Kristina Johnell
Min forskning fokuserar på real world evidence för att förbättra läkemedelsbehandlingen hos äldre. Målet är långsiktig påverkan på kvalitet i hälso‑ och sjukvård för en åldrande befolkning.
Om mig
Bakgund
Jag är professor i geriatrisk farmakoepidemiologi vid Institutionen för medicinsk epidemiologi och biostatistik (MEB).
Sedan 1 juli 2026 är jag även prodekan för forskning vid Karolinska Institutet (KI): ”Viktigt ta tillvara KI:s starka translationella potential” | Medarbetare .
Jag har vetenskaplig, pedagogisk och ledarskapserfarenhet:
- Min vetenskapliga produktion omfattar cirka 200 artiklar, 2 bokkapitel samt flera rapporter och populärvetenskapliga presentationer.
- Sedan 2008 har 16 doktorander disputerat under min handledning. För närvarande är jag huvudhandledare för 1 doktorand och bihandledare för 3 doktorander.
- Sedan 2006 har jag som huvudsökande erhållit forskningsanslag från Europeiska unionen (Horizon 2020: EIT Health), Vetenskapsrådet, Forskningsrådet för hälsa, arbetsliv och välfärd (Forte) samt flera andra finansiärer.
- Jag har undervisningserfarenhet i geriatrisk farmakologi och geriatrisk farmakoepidemiologi på grund-, avancerad och forskarutbildningsnivå, samt i fortbildning för hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal samt populärvetenskapliga presentationer.
- Åren 2019–2026 var jag prefekt vid Institutionen för medicinsk epidemiologi och biostatistik (MEB), med cirka 280 medarbetare.
- Åren 2015–2018 var jag ställföreträdande prefekt vid Institutionen för neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle (NVS), med omkring 520 medarbetare.
- Åren 2014–2018 var jag sektionschef för Aging Research Center (ARC), med cirka 80 medarbetare.
Mina nuvarande och tidigare uppdrag i styrgrupper, kommittéer och paneler inkluderar roller såsom ordförande, vice ordförande och panelmedlem i:
beredningsgrupp vid Vetenskapsrådet; ordförande för Special Interest Group (SIG) i Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology inom International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE); medlem i External Expert Advisory Board för Joint Action Prevent Cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases (JA‑PreventNCD), ett EU-finansierat konsortium; medlem i Scientific Advisory Board för Data Analysis and Real World Interrogation Network (DARWIN EU®) under Europeiska läkemedelsmyndigheten (EMA) and the European Medicines Regulatory Network; medlem i Scientific Advisory Board för GREG – Testing, improving, and co-creating Guidance and Tools for Real World Evidence Generation and Use for Decision-Making in Europe, finansierat av EU Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking; ordförande för styrgruppen för National E-Infrastructure on Aging Research (NEAR); medlem i den strategiska ledningsgruppen för Stockholms biobanksinfrastruktur; panelmedlem i anslagsutvärderingar för Swiss National Science Foundation, Austrian Science Fund, Foundation for Polish Science och Norwegian Health Association; ordförande för styrgruppen för Centrum för farmakoepidemiologi (CPE); medlem i styrgruppen för Tema Åldrande vid Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset; medlem i ledningsgruppen vid Institutionen för neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle (NVS); medlem i ledningsgruppen för SFO Epi; ledamot i KI:s nomineringsförsamling; samt Center for Alzheimer Research; Academic Center for Geriodontics; och Etikprövningskommittén.
Forskningsbeskrivning
Min forskning fokuserar på real world evidence för att förbättra läkemedelsbehandlingen av äldre patienter. Genom avancerad registerbaserad analys genereras beslutsrelevant kunskap om läkemedelsanvändning i åldrande populationer. Målet är långsiktig påverkan på kvalitet och hållbarhet i hälso‑ och sjukvård för en åldrande befolkning.
