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Björn Pasternak

Principal researcher

About me

2002-2007   MD, Linköping University, Sweden

2004-2008   PhD, Linköping University, Sweden

2009-2016   Postdoc and Researcher, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark

2016-           Senior/Principal Researcher, Karolinska Institutet

2017-           Associate Professor (docent), Karolinska Institutet

 

Research description

Thriving on substantial expertise in large-scale register studies of adverse drug effects, we have the overall objective of using high-quality epidemiology to help inform evidence-based decisions in clinical practice. We have ongoing research programs in pediatric pharmacoepidemiology; safety and effectiveness of new diabetes drugs; and the area of expedited assessment of current drug safety concerns. My team’s scope is not limited to one single disease entity or therapeutic area; rather, we are in a constant process of seeking out and addressing emerging drug safety concerns with implications for clinical practice.  

 

Team members

 

Our research is and has been funded by

  • Swedish Research Council
  • Karolinska Institutet Faculty Funded Consolidator Grant
  • Swedish Cancer Society
  • Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
  • Thrasher Research Foundation
  • Novo Nordisk Foundation
  • Nordic Cancer Union
  • Swedish Diabetes Foundation 
  • Strategic Research Area Epidemiology (SfoEpi) at Karolinska Institutet
  • Karolinska Institutet Foundations and Funds
  • Stiftelsen Frimurare Barnhuset
  • Alzheimerfonden
  • Dr Margaretha Nilsson Stiftelse för Medicinsk Forskning
  • Åke Wibergs Stiftelse
  • Magnus Bergvalls Stiftelse

 

Selected publications

Wintzell V, Svanström H, Pasternak B. Selection of comparator group in observational drug safety studies: alternatives to the active comparator new user design. Epidemiology 2022

 

Pasternak B, Wintzell V, Melbye M, Eliasson B, Svensson AM, Franzén S, Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C, Svanström H, Ueda P. Use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and risk of serious renal events: Scandinavian cohort study. BMJ 2020

 

Pasternak B, Ueda P, Eliasson B, Svensson AM, Franzén S,  Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C, Wintzell V, Melbye M, Svanström H. Use of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and risk of major cardiovascular events and heart failure: Scandinavian register based cohort study. BMJ 2019

 

Svanström H, Ueda P, Melbye M, Eliasson B, Svensson AM, Franzén S, Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C, Pasternak B. Use of liraglutide and risk of major cardiovascular events: a register-based cohort study in Denmark and Sweden. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2019

 

Ueda P, Svanström H, Melbye M, Eliasson B, Svensson AM, Franzén S, Gudbjörnsdottir S, Hveem K, Jonasson C, Pasternak B. Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and risk of serious adverse events: nationwide register based cohort study. BMJ 2018

 

Pasternak B, Inghammar M, Svanström H. Fluoroquinolone use and risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection: nationwide cohort study. BMJ 2018

 

Scheller NM, Pasternak B, Mølgaard-Nielsen D, Svanström H, Hviid A. Quadrivalent HPV Vaccination and the Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. New England Journal of Medicine 2017

 

Molgaard-Nielsen D, Svanstrom H, Melbye M, Hviid A, Pasternak B. Association Between Use of Oral Fluconazole During Pregnancy and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion and Stillbirth. JAMA 2016

 

Scheller NM, Svanstrom H, Pasternak B, Arnheim-dahlstrom L, Sundstrom K, Fink K, et al. Quadrivalent HPV vaccination and risk of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. JAMA 2015

 

Scheller NM, Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Hviid A. Quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine and the risk of venous thromboembolism. JAMA 2014

 

Nyboe Andersen N, Pasternak B, Basit S, Andersson M, Svanstrom H, Caspersen S, et al. Association between tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists and risk of cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. JAMA 2014

 

Feenstra B, Pasternak B, Geller F, Carstensen L, Wang T, Huang F, et al. Common variants associated with general and MMR vaccine-related febrile seizures. Nature genetics 2014

 

Molgaard-Nielsen D, Pasternak B, Hviid A. Use of oral fluconazole during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. New England Journal of Medicine 2013

 

Hviid A, Melbye M, Pasternak B. Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy and risk of autism. New England Journal of Medicine 2013

 

Svanstrom H, Pasternak B, Hviid A. Use of azithromycin and death from cardiovascular causes. New England Journal of Medicine 2013

 

Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Melbye M, Hviid A. Association between oral fluoroquinolone use and retinal detachment. JAMA 2013

 

Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Molgaard-nielsen D, Melbye M, Hviid A. Metoclopramide in pregnancy and risk of major congenital malformations and fetal death. JAMA 2013

 

Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Hviid A. Ondansetron in pregnancy and risk of adverse fetal outcomes. New England Journal of Medicine 2013

 

Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Molgaard-nielsen D, Krause Tg, Emborg Hd, Melbye M, et al. Risk of adverse fetal outcomes following administration of a pandemic influenza A(H1N1) vaccine during pregnancy. JAMA 2012

 

Pasternak B, Svanstrom H, Molgaard-nielsen D, Krause Tg, Emborg Hd, Melbye M, et al. Vaccination against pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza in pregnancy and risk of fetal death: cohort study in Denmark. BMJ 2012

 

Svanstrom H, Pasternak B, Hviid A. Association of treatment with losartan vs candesartan and mortality among patients with heart failure. JAMA 2012

 

Pasternak B, Hviid A. Use of acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir in the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. JAMA 2010

 

Pasternak B, Hviid A. Use of proton-pump inhibitors in early pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. New England Journal of Medicine 2010