Catarina Almqvist Malmros

Catarina Almqvist Malmros

Professor/Senior Physician
Telephone: +46852482220
Visiting address: Nobels väg 12a, 17165 Solna
Postal address: C8 Medicinsk epidemiologi och biostatistik, C8 MEB Almqvist, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • Current positions

    • Professor in Clinical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet
    • Consultant Pediatrician, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital

    Current commissions of trust

    • Chair, Committee for Ethics and Good Research Practise, Karolinska Institutet 
    • Chair, Swedish Twin Registry National Steering Committee
    • Chair, Research and Education (FoUU), ME/OO HBO, Karolinska University Hospital
    • Deputy chair, Karolinska Institutet Nomination Assembly
    • Member, KI/Region Stockholm research council (Forskningsrådet)
    • Member, WISE and FIELD Steering Group, Karolinska Institutet

Research

  • The major theme of my research is to assess early causes and consequences for asthma, allergic and respiratory diseases in childhood and adolescence, and to study co-morbidity with other common disorders.

    We use information on diagnoses, medication and clinical data from the national health care linked to sociodemographic information. We are especially interested in understanding causality for the associations, especially the role of genes and environment, and use advanced family and twin design. We also address genetic susceptibility (genome-wide association, GWAS and polygenic risk scores) based on clinical twin cohorts. We have large national and international collaborations and contribute towards several consortias. To understand more about associations between asthma and anxiety, we have also run clinical trials to investigate treatment of anxiety-related asthma with cognitive behaviour therapy,

    More information can be found on the research group website.

    Main supervisor of 7 doctoral students who have defended their PhD thesis, 2 ongoing.
    Co-supervisor of 9 doctoral students who have defended their PhD thesis, 4 ongoing. 
    Current or previous supervisor of 15 post-docs.

Teaching

  • Main supervisor (14) and co-supervisor (25) for exjobb- and master students in the medical, biomedicine and public health sciences programs 2010-2026. Formal mentor for several doctoral students who defended their thesis 2019-2024.

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2027
    Background Poor asthma control and impaired lung function in pregnancy increases the risk of adverse delivery outcomes and respiratory disorders in the child. There is an increased mortality in youngsters with asthma, and comorbidity with other diseases may influence socioeconomic outcomes and school performance. Several recent studies have found an association between anxiety and asthma with contributing genetic and early environmental factors, which opens for possible interventions with internet-based treatment. Aim We aim to further the understanding of the association between maternal asthma or impaired lung function and outcomes in pregnancy (Aim 1a) and offspring child (Aim 1b). We will explore the association between asthma phenotypes and mortality (Aim 2) and investigate how clinical aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with asthma control in adolescents (Aim 3). We will also finalise a novel internet-based cognitive behaviour treatment (ICBT) protocol targeting specific psychological processes in asthma-related anxiety (Aim 4). Work plan We will use a combination of clinical studies and population-based data from national registers on health and sociodemographic indicators. The effect of maternal asthma, lung function and anxiety on pregnancy outcomes and the child s wellbeing will be assessed in a clinical cohort of 1700 women recruited from antenatal clinics and their children (Study 1). In a large total population study, we will explore the association between asthma phenotypes and mortality (Study 2) and how clinical aspects of ADHD is associated with asthma control in adolescents and whether the associations can be explained by confounding of shared genetic or environmental factors (Study 3). We will also continue establishing and testing a novel ICBT protocol targeting specific psychological processes in asthma-related anxiety (Study 4). Significance Knowledge of asthma impact on pregnancy facilitates improvement of surveillance and treatment of those affected. Furthermore, understanding the effect of asthma on socioeconomic factors and the genetic or environmental factors implicated future targets of preventive measures. The studies will provide powerful insights into early life origins and evolution, prevention and treatment of childhood asthma and will be important in terms of public health, health politics and health care practice.
  • Heat waves, green spaces and the risk of asthma in children
    Astma- och Allergiförbundet
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2027
  • Tackling the spread of cigarettes and alternative nicotine products in social networks
    Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
    Research problem and specific questions: The increasing use of social media and alternative nicotine products, i.e., e-cigarettes and Swedish snus, poses new threats to stall the progress of tobacco control. Vast research shows how smoking spreads in social networks, but it remains unclear how alternative nicotine products and online interactions affect this spread. Understanding the social network mechanisms underlying nicotine product use is crucial for the design of effective policies. Novel policies for adolescents are needed to prevent nicotine product use at the age when this is typically initiated, even by those who would otherwise never use cigarettes. This project will be the first to identify the network mechanisms of how various nicotine products spread among adolescents and then design a policy intervention to tackle these. We will answer (1) how different nicotine products spread and if alternative nicotine products renormalize cigarettes, (2) how cigarette use spreads online and offline, and (3) what the possible consequences of network-based interventions are, accounting for various nicotine products and online interactions. Data and method: We will collect unique complete social network data of 600 adolescents in Swedish school classes over two waves with information on online and offline social networks and nicotine product use and link this to Swedish registers. We will employ social network analysis methods: (1) exponential random graph models and stochastic-actor-oriented models to investigate the popularity and spread of nicotine products in online and offline social networks and (2) empirically calibrated agent-based models to investigate possible interventions. Societal relevance and utilization: The tobacco industry increasingly employs online campaigns and alternative nicotine products to recruit a new generation of users, but public health interventions lag behind in their response. We aim to provide information on how to prioritize policy implementation to further reduce nicotine product prevalence and inequalities in nicotine product use and help to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 10. Plan for project realization: This three-year-long project will be approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. The main costs are for researchers’ salaries. The research group consists of sociologists and public health experts with solid experience in collecting and analyzing longitudinal network data and child health behaviors.
  • Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
    In recent years, higher socioeconomic groups started to have more children than lower socioeconomic groups in Sweden and in many other developed countries. Previous research focusing on individuals as independent units had limited power in explaining this polarization in fertility. We will thus use a social network perspective to understand the role of segregated social networks in the fertility behavior of different socioeconomic groups. Using longitudinal population-level social networks consisting of multiple types of relationships (i.e. neighbors, family, and workmates), we will answer (1) how fertility behavior spreads in the social networks for different socioeconomic groups, (2) how use of assisted reproductive techniques spreads in the social networks for the different socioeconomic group, and (3) how family support in someone’s social network influences fertility among different socioeconomic groups. Data will be obtained from several Swedish registers. Quasi-experimental methods (i.e., instrumental variable and small unit analysis) will be applied to distinguish whether people influence each other’s fertility behavior or simply select their relationship based on pre-existing similarities (e.g., fertility intentions). The project will be the first to investigate the role of social networks in forming socioeconomic fertility differentials based on population-level network data, contributing to the understanding of evolving socioeconomic inequalities.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
    The overall purpose of this research proposal is to address the paradox that allergen exposure (pollen, pets) can be both a risk and a protective factor for development and long-term outcomes of asthma and allergic disease in children and adolescents. We will study how genetic propensity, respiratory tract infections and urban living contribute to the associations. We will also study the molecular genetic architecture for dog ownership. We use information on diagnoses and medication from the national health care linked to pollen counts, pet ownership and area of residence as well as genetic susceptibility (genome-wide association, GWAS and polygenic risk scores) from clinical twin cohorts. The direction of associations between exposure to pollen and pets and 1) development of asthma and allergy or 2) long-term outcomes for those with established disease will be estimated exploring the role of genetic propensity, respiratory tract infections and urban living. A GWAS will be performed to 3) identify variants associated with dog ownership. The project organisation and infrastructure is already in place, and we will collect additional data during the first few years. The studies will provide powerful insights on the role of genetic liability, respiratory infections and urban living for the association between allergen exposure and asthma or allergic disease. The results will contribute to improved diagnostic methods and therapies for individually adapted prevention and treatment.
  • Treatment of rhinoconjunctivitis with allergen immunotherapy in children and adolescents - long-term effects, asthma onset and compliance
    Region Stockholm, ALF
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2025
  • Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2024
  • Food Allergies and Stress in Parents and Children – Heredity and Environment
    Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2024
  • Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2018 - 31 December 2021
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2017 - 31 December 2019
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2016 - 31 December 2018
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2016 - 31 December 2017
  • Asthma in children and pregnant women - current status and future understanding on how stress, socioeconomy and genetic factors influence the prevalence and severity
    The Swedish Heart Lung Foundation
    1 January 2016 - 31 December 2018
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2014 - 31 December 2018
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2014 - 31 December 2017
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2012 - 31 December 2014
  • National Health and Medical Research Council
    1 January 2009 - 31 December 2014
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 July 2008 - 31 December 2013

