Renske Altena

Dr. Renske Altena is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast and thyroid cancer with a special interest in radiopharmaceutical treatment. She serves as an Associate Professor in Oncology at the Department of Oncology-Pathology at Karolinska Institutet and is a senior consultant and lead physician at Docrates Cancer Center's Clinic in Stockholm, Sweden.

She completed her medical degree at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands in 2006, followed by a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences in 2011. She has held various medical positions in both the Netherlands and Sweden, becoming a consultant oncologist in Sweden in June 2018.

Renske serves various positions of trust, such as the executive board of Cancer Research KI, Cancerklinikens Jubileumfond in Gothenburg and the Ethical Review Authority in Stockholm. She is active in educational activities and outreach for the Swedish Oncological society, SOF. 

Dr. Altena's research focuses on clinical trials aimed at improving cancer patient management. A key aspect of her work involves investigating radiopharmaceuticals for cancer visualization and treatment. This is conducted in close collaboration with multidisciplinary experts, including radiopharmacists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists. Within this team, she leads a work package in a VINNOVA-funded national project, conducting a clinical trial on precision imaging for patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer.

Additionally, Dr. Altena is actively involved in several projects exploring the role of physical exercise in cancer treatment and management. Notable examples include the Neo-ACT and EFFECT trials.

Over 200 hours teaching to undergraduate and doctoral students
Courses - KI's Introductory Course for Doctoral Supervisors (2022)