NatiOn – National research school in clinical and translational cancer research
Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University offer from spring 2026 a national research school (NatiOn) with a focus on clinical and translational cancer research.
The aim is to offer a tailored package of courses that form a knowledge base for future clinical researchers in the field of cancer. The programme is designed to give a solid and advanced basis for clinical cancer research.
After completing the programme, participants are expected to be able to:
- formulate specific scientific hypotheses,
- understand the processes underlying the transformation of a normal cell into its malignant counterpart and the consequences of malign transformation at a cell and orgasm level,
- understand how biological knowledge on the development of cancer is used in modern cancer therapies,
- have knowledge of methods used in modern and translational cancer research,
- design clinical experimental as well observational studies,
- write applications for research grants and to the ethical review board,
- carry out data-gathering collections/procedures,
- be able to analyze data independently and in collaboration with statisticians interpret results, and
- write scientific reports and critically review scientific publications.
Call for applications
Announcement period: 10 March - 2 May 2025 at 2:00 pm.
Up to twenty doctoral students places are announced.
Notification of admission will be given in August 2025.
The research school starts in April 2026. The programme spans 5 semesters and primarily covers molecular oncology and research methods for clinically active individuals in the field of cancer.
Target group
The research school is for doctoral students with a clinical or translational project in cancer research. A clinical affiliation in the form of a permanent employment or some other longer commitment is meritorious.
Eligibility
Eligible to apply is anyone who:
- Are admitted to doctoral education at a university in Sweden, alternatively admitted no later than three weeks before the start of the first course in spring 2026
- Has a university education relevant to the area
Assessment of the application
Each application is assessed based on two aspects:
- The project – scientific quality, feasibility and relevance
- The applicant – experience and motivation
Application
The call will be opened electronically 10 March 2025 in the application system KI Prisma.
Your application must contain the following information:
- Application form
- CV
- Description of the project/ research plan
- Motivation for the application (why you want and need to attend this particular course)
- Certificate from the supervisor confirming the applicant's suitability for and need for the programme
If it is appropriate: Certificate from the clinical manager that the person concerned will be granted leave for the relevant course periods.
Courses
The programme comprises a total of 17 weeks of full-time study (25.5 ECTS credits) over two and a half years, divided into five blocks of three to four weeks each.
Approximately ten of the course weeks are planned to take place on the KI campus area, five weeks on the UU campus area and two course weeks in the form of distance learning.
The courses include, among other things, an in-depth study of basic and new concepts in cancer biology, molecular oncology, research methodology and tools for clinical cancer research.
The programme is also adapted to the mandatory basic block for doctoral students at Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University, and corresponds to what is required at most other Swedish universities. The programme is to be completed in its entirety. Teaching takes place in Swedish and English.
Reimbursement to the participant
The research school does not cover the participants’ salaries during the course periods (although some compensation is possible). Travel and maintenance allowances are possible in the first instance from the respective employer/clinic, and in the second from the NatiOn-research school. The participants’ clinical managers (or their equivalents) are required to testify that they will be granted paid or unpaid leave for each course period. During the course periods there will be no time or opportunity for any parallel clinical work.
Timeframe research school starting 2026
| Block | Period |
|---|---|
| Block 1 (prel.) | 4 weeks April 2026 |
| Block 2 (prel.) | 3 weeks Oct. 2026 |
| Block 3 (prel.) | 4 weeks March 2027 |
| Block 4 (prel.) | 3 weeks Oct. 2027 |
| Block 5 (prel.) | 4 weeks February 2028 |
Timeframe research school starting 2024
| Block | Period |
|---|---|
| Block 1 | April 2024 |
| Block 2 | October 2024 |
| Block 3 | March 2025 |
| Block 4 | October 2025 |
| Block 5 | February 2026 |
Contact
For further information, contact:
Svetlana Bajalica Lagercrantz
Chair of NatiOnIngemar Ernberg
Vice Chair of NatiOnMeis Omran
Research school director