NLS

In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases, and 597,000 malaria deaths, making it a prioritized field for many researchers around the world. In Umeå, Sweden, Professor Oliver Billker’s group is focusing on the basic biology of the parasite, with the goal to develop new drugs and vaccines and understand why some mosquito species transmit malaria while others do not.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed global unpreparedness and made it very clear that investment in research efforts that address potential health crises is crucial. One such effort is the Nordic Health Crisis University Network, linking five Nordic universities with policymakers to enhance crisis management.

Anna Wedell, Professor and Research Group Leader of the group Inborn Errors of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Karolinska Institutet and Director of the new Precision Medicine Center Karolinska, explains how research in rare diseases has evolved due to new technologies, and emphasizes that identifying synergies is essential for diagnosing and treating these conditions.

FinVector has emerged as a pioneer in the manufacturing of viral-based gene therapy. The company is this year’s BioFinland Award winner and NLS asked Matthias Krieger, Managing Director, about milestones, gene therapy, and not least, the importance of teamwork.

Fertram Sigurjonsson's company Kerecis is dedicated to producing and commercializing fish skin for medical purposes. Recently, the company became one of Iceland’s first unicorns when it was acquired by Danish medtech giant Coloplast.

Malin Parmar, professor and research team leader at Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Lund University, has spent over a decade working with stem cells to produce dopamine as a treatment for Parkinson's disease. After such a dedicated effort, some patients are now participating in clinical trials for stem-cell-based transplants.