After 335 publications, Per Artursson is up for new challenges

How does it feel to have only a few days of a professional life left?
It will actually be really nice to step aside. To lead a research group, you have to constantly secure new grants, take responsibility for group members and always strive to be as close to the research frontier as possible. This takes more energy the older you get, and now I want to put that energy into something else. It's just a matter of realizing that none of us are irreplaceable and making room for the next generation.

After almost half a century at BMC, what memories will you cherish the most?
Without a doubt, all the fantastic people I have met. From my own PhD supervisor Ingvar Sjöholm with his amazing ability to think outside the box, to all the skilled colleagues and doctoral students I have followed and who are now having impressive careers. In addition, in my work I have had the privilege of collaborating with so many inspiring researchers from all over the world – some of whom will be coming to Uppsala at the end of January to participate in the conferenc Pharmaceutical Profiling in Drug Discovery and Development, which I am very much looking forward to.

With almost 35,700 citations, what do you consider to be your most important scientific contribution?
In the academic environment, we have the freedom to give space to curiosity. Our group has used this privilege to try our luck along many unchartered paths, and if we look in the rearview mirror for a moment, I see that our most iportant achievement is that we have made a difference in many of these new directions. But what really makes me happy is when I see the successes of former adepts.

You defended your thesis in 1985. What would you like to say to those who are just about to start their doctoral studies?
Not to be overwhelmed by the strict formal requirements and administrative burden that is delegated to researchers at all levels today, stealing important time from what should be our main task: education and research. Anna Sarkadi, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine has reacted with a call to “Dare to refuse Administration”, and Professor Johan Elf at the Faculty of Science and Technology states “University activities that are not based on the needs of the core operations should be paid for by those who demand it”. Regardless of how realistic this is, one thing is certain: Even though the initial threshold to start a PhD journey may feel high, it usually dissipates over time and develops into something unique and positive.

And a few words along the road to those who are already further along in their career?
At a relatively small faculty like ours, there are rarely resources to recruit researchers from the front ranks. Therefore, we need to identify and attract young promising researchers and, above all, nurture and promote the talent we already have in our corridors. So help them to go out into the world where they can develop and build their own networks – and provide them with the conditions to return to Uppsala and BMC when the time is right.

Where will Per Artursson's research group go when the captain leaves BMC?
My remaining doctoral students will have new supervisors and the promising branch of research focussing on stem cell organoids, which we are exploring in collaboration with Professor Mikael Sellin, will be continued by associate professor Madlen Hubert, researcher in Molecular pharmaceutics. I still have a few scientific articles to write and will continue to supervise a project for some time in which we want to find how existing drugs can work against the kidney disease ADPKD.

What awaits when you lock the door to the lab on January 31?
First, I will travel to Park City and above all Powder Mountain, 100 kilometers north of Salt Lake City, to experince catskiing again. Once I am back in Uppsala, I will have a smaller office at BMC since I am not quite done with research yet. But most of all I am looking forward to being free from deadlines, staying in shape, reading other literature than scientific articles, seeing friends and last but not least spending more time with my family, children and grandchildren.

text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt a o