Johanna Dahlqvist

As a physician scientist, I combine patient-centered work at the Unit of Rheumatology, Uppsala University Hospital, with basic and clinical research. The scope of my research comprises investigation of the basic mechanisms behind autoimmunity, with a special focus on the rare disorders ANCA-associated vasculitides, as well as clinical implications of these diseases in terms of organ damage, co-morbidities and diagnostic tools.

My current research delves into the pathological mechanisms behind autoimmunity, with a special focus on the ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). Although rare, the AAV are severe autoimmune diseases with a potentially fatal outcome. To improve treatment and diagnostics of patients, we need to close the gap in our understanding of the cellular and molecular events leading up to disease.

In 2014, I initiated and organized a Scandinavian scientific network for a collaborative effort to improve our comprehension of the AAV (SCAVAS). We are now finalizing the first initiative, a large genetics study comprising more than 1100 patients with AAV, recruited at 10 different centra in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The collaboration has sparked novel projects, e.g., I am now, together with co-workers, leading studies involving proteomics, single-cell transcriptomics and clinical aspects of AAV.

Previous research experience:
2011 Doctoral degree in clinical genetics, Dep. of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
2014 Start of post-doctoral studies in the lab of prof. Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Dep. of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University. Area of interest: genetics of autoimmune complex traits.
2016-2018 Post-doctoral studies in the lab of prof. Nir Hacohen, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, US. Area of interest: genetic regulation of autoimmunity-associated genes.
2019- Young PI in the lab's of prof. Kerstin Lindblad-Toh and prof. Lars Rönnblom, Dep. of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University. Areas of interest: genetic predisposition to and molecular mechanisms involved in autoimmune disease; etio-pathogenesis and disease course of AAV, with the aim to deconstruct the heterogeneity among patients and improve prognosis.