Research at Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska Institutet accounts for the single largest share of all academic medical research conducted in Sweden. The research spans the entire biomedical field – from basic experimental research to clinical studies in collaboration with the health care system. Pioneering research is conducted here in, for example, cancer, neuroscience, immunology, epidemiology, nursing and global health.
Resources in brief
Research at our departments
Karolinska Institutet has 22 departments divided into three departmental or campus groups. These departments are central to the academic environment at our university, with responsibilities encompassing scientific strategy, finance, and administration.
SciLifeLab
SciLifeLab is a collaboration between multiple Swedish universities, and a national research infrastructure. One of the core missions of SciLifeLab is to provide technologies facilitating the large-scale analysis of biological processes at the molecular level.
KI Research Incubator
Karolinska Institutet aims to be a pioneering university. As part of this ambition, we have established the KI Research Incubator (KIRI), an energising platform dedicated to empowering emerging researchers and to foster a culture of innovation and cross-disciplinary partnerships.
News & events
KI joins CoARA for the advancement of research assessment
Call for operational support for core facilities 2025–2028
Doing science together: Lessons from university-industry research programs
New center to strengthen investment in cell, gene and tissue therapies
Collaboration with KI gives access to 1.5 million Swedish COVID-19 samples for research
Billions at stake in the EU – how Stockholm Trio in Brussels is active in European research policy
What the new biobank act means for you as a researcher
Stockholm scores high quality rating for societal and patient benefit of its clinical research
Meet our researchers
Kidney specialist with a passion for education
Annika Östman Wernerson is Professor of Renal and Transplantation Science and has a passion for pedagogical research. On 1 March 2023, she also became KI's new President. One of her goals as President is to streanghten internal dialogue.
AI researcher Max Gordon: "AI can do the boring things"
The 2023 AI Swede of the Year feels no need to be at the center of research. Yet that is exactly where he is. The orthopaedic surgeon and researcher Max Gordon was an early adopter of artificial intelligence. Now everyone else wants to know how to do it.
Meet our new professors
Placebo, drug development in 3D, digital media and mental health – these are some of the research areas that the new professors of Karolinska Institutet are interested in. In mid-October every year it is time for the inauguration ceremony in Aula Medica.
Ylva Trolle Lagerros: Hunger can be an ever-present sensation
The abundance of unhealthy food in society means that obesity doctor and researcher Ylva Trolle Lagerros is working against certain headwinds. But the arrival of new medications have made her job more enjoyable. In parallel, she has developed apps that provide patients with support.
In depth articles and features
Aiming for Mars — curious about space medicine
After half a century in near-Earth orbit, humans are heading further out in space. First to the moon again. Then on to Mars! For this to go well, more research is needed on how space stresses the human body.
Internet CBT may help to heal a broken heart
It is common for middle-aged women with suspected myocardial infarction to be diagnosed with broken heart syndrome instead, which is triggered by stress and grief. Per Tornvall hopes that his research will result in more people receiving the correct diagnosis and fewer people suffering a relapse. He is now testing to see if internet CBT may help to heal the heart.
When today's psychiatric diagnoses are not enough
You may know about depression and ADHD - but what about the p factor, emotion regulation and symptom networks? We need more concepts for mental health difficulties, say researchers.
How screen habits affects children's health
Screen time is often associated with poor health in young people, but it is more complicated than that, say researchers. We are affected, but differently and not just negatively. What we do on our phones – and what we do when we are not using them – also plays a role in our well-being.
Curious about cleaning
In the healthcare setting, keeping things clean can be vital to prevent the spread of dangerous bacteria. But in a household, what’s best for your health – to live pretty dirty or to be a clean freak? Read our interviews with the researchers who have a pure interest in cleaning.
Breast cancer — what is causing it?
Long live the liver!
Sentenced to care — punishment or opportunity?
Hearing loss — easy to prevent but hard to cure
More on research at KI
Animal research
Animal research is strictly regulated and comes under both Swedish and EU legislation on animal welfare.
Collaboration worldwide
International collaborations are crucial for KI to fulfill our mission and strive towards better health for all.
Doctoral education
World-class research and specialised research environments create a breeding ground for PhD studies at KI.
New doctoral theses
Each year, around 350 doctoral students at KI will present their thesis to their peers in science.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
In his will, Alfred Nobel appointed Karolinska Institutet to award the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Research subjects wanted
By participating you will be helping to make progress in research, which may lead to new or more effective treatments.
Top publications list
Current articles to which our researchers have contributed and that have been published in selected top-ranked journals.
University Library
Find papers, advice about bibliometrics and publishing strategy, academic writing workshops, and much more.
Working at KI
KI's vision is to be one of the leading medical universities in the world. Our committed and competent employees make this possible.