Employments

  • Professor/Senior Physician, Clinical epidemiology, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 2013-

Degrees and Education

  • Board certified specialist in Pediatric Allergology, National Board of Health and Welfare, 2020
  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2010
  • Board certified specialist in Pediatrics, National Board of Health and Welfare, 2008
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 2002
  • Board certified medical doctor, National Board of Health and Welfare, 1995
  • University Medical Degree, Karolinska Institutet, 1993

Leadership and responsibility assignments

  • Chair, Committee for Ethics and Good Research Practise, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Institutet, 2026-
  • Chair, Research and Education (FoUU), ME/OO HBO, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, 2026-
  • Deputy Chair, Nomination assembly Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-
  • Director, Strategic Research Area in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (SFOepi), Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2025
  • Chair, Steering Committee, Swedish Twin Registry, Karolinska Institutet, 2023-
  • Deputy chair, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 2019-2021
  • Deputy chair (2022) and executive member, Committee for research, Karolinska Institutet, 2019-2022
  • Chair, Research and Education (FoUU) for ME/OO2 ‘Högspecialiserad barnsjukvård, Tema Barn’ at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, 2017-2025

Supervision

  • Supervision to doctoral degree

    • Örtqvist Anne, Early life origins of asthma - Genetic and environmental factors in twin and kin, 2015
    • Vilhelmina Ullemar, Transmitted and acquired determinants for childhood asthma - from genes to teens, 2016
    • Tong Gong, Epidemiological studies of asthma and neurodevelopmental disorders in children, 2016
    • Rejnö Gustaf, Asthma, anxiety and depression in pregnancy - the impact on pregnancy, delivery and perinatal outcomes, 2018
    • Cecilia Lundholm, Causes and consequences of stress and tobacco exposure in utero on birth size, asthma and academic achievement, 2021
    • Awad Smew, Epidemiological aspects of Type 1 diabetes - early life origins, childhood comorbidities, and adult outcomes, 2023
    • Emma Caffrey Osvald, Appeasing the wheezing: the determinants and outcomes of respiratory disease in childhood, 2024

Committee work

  • Member, KI/Region Stockholm Research council, 2023-
  • Member, Regional Ethical Review Board in Stockholm, Sweden, 2017-2019

Visiting research fellowships

  • Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Postdoctoral Research Fellow 2004-2007, 2004-2007

Editorial work

  • Clinical and Experimental Allergy, Associate editor, 2017-2020

Other expert reviewer/evaluation assignment

  • Reviewer or advisor for other scientific bodies, National Board of Health and Welfare, 2025
  • Evaluator of research applications in national competition, Finnish Research Council, Academy of Finland, 2023
  • Expert reviewer of research applications, Expert evaluator of scientific applications, European Commission, 2019
  • Evaluator of major research grant applications in local competition, Grants and positions, Karolinska Institutet, 2013

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