Mitt huvudsakliga forskningsområde är geriatrisk farmakoepidemiologi, med särskilt fokus på:
- Individualiserad läkemedelsbehandling
- Olämplig läkemedelsbehandling hos äldre
- Läkemedelsbiverkningar hos äldre
- Läkemedelsbehandling vid demenssjukdom
- Läkemedelsanvändning bland sköra äldre och i livets slutskede
- Translationell forskning om läkemedel
- Ojämlikheter i äldre personers läkemedelsbehandling
- Beslutsstöd för läkemedelsbehandling av äldre patienter
- Registerbaserad farmakoepidemiologi
Artiklar
- Article: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION. 2026;28(8):e70350Villa Lopez M; Hoang MT; Xu H; Norgren J; Petek B; Secnik J; Kalar I; Religa D; Maioli S; Mo M; Kareholt I; Johnell K; Cuadrado M-L; Eriksdotter M; Garcia-Ptacek S
- Article: CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS AND THERAPY. 2026;40(4):1485-1502Amrouch C; Vetrano DL; De Bacquer D; Ferri N; Simal I; Damiano C; Dai L; Calderon-Larranaga A; Brys ADH; De Spiegeleer A; Lip GYH; Johnsen SP; Wastesson JW; Johnell K; De Smedt D; Petrovic M
- Article: GERONTOLOGY. 2026;:1-16Zhang Z; Hoang MT; Wastesson JW; Johnell K
- Article: VACCINE. 2026;85:128724Xu Y; Nyberg F; Marking U; Gisslen M; Wastesson JW; Johnell K
- Article: AGE AND AGEING. 2026;55(7):afag211Wojt IR; Hoang MT; Wastesson JW; Johnell K; Cairns R; Garcia-Ptacek S; Eriksdotter M; Tan ECK
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY. 2026;41(6):e70235Miao TT; Szilcz M; Chang Z; Wastesson JW; Johnell K
- Article: DRUGS & AGING. 2026;43(6):529-541Shepherd H; Johnell K; Wastesson JW; Szilcz M
- Article: BMC MEDICINE. 2026;24(1):200Zhu N; Eriksdotter M; Shahim B; Johnell K; Garcia-Ptacek S; Carrero J-J; Xu H
- Journal article: ÄLDRE I CENTRUM VETENSKAPLIGT SUPPLEMENT. 2026;:37-50Wastesson JW; Willers C; Sielinou Kamgang K-H; Björk T; Fastbom J; Johnell K; Lundby C
- Journal article: ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA. 2025;21 Suppl 5:e102599Solis AM; Tambaro S; Tang B; Oliveira TLD; Qin C; Kavsek A; Sjölander A; Johnell K; Religa D; Hägg S; Riedel C; Nilsson P
- Article: BMC GERIATRICS. 2025;25(1):843Hoang MT; Wastesson JW; Szilcz M; Maura G; Blotiere P-O; Johnell K
- Article: ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY. 2025;17(1):227Zhu N; Eriksdotter M; Liabeuf S; Tan ECK; Johnell K; Garcia-Ptacek S; Xu H
- Article: LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH. 2025;10(10):e835-e847Pineda-Moncusí M; Rekkas A; Martínez Pérez Á; Leis A; Lopez Gomez C; Fey E; Bruninx E; Maljković F; Sánchez-Sáez F; Rodeiro-Boliart J; Zsuzsa Kiss L; Franz M; Mayer M-A; Eleangovan N; Pulido PP; Natsiavas P; Şen S; Cooper S; Reisberg S; Manlik K; Price DB; Moscetti L; Merkelbach M; Tadrous M; Rappoport N; Claire R; Garcia-Torrens S; Prieto-Alhambra D; Rijnbeek PR; Burkard T; Drug Shortages EHDEN Study Group
- Article: BASIC & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY. 2025;137(3):e70093Kamgang K-HS; Lundby C; Szilcz M; Johnell K; Wastesson JW
- Article: BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH. 2025;25(1):1144Oberg J; Khalaf K; Perez-Vicente R; Johnell K; Fastbom J; Merlo J
- Article: ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. 2025;178(8):1106-1115Khalili H; Mcgee EE; Challa PK; Roelstraete B; Johnell K; Schneeweiss S; Wastesson JW; Ludvigsson JF
- Article: PUBLIC HEALTH. 2025;242:324-331Xu Y; Nyberg F; Santosa A; Marking U; Jonsson J; Gisslen M; Wastesson JW; Johnell K
- Article: ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS. 2025;61(9):1500-1507Szilcz M; Wastesson JW; Bergman D; Johnell K; Ludvigsson JF
- Article: FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY. 2025;16:1568160Jabri FF; Liang Y; Johnell K; Moller J
- Article: ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA. 2025;21(3):e70081Eroli F; Johnell K; Acararicin Z; Tsagkogianni C; Zerial S; Lancia S; Latorre-Leal M; Alanko V; Hilmer SN; Matton A; Wastesson JW; Cedazo-Minguez A; Maioli S
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Alla övriga publikationer
- Preprint: JMIR PREPRINTS. 2025Zhang Z; Hoang MT; Wastesson JW; Johnell K
