About me
Professor of Molecular Toxicology since 1996 and research group leader in Pharmacogenetics at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology since 2006. Section Head.
Previous positions at Karolinska Institutet were Research Assistant in Physiological Chemistry 1976-1977; Lecturer in Physiological Chemistry 1977-1987 (appointed 1982); and Acting Professor of Physiological Chemistry 1987-1996. Currently leader of a research group of about 8 people including 4 post docs/senior researchers. The research programme is focused on genetic factors of importance for interindividual differences in drug response and adverse drug reactions and on a novel 3D hepatic in vitro system where liver function, mechanisms of drug mediated enzyme induction and drug hepatotoxicity as well as liver diseases like steatosis, hepatitis and fibrosis is studied.
An interview focused on the background of the research performed as well as some personal views are presented in the interview published in TiPS: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25542077
Research description
New genetic factors are identified that may pose pharmacogenomic biomarkers for individualization of drug therapy. Currently special emphasis is but on the role of rare alleles. Dedifferentiation and differentiation of hepatocytes studied with respect to mechanisms. A novel 3D spheroid system for studying liver function for 5 weeks is used to analyse control of hepatic gene expression, mechanisms of drug mediated enzyme induction and hepatotoxicity and for studying liver diseases like steatosis,hepatitis and fibrosis. Special emphasis is put on discovery of novel drug targets for these diseases..
A novel drug therapy for colon cancer treatment is being developed using a cancer specific drug target (CYP2W1) in collaboration with chemists and surgeons.
Education
- Civil Engineer, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 1975
- PhD in Physiological Chemistry 1975
- Docent in Physiological Chemistry 1977
- BSc. Med (med kand), Karolinska Institutet 1978.
Academic honours, awards and prizes
More than 490 original papers, 31 024 citations (45 519 in Google Scholar), and an h-factor of 91 (ISI) or 117 (Google Scholar). Member of The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet 2008-2018. Member of Editorial Advisory Boards of e.g. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (Editorial Board), Pharmacogenetics and Genomics, Pharmacogenomics, Drug Metabolism Reviews, Drug Metabolism and Disposition. Chairman of the Microsomes and Drug Oxidation International Advisory Committee, mdo.ki.se.
Ranked as tone of the world's most cited authors within the category Pharmacology 2014-2016 (http://isihighlycited.com/). Categorized by Thomson Reuters as one of the world’s most influential scientific minds (http://sciencewatch.com/sites/sw/files/sw-article/media/worlds-most-influential-scientific-minds-2014.pdf) based on citations from highly ranked journals. ERC Advanced Grant for 2017-2022.
Main supervisor to a PhD degree for 32 postgraduate students, postdoctoral training for 32 PhDs. The research group ranked as outstanding in Karolinska Institutet's External Research Assessment (ERA) in 2010.
Awards include The Svedberg Price, The Swedish Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1989; Honorary member of The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1990; The Gerhard B Zbinden Lecture Award, EUROTOX 1996; The ISSX European Scientific Achievement Award 2003; The Bengt Danielsson Prize, The Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2008; The John G Warner Pfizer Lectureship in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, USA 2011, 2018 BCPT Nordic Prize in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Commissions of trust
~~Programme committee of the MD curriculum: Head of studieplanekommitten 3 years, responsible for the new KI 90 GUL study plan for the MD curriculum. Docenturnämnden 6 years, Chairman of KIRT 6 years, Chairman of the Committee for Elective Periods in the MD curriculum 6 years. Vice Chairman the Recruitment Committee 3 years, Chairman of The Recruitment Committee 6 years (ending March 2014) and pro dean (vice dean) for recruitment 2 years. Chairman of study group, The Swedish Natural Science Research Council 3 years, Member of study groups at The Swedish Natural Science Research Council, The Swedish Medical Research Council, 6 years, The Norwegian Research Council for 6 years.
Teaching awards: Mäster from The Student Union at Karolinska Institutet 1978; The Karolinska Institutet Pedagogical Award 2000.