Jenny Löfgren

Purpose The purpose is to strengthen the global surgery research group at Karolinska Institutet. Pressing scientific questions will be answered and researchers of the future will be trained. The aims of the project are to:1) Expand on the research relating to groin hernia - including surgical techniques, task sharing, surgical training and health economics.  2) Continue the work relating to breast cancer focusing on genetics and artificial intelligence. 3) Introduce and build research relating to trauma which will bridge my clinical work as a reconstructive plastic surgeon with my global surgery research. Project organisation, time plan and scientific methodsThe project consists of several studies, currently involving 6 PhD students. The group has a large number of collaborators in Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and the US. The studies outlined in the application are a mix of ongoing research that will be completed early during the grant period, studies that will be initiated and a new field of interest that is being developed. The core of the research is randomised, clinical trials. Other methods include epidemiology, qualitative research, genetics, and health economics. What is important about the planned researchSurgery has long been a neglected field within global health. 5 billion people lack access to surgical services of quality. The planned research will futher move the needle for global surgery, aiming at providing evidence for best practices and policy making.