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2025;34:355-356Szilcz M; Bergman D; Wastesson J; Johnell K; Ludvigsson JF
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2025;34:613-614Xu Y; Nyberg F; Santosa A; Marking U; Jonsson J; Gisslen M; Wastesson J; Johnell K
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2025;34:368-369Miao TT; Szilcz M; Wastesson J; Johnell K
- Letter: ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS. 2025;61(9):1549-1550Szilcz M; Wastesson JW; Bergman D; Johnell K; Ludvigsson JF
- Conference publication: ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA. 2024;20 Suppl 1:e089109Tambaro S; Solis AM; Tang B; De Oliveira TL; Qin C; Kavsek A; Sjölander A; Johnell K; Religa D; Riedel C; Nilsson P; Hägg S
- Letter: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY. 2024;72(11):3612-3613Szilcz M; Wastesson JW; Calderon-Larranaga A; Prieto-Alhambra D; Blotiere P-O; Maura G; Johnell K
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2024;33:383-384Kamgang KHS; Lundby C; Szilcz M; Johnell K; Wastesson JW
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2024;33:403Maura G; Blotiere P-O; Wastesson JW; Johnell K
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2024;33:378Wastesson JW; Kamgang K-HS; Szilcz M; Johnell K
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2024;33:255Szilcz M; Ludvigsson JF; Johnell K; Wastesson JW
- Preprint: MEDRXIV. 2024Pineda-Moncusí M; Rekkas A; Pérez ÁM; Leis A; Gomez CL; Fey E; Bruninx E; Maljković F; Sánchez-Sáez F; Rodeiro J; Kiss LZ; Franz M; Mayer M-A; Eleangovan N; Pau PP; Natsiavas P; Şen S; Cooper S; Reisberg S; Manlik K; del Pino B; Uribe AP; Üresin AY; Bastić AD; Rodrigues AM; Afonso Ã; Palomar-Cros A; Verbiest A; Delmestri A; Erdoğan B; Dinkel-Keuthage C; Torre CO; de Beukelaar C; Eteve-Pitsaer C; Gonçalves CF; de Palma C; Gavina C; Dedman D; Price DB; Balan DG; Enders D; Burn E; Henke E; Scheurwegs E; Callewaert E; Martínez EP; Tan EH; Prasser F; Antonini F; Staelens F; Nyberg F; Agard G; Galli G; Candore G; Mestdach G; Shachaf H; Rantala H; Li H; Reinecke I; López-Sánchez I; Poquet-Jornet JE; de la Cruz Bertolo J; Evers J; Firmino-Machado J; Wastesson J; Bermúdez JLC; Ramírez-Anguita JM; Porkka K; Johnell K; Boyer L; Cool L; Moscetti L; Merkelbach M; Canelas-Pais M; Dominici M; Szilcz M; Puntoni M; Mosseveld M; Tadrous M; Oltra-Sastre M; Bové M; Rappoport N; Barrio NG; Ettala O; Baili P; Mayo PR; Prinsen P; Norris R; Claire R; Yackob RS; Lillini R; Garcia-Torrens S; Kukkurainen S; Lazzarelli S; Duarte-Salles T; Taveira-Gomes T; Jansen T; Keilholz U; Man WY; Li X; Bagyura Z; Prieto-Alhambra D; Rijnbeek PR; Burkard T
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2023;32:25Szilcz M; Wastesson J; Calderon-Larranaga A; Prieto-Alhambra D; Blotiere P-O; Maura G; Johnell K
- Review: HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY LETTERS. 2023;10(3):62-72Manzanet JMP; Fico G; Merino-Barbancho B; Hernandez L; Vera-Munoz C; Seara G; Torrego M; Gonzalez H; Wastesson J; Fastbom J; Mayol J; Johnell K; Gomez-Gascon T; Arredondo MT
- Conference publication: GASTROENTEROLOGY. 2023;164(6):s-227Khalili H; Roelstraete B; Johnell K; Schneeweiss S; Wastesson JW; Ludvigsson JF
- Conference publication: GASTROENTEROLOGY. 2023;164(6):S226Khalili H; Roelstraete B; Johnell K; Schneeweiss S; Wastesson JW; Ludvigsson JF
- Preprint: AUTHOREA. 2022Manzanet JMP; Fico G; Merino-Barbancho B; Vera-Muñoz C; Hernandez L; Seara G; Torrego M; Gonzalez H; Wastesson J; Fastbom J; Mayol J; Johnell K; Gómez T; Arredondo MT
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2022;31:111Szilcz M; Wastesson J; Lindman H; Johnell K
- Conference publication: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2022;31:393Blotiere PO; Maura G; Wastesson J; Johnell K
- Conference publication: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY. 2022;29:146Secnik J; Eriksdotter M; Rytarowski A; Annetorp M; Johnell K; Hagg S; Religa D
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Forskningsbidrag
