Ola Olén

Ola Olén is Adjunct Professor of Gastroenterology at the Division of Clinical Epidemiology at the Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet. He is also a senior consultant at the Department of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition at Sachs’ children and youth hospital, Stockholm.

The aim of my research is to improve health care and ultimately quality of life for patients suffering from diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or disorders of gut brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

IBD

As a pediatric gastroenterologist, most of my clinical time is devoted to patients with IBD. They are sometimes severely ill and require advanced treatment. In my research group, we use large register-based linkages including all IBD patients in Sweden and matched controls. Our IBD research is conducted in national and international collaboration and is based on clinical data in national health registers and local registers or biobanks. Important research questions that we explore are for instance: Why do some people get IBD? What is the prognosis for different patient groups with IBD (and especially for patients with childhood onset)? Are new treatments for IBD effective? Are they safe? And are they cost effective?

IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other types of functional abdominal pain disorders are very common: Approximately 3% of all visits to the general practitioner, 10% of visits to general pediatricians and 20% of visits to a pediatric gastroenterology unit. It is well known that cognitive behavior therapy and hypnotherapy are effective for children and adolescents with IBS, but access to trained therapists is very limited. In randomized clinical trials we test if it is possible to treat children and adolescents with IBS or functional abdominal pain via internet, thereby increasing accessibility to evidence-based treatments for these large patient groups. I am also trying to understand why so many children suffer from IBS by studying risk factors for disease in birth cohorts and national health registers. In these data sources we are studying the effects of genetics, perinatal risk factors, lifestyle, co-morbidity, gut flora, and use of antibiotics.

I am a member of the steering committee for the national quality register for IBD care (www.swibreg.se), the steering group for the Swedish national guidelines in pediatric IBD, and of the Pediatric IBD Porto group of ESPGHAN (European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition). He is also a member of the steering groups for the Swedish national guidelines for pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders and pediatric celiac disease.

Dr Olén is a valued teacher, regularly and often engaged as a lecturer regarding inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and epidemiology. Apart from his regular lectures, seminars, and bedside education of medical students at Karolinska Institutet, dr Olén has served as the director of studies 2009-2013 for the widely acclaimed Research school in epidemiology for clinicians at the Karolinska Instituet (Department of Medicine Solna) and 2014-2015 he was the director of studies for the Clinical research school (Department of Clinical Science and Education). He has been director of the national course in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition, funded by the National Board of Health and Welfare 2012-2017. 

Former PhD students: Bonnert M, Uusijärvi A, Lalouni M, Granlund J, Schollin-Ask L, Forss A, Mouratidou N, Mahmood M, Thulin H, Jossan N.
Current PhD students: Sjölund J, Andersson F

Former Postodocs: Arnell H, Malmborg P, Everhov ÅH
Current Postdocs: Bröms G, Eriksson C, Rolandsdotter H, Forss A, Soini T