Linda Björkhem-Bergman

Linda Björkhem-Bergman

Principal Researcher | Docent
Visiting address: Blickagången 16, 14152 Huddinge
Postal address: H1 Neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, H1 Klinisk geriatrik Björkhem-Bergman, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • I am MD and defended my PhD-thesis in Experimental Pathology in 


  • 2004 at the Karolinska Institutet. The project involved carcinogenesis
    studies in animal models and cell-culturing of multi-drug resistant cells
    with focus on selenium compounds and selenoenzymes. During my post-doc time
    (2009-2012) at Dept of Clinical Pharmacology I expanded my knowledge about
    drug metabolism with focus on statins. During my Residency at Clinical
    Pharmacology (ST-läkare) (2006-2013) I started working with clinical
    research and with Phase I and II studies at the Clinical Trial Unit. I
    finished my Specialist Training in Clinical Pharmacology 2012 and I am since
    2013 Associate Professor (Docent) in Clinical Pharmacology. Since 2013 I am
    working in the field of Palliative Medicine and I am Senior Consultant
    (Överläkare) at Stockholms Sjukhem, Dept of Palliative Medicine. Since
    2021 I also have a Specialist degree in Palliative Medicine.


    In 2018 I started up my own research group in Palliative Medicine at the
    Division of Clinical Geriatrics, NVS, KI. My overall aim is to find new
    pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to improve the quality of
    life in end-of-life patients. I have a translational approach where I try to
    combine clinical trials with pre-clinical experiments for mechanistic
    studies. My main focus during recent years has been on the role of Vitamin D
    in the immune system and possible beneficial effects of Vitamin D
    supplementation to cancer patients to improve symptom management, reduce the
    incidence of infections and improve the quality of life. 

  •  

  • Today (2024) we are 8 members in my rearsch group, 3 PhD-students 

  • and 4 post-docs and one docent (me). We all combine clinical work in 
  • palliative care with reserach. We are 6 MDs, 1 reg nurse and 1 reg dietician. 

Research

  • All the reserach in my reserach group involves different topics in palliative medicine and palliative care.

     

  • During recent years my main focus has been the role of Vitamin D in the immune system and possible beneficial effects of Vitamin D supplementation to cancer patients to improve symptom management (pain and fatigue), reduce the incidence of infections and improve the quality of life.

    Currently my main focus is projects on cancer related fatigue. This involvs both mechanistic studies, with focus on immunology, and treatment options in clinical care including studies on the use of cortisone, vitamin D, methylphenidate and phsyical activity. 

  •  

  • In the research group we also have projects on nutrition in palliative care, treatment of malignant ascites, the use point of care ultra-sound in palliative home care, studies on the use of CAM (complementary and integrative medicine) in oncology and aspects of aging and immunity. 

Teaching

  • Teaching in Palliative Medicine för MD and nurses on advanced level. Course manager for 2 mandatory courses in Palliative Medicine for resident physicians.

     

  • Teaching at basic levels for MDs, physiotherapists and occupational therapist in palliative care. 


  • Scientific leader at Center of Palliative Care (Palliativt Kunskapscentrum) in Region Stockholm since 2022. This includes teaching on a regular basis for physicians, nurses and other health care professionals 
  • working in palliative care. 
  • My main foucs has been symptom managment and end-of-life care.

     


  • Teaching in Clinical Pharmacology at basic and advanced levels for physicians, nurses and biomedical analysts. 

  • Teaching in Geriatrics at basic and advanced level for MDs. 

  • Teaching in Scientific methodology for resident physicians in geriatrics. 

  • Main supervisor of 11 resident physicians for their Scientific Project (ST-projekt) in Palliative Medicine and Geriatrics. 

  • Co-ordinator for the Master degree of MDs 2014-2015.

    During 1995-2001 

  • teaching in biochemistry and pathology for MD:s.

     

  • Co-author in 3 textbooks for MDs and nurses:
    "Palliativ Medicin" i boken "Klinisk Geriatrik" (Libers förlag 2020),
    "Palliativ Cancervård" i böckerna "Klinisk Omvårdnad 1&

  • 2" (Libers
    förlag, 2021)
    ”Vård i livets slut” i boken ”Boken om Demenssjukdomar” (Libers
    förlag 2023)

     

Articles

All other publications

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2013
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2004
  • University Medical Degree, Karolinska Institutet, 2001

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