ERC Proof of Concept (PoC) Grant (2023–2025).

Ranked No. 13 globally in Pharmacology and Pharmacy based on citation metrics emphasizing first and last authorships (PLOS Biology, Updated Science-Wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators) Plos biology citation metrics 100000 scientists.pdf..

Ranked No. 18 out of 21, 811 researchers worldwide in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences based on H-index. (https://www.adscientificindex.com). 

Main supervisor to a PhD degree for 35 postgraduate students, postdoctoral training for 33 PhDs. The research group ranked as outstanding in Karolinska Institutet's External Research Assessment (ERA) in 2010.

Awards include The Svedberg Price, The Swedish Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1989; Honorary member of The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1990; The Gerhard B Zbinden Lecture Award, EUROTOX 1996; The ISSX European Scientific Achievement Award 2003; The Bengt Danielsson Prize, The Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2008; The John G Warner Pfizer Lectureship in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, USA 2011, 2018 BCPT Nordic Prize in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology. The 2022 R.T. Williams Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award. Honorary doctor, Syddansk Universitet. Odense, 2022.

Commissions of trust
~~Programme committee of the MD curriculum: Head of studieplanekommitten 3 years, responsible for the new KI 90 GUL study plan for the MD curriculum. Docenturnämnden 6 years, Chairman of KIRT 6 years, Chairman of the Committee for Elective Periods in the MD curriculum 6 years. Vice Chairman the Recruitment Committee 3 years, Chairman of The Recruitment Committee 6 years (ending March 2014) and pro dean (vice dean) for recruitment 2 years. Chairman of study group, The Swedish Natural Science Research Council 3 years, Member of study groups at The Swedish Natural Science Research Council, The Swedish Medical Research Council, 6 years, The Norwegian Research Council for 6 years. Member of the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet 2008-2018.

Teaching awards: Mäster from The Student Union at Karolinska Institutet 1978; The Karolinska Institutet Pedagogical Award 2000.

Current funding as PI

• Hjärnfonden 2023-2028
• Vetenskapsrådet 2026-2028
• Novartis 2024-2026

New genetic factors have been identified that may serve as pharmacogenomic biomarkers to support the individualization of drug therapy. Current research places special emphasis on the role of rare alleles and the underlying causes of missing heritability. A novel 3D spheroid system, capable of maintaining liver function for up to five weeks, is employed to investigate the regulation of hepatic gene expression, mechanisms of drug-induced enzyme induction, hepatotoxicity, and liver diseases such as steatosis, hepatitis, and fibrosis. Particular focus is given to the discovery of novel drug targets for these conditions.

Major scientific achievements
1. Discovery of an important role of alcohol-inducible CYP2E1 in the induction of ALD due to the enzyme's ability to produce a large amount of
reactive oxygen radicals and initiate lipid peroxidation in the liver.
2. Presented the first example described of duplication and amplification of active genes in the human genome in 1993.
3. Identification of the phenotype of ultra-rapid drug metabolism and the identification and characterization of all variants of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19
that cause such a phenotype, as well as the identification of several genetic CYP2D6 alleles causing reduced or abolished enzyme activity. All
these genetic variants are used as pharmacogenomic drug labels by FDA and EMA.
4. Cloning of many new human cytochrome P450 genes, including CYP2W1, a tumour- specific enzyme that catalyses the activation of anti-cancer
drugs.
5. Discovery that higher CYP2C19 expression in the foetal brain leads to altered brain morphology, anxiety and depression in adulthood.
6. Description of the role of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 polymorphisms for the optimal use of antipsychotics and antidepressants.
7. Identification of the significance of rare genetic variants that cause interindividual variations in drug metabolism.
8. Development of an in vitro spheroid system to study human liver function and predict drug-induced hepatotoxicity.
9. Development of a novel triple culture in vivo like human spheroid system for studying drug induced stress reactions and dietary induced
steatosis and NASH and its mechanisms and treatment.

Been teaching MD students since 1977 in the topics of physiological chemistry, and basic pharmacology.