Maura Kere

I am an MD and newly graduated PhD (February 2026) focusing on proteomics, immunology, and bioinformatics. My doctoral research investigated systemic biomarkers and lymphocyte profiles across asthma endotypes to better understand disease mechanisms and support personalized therapy.

My work has been supported by a stipend from the Kerstin Hejdenberg Memorial Fund (Astma- och Allergiförbundets Forskningsfond) and by travel grants from Konsul Berghs Foundation, the Swedish Society for Medical Research (SSMF), the Finnish Medical Society (Finska Läkaresällskapet), Stockholm Medical Association (Stockholms Läkarförenings Understödsfond), and Karolinska Institutet. 

Bioinformatics and machine learning

My background in bioinformatics began early, with research conducted during secondary school, where I first developed my programming skills. This early work – supervised within the Daub group and recognized at national and European science competitions – sparked a long‑standing interest in computational approaches. I have since developed expertise in R and machine‑learning approaches for high‑dimensional biological data, supported by advanced doctoral coursework at Karolinska Institutet, including Bioinformatics Analysis and Visualisation of Medical Genomics Data and Experimental Design for High‑Throughput Technologies.

Protein biomarkers

My work is mainly focused on identifying circulating proteins that reflect underlying inflammatory processes. Protein biomarkers may offer deeper insights into mechanisms and reveal novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets beyond current methods. Blood-based protein measurements offer a minimally invasive and technically accessible approach compared with airway sampling or complex cellular assays, and may capture systemic signals originating from airway inflammation. 

Clinical endpoints and medical background

I earned my medical degree (MD) from Karolinska Institutet in January 2022 and have worked across internal medicine, surgical specialties, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and primary care as part of the Research Foundation Programme (Forskar‑AT) at Södersjukhuset. My primary clinical interest is anesthesiology and intensive care, strengthened by work experience in a high‑dependency unit.

• Lecturer in “Introduction to Endocrinology” for the doctoral course Human Physiology at Karolinska Institutet.
• Instructor for workshops on clinical supervision for foundation programme doctors (AT‑läkare) at Karolinska University Hospital and Södersjukhuset.