- Swedish Research Council1 januari 2024 - 31 december 2026Older adults have the highest risk of adverse drug events, yet they are regularly excluded from clinical trials where drug safety is evaluated. Apart from age restrictions in clinical trials, exclusion criteria often involve age-related factors such as co-morbidities and concomitant drug use. In this proposal, we aim to systematically evaluate drug safety in older adults using a wealth of European data. With the ultimate goal of producing real-world evidence that can influence regulatory agencies and improve drug safety in clinical practice.In this five-year project we intend to create an improved workflow for evaluating drug safety in older adults using data sources mapped to the OMOP Common Data Model as part of the European Health Data Evidence Network (EHDEN). The workflow will include a model for prioritization of medications for investigation. The model will target drugs used in regular practice, whereas new drugs will be evaluated as they reach the market. Second, we will contribute to the methodological development for integrating co-morbidities, concomitant drug use and frailty in real-world evidence studies of drug safety from routinely collected data. The analyses can be conducted in any of the Swedish register data sources we have direct access to, or within the ≈200 data partners in EHDEN.The findings will improve drug use in older adults, the part of the population with highest drug use and largest risk for adverse drug events.
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 juli 2023 - 30 juni 2027Research problem and specific questionsMedications play an important role for the mental health and suicidal behaviour (i.e. suicide and self-harm) among older people. This is however an understudied topic, which we aim to change with the proposed project. We aim to investigate in older adults 1) Medication treatment before and after self-harm2) Medication patterns before suicide3) Medications, loneliness and bereavementand 4) Co-designing prevention of suicidal behaviour and involuntary loneliness.Data and methodThe project combines quantitative analyses of high quality Swedish register data (Aim 1-3) with qualitative focus group interviews with key stakeholders (Aim 4). We will analyse longitudinal data from several Swedish registers of people aged ≥65 years (n≈3.1 million). Results from these analyses will serve as a foundation for the semistructured focus group interviews with key stakeholders, including user organisations, health care and eldercare.Relevance This multidisciplinary project integrates different research approaches and uses participatory designs, with the goal of co-designing preventive interventions for older adults. We will use cutting-edge epidemiological methods based on registers with excellent data quality offering the possibility for long-term follow-up. With these methodological advancements and big high quality data, we will be able to address the shortcomings of previous studies. This project will also identify vulnerable high-risk groups for tailored interventions that could increase health and autonomy in older adults.Our focus on medications in this context is novel and highly relevant. Medication treatment is very common among older adults and, thus, a natural point of intervention and potential identifier of loneliness and suicidal behaviour.Plan for project realisation We will start with the register-based studies (Aim 1-3) and the initiation of a Community Advisory Board of older adults. Based on the findings from Aim 1-3, we will design focus group interviews with key stakeholders (Aim 4). We will actively involve end users and health care and eldercare providers in the project to ensure that all important stakeholders are represented and provide input.Feasibility is ensured by availability of all necessary data in-house, and by the combined high and wide competence in our interdisciplinary team.The budget mainly covers funding for a PhD student and a postdoc for the scientific and outreach activities.
- Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation1 januari 2023 - 31 december 2024
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 januari 2023 - 31 december 2026Research problem and specific questions Deprescribing is a novel concept relating to a process where medications are reduced or stopped in order to avoid medication-related harms and improve patient outcomes. This proposal addresses two main challenges for deprescribing: (1) integrating deprescribing in routine care for older adults(2) adapting deprescribing activities to the Swedish context, a country where deprescribing have yet to be introduced.Data and methodThis mixed-method project combines register-based data analysis, with qualitative research and participatory design. We use a mixed approach in order to: (a) describe the current deprescribing activities in Sweden (nation-wide register data covering all older adults in Sweden)(b) gain detailed knowledge of the barriers and facilitators for deprescribing activities among patient and health care professionals (qualitative research and survey)and, (c) creating a roadmap for future deprescribing interventions in Sweden (co-design of health care interventions). We believe that that the selected methods are the necessary steps to introduce relevant and patient-centered deprescribing activities in Sweden.Plan for project realisation This participatory research project will be executed in three steps. First, we will conduct analysis of register data to have an up-to-date understanding of the need, current activities, and efficacy and safety of deprescribing in Sweden. Second, we will conduct a series of interviews with patients and health care professionals focusing on barriers and facilitators for deprescribing in the Swedish context, and invite health care professionals to rank their most needed resources to routinely conduct deprescribing. Based on the two first steps, we will conduct a series of workshops with stakeholders (patient representatives and different health care professionals) to co-design a deprescribing intervention that is feasible and scalable in the Swedish setting.RelevanceThe novel process of deprescribing has the potential to reduce the high levels preventable medication-related harms in older adults. Medication-related harms lead to much individual suffering and high economic cost. Ideally, this project will improve medication use in older adults by shifting the attention from prescribing to deprescribing. By including end-users throughout the project, we believe that this project will be highly relevant for patients, policy makers, and health care providers.
- Swedish Research Council1 december 2021 - 30 november 2025
- Swedish Research Council1 december 2021 - 30 november 2025
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 december 2020 - 30 november 2022
- Swedish Research Council1 augusti 2020 - 31 december 2020
- Swedish Research Council1 januari 2020 - 31 december 2022
- Swedish Research Council1 januari 2020 - 31 december 2023
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 januari 2020 - 31 december 2023
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 januari 2020 - 31 december 2024
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 januari 2020 - 31 december 2023
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 januari 2019 - 31 december 2024
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 januari 2019 - 31 december 2022
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 oktober 2017 - 30 september 2021
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 januari 2017 - 31 december 2023
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 januari 2017 - 31 december 2023
- Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 januari 2017 - 31 december 2019
- Swedish Research Council1 januari 2017 - 31 december 2019
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Anställningar
- Professor, Geriatrisk epidemiologi, Medicinsk epidemiologi och biostatistik, Karolinska Institutet, 2019-
- Professor, Geriatrisk läkemedelsepidemiologi, Neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, Karolinska Institutet, 2016-2018
Examina och utbildning
- Docent, Äldreforskning, Karolinska Institutet, 2010
- MEDICINE DOKTORSEXAMEN, Institutionen för neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, Karolinska Institutet, 2005
- LICENTIATEXAMEN, Institutionen för klinisk vetenskap, intervention och teknik, Karolinska Institutet, 2004
- MSc Pharm (licensed pharmacist), Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 2002
Uppdrag
- Prodekan för forskning, Karolinska Institutet, 2026-
- Prefekt, C8 Medicinsk epidemiologi och biostatistik, Karolinska Institutet, 2019-2026