Roger Strömberg

Roger Strömberg

Professor Emeritus/Emerita
Telephone: +46852481024
Visiting address: ,
Postal address: H5 Laboratoriemedicin, H5 BCM El Andaloussi, 141 52 Huddinge
Part of:

About me

  • Professor Strömberg has a long experience in nucleic acid chemistry, and has worked with many aspects of nucleic acid chemistry and related synthesis, which includes studies on reaction mechanisms, enzymes and enzyme models, synthesis methodology, protecting group strategies, peptides etc. RS obtained his PhD in organic chemistry at Stockholm University and became professor of organic and biomolecular chemistry at Karolinska Institutet in December 1995. RS also worked at University of Cambridge (just over 3.5 years), first as a postdoctoral fellow at the chemistry department and later as a visiting professor at the department of biochemistry and as a visiting fellow of Trinity Hall college. RS is internationally well known, not least for synthesis methodology development in the field of nucleic acid chemistry. For the past decade or so the focus has become more directed towards design and synthesis methods for modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleotide based artificial nucleases and oligonucleotide conjugates (with other bioactive molecules), largely to achieve and enable synthesis of potential oligonucleotide therapeutics. RS have, and has had, many collaborations both in academia and with major companies in the field and has in general a substantial network of contacts. RS is an author of about 200 scientific publications and inventor on 7 patents. Rs is also a past secretary of the International Society for Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids (IS3NA) and chair of the program committee and the 2022 International Round Table of Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids.

    The Nucleic Acid Chemistry group is now a part of the Nucleic Acid Therapy hub, that is a part of the ATMP center at KI and involves collaboration with the groups of:

    Samir El Andaloussi ( https://medarbetare.ki.se/people/samir-el-andaloussi )
    Rula Zain and C.I. Edvard Smith ( https://medarbetare.ki.se/people/rula-zain ; https://staff.ki.se/people/edvard-smith )
    Joel Nordin ( https://staff.ki.se/people/joel-nordin )

    Additional associates:
    Malgorzata Honcharenko ( https://medarbetare.ki.se/people/malgorzata-honcharenko )
    Eliza Filipiak ( https://medarbetare.ki.se/people/eliza-filipiak )

Research

  • The current research is largely focused on nucleic acids and conjugates for potential use in therapy. We are working with novel concepts in pharmaceutical development, i.e. “new modalities” as they are known, especially development of methodology that enables synthesis of these classes of molecules. This involves synthesis of biomolecules with new modifications that provide beneficial properties and oligonucleotide and peptide conjugates that equip the molecules with entities that enhance catalysis, delivery and/or targeting. Over the past decades we have become more and more involved in translational research where new concepts show promise towards being moved further towards the clinic.

    Stabilised, Cell Penetrating and Target Seeking Oligonucleotides for Enhanced Therapy:
    Oligonucleotide (ON) therapy is limited by inefficient in vivo delivery. To address this, we are developing methods for conjugation to enable constructs of oligonucleotide equipped with different entities, including multiple conjugation of different classes of molecules to ONs. We are developing “cell penetration oligonucleotides”, in order to address both cellular uptake and reduction of phosphorothioate modifications. We are presently looking at ON conjugates with entities for the targeting of specific tissues and cell types where we also collaborate with academic and industrial partners on antisense, siRNA and splice switching therapy.

    Oligonucleotide Based Artificial Nucleases and PNAzymes:
    A special part of modified ONs for potential therapeutic use is oligonucleotide-based artificial nucleases (OBANs). We have developed these to the state of being potentially useful tools, e.g. as artificial RNA restriction enzymes. We aim to make these biocompatible and efficient enough for use in a cellular environment and to explore potential for disease therapy. Recent peptide nucleic acid (PNA) based zinc ion dependent nucleases (PNAzymes) are highly efficient for cleavage of RNA and and further development will follow.

Teaching

  • RS has organized, lectured on and examined courses at all levels from first undergraduate to postdoctoral course. RS has also been, and is still involved in numerous EU networks and have arranged many PhD courses and training schools in nucleic acid chemistry and therapy.

Articles

All other publications

Employments

  • Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2023-2025
  • Professor, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 2005-2023
  • Professor, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 1995-2005

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Stockholms Universitet, 1991
  • PhD, Organic Chemistry, Nucleoside H-phosphonates : Chemical Studies Directed towards Oligonucleotide Synthesis, Organic Chemistry, Stockholm University, 1987

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