Faculty of Pharmacy's 24/25 • "An amazing journey"

The year kicks off in the best possible way as the Swedish Brain Foundation in early August announce their investment in Luke Odell's and Greta Hultqvist's research with a focus on neurological diseases. Throughout the autumn, financiers continue to allocate funding to our faculty: Among the most generous are the Swedish Research Council, granting SEK 38.2 million to research projects led by, among many, Olof Eriksson, Hans Lennernäs, Ola Spjuth, Sunithi Gunasekera, Alexandra Teleki and Elisabet Nielsen, with the EU allocating further sums to, among others, Elin Svensson and Thomas Dorlo, but the largest grant is received by ENABLE-2, which in the government's research bill is set at SEK 25 million per year until 2028.

“As a support infrastructure through the early stages of antibiotic development, we provide a unique resource, and the many high-quality applications we receive from all over Europe confirm that we fill a great need. Therefore, the Swedish government's announcement is a very positive and encouraging message to research groups in both Sweden and Europe,” states Anders Karlén, Professor of Computer-aided drug design and coordinator of ENABLE-2.

A review of published results confirms that the generosity provides considerable return on investment. Among several interesting PhD theses, we find Frida Stam who succeeds in increasing the function of damaged brain cells, Maria Swartling who presents tools for safer and more effective antibiotic use, and Fanny Lundmark who, with modified molecules and modern imaging technology, paves the way for earlier diagnosis of prostate cancer. Professor Elin Svensson attracts great attention as she, in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, reports a long-awaited breakthrough in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. So does Professor Sara Mangsbo when she in Nature Communications presents a new antibody that, with three combined functions, shows potential to treat numerous forms of cancer.

“We have been researching precision medicine for close to 15 years in our search for a drug to redirect the immune system to find and target specific mutations and gene changes that are only found in cancer cells. We can now show that our new antibody method works in mice and that it is safer than several existing cancer treatments,” says Sara Mangsbo, Professor of Protein and Antibody Drugs.

The progress does not pass unnoticed. Throughout the year, an increasing number of faculty colleagues accept prestigious accolades. Among them are Per Andrén, who is awarded The Royal Society of Sciences at Uppsala’s Thuréus Prize. Anders Karlén is named Pharmacist of the Year by the Swedish Pharmacists Association, and Ottilia Andersson receives the Iris Scholarship for aspiring women in Sweden. In late May, the faculty hits another homerun as Maria Kjellsson wins Uppsala University's Independent Distinguished Teaching Award and Karin Svensberg receives the university's Distinguished Teaching Award in the area of Medicine and Pharmacy.

“I was genuinely surprised and above all very honored by this recognition of being a skilled teacher, but which must also be placed in the right context: I have amazing colleagues who have received pedagogical awards and been named Distinguished University Teachers. To work in this environment where teaching is regarded as something highly positive is both inspiring and makes you grow, says Maria Kjellsson, Professor of Pharmacokinetics.

During the spring, our faculty admits two new Distinguished University Teachers as Ulrika Rosenström and Bobo Skillinghaug receive the title that refers to teachers having “reached a higher level of pedagogical skill and are pedagogical leaders with a reflective approach to teaching and didactics”. They also enter the new Pedagogical Academy, which since the beginning of the year is providing the Distinguished Teachers of the Faculties of Pharmacy and Medicine an arena to advance the importance of pedagogy. Other important news on the educational front include the highly anticipated premiere of the course Advanced Medication Communication and the inauguration of Practicum, BMC’s new training environment that quickly becomes a favorite among future pharmaceutical experts.

“As a student, being able to practice customer meetings and face real challenges in such a completely realistic environment as Practicum brings an incredible and lifelike feeling to what our profession will be like, and we hope that everyone who considers applying for a pharmaceutical education realizes the completely new dimension Practicum adds,” say Olivia Steen and Caroline Gauffin-Shapoval, who in June graduate from our Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy.

Our faculty also offer a lot to the curious of slightly younger age. At the SciFest Science Festival, queues are winding to the faculty stands where future researchers learn more about pharmaceuticals: "This is really a world of things to discover and I can definitely imagine studying at the university in the future,” says Oscar, visiting with class 6 from Öregrunds skola. At BMC, middle school interns experience working as researchers in Uppsala University's pharmaceutical lab: "I am having an amazing week and learning so much," says Mimmi Philipsson, middle school student at Vårgårdsskolan's class 9C. In the Uppsala University Grand Auditorium 1,550 high school students, teachers and experts gather for the premiere of our faculty's new arena Kunskap För Livet, where they together outline the direction to a sustainable lifestyle.

“Kunskap För Livet is our response to all alarm reports about young people's habits and health. We want to give students the tools to break habits they are better without. After meeting all inspiring teens, dedicated teachers and incredible experts who so generously share their knowledge, all energy levels are on top and 24 November 2025, we will return to the Grand Auditorium which is already booked to the very last seat – and I cannot emphasize how much we are looking forward to meet Uppsala's young people again, says Mathias Hallberg, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy.

Looking ahead, there are global pharmaceutical challenges that no one can solve alone. Therefore our faculty continue our tireless work to unite the world's best in academia and industry. In January, we have the honor to welcome Lynne Taylor, Professor at Purdue University, and Dag Larsson, Senior expert policy at Lif, as new honorary doctors at our faculty. In July, we gather 300 leading researchers and experts from across world in Uppsala for the EuroDURG 2025 conference with a focus on improved drug utilization – and in late spring, our faculty appoints international exchange coordinators Elin Lehnbom and Christina Weden on a mission to further widen the window between BMC and the world of pharmacy.

“International collaboration is one of our faculty’s prioritized activities, and now European exchanges climb yet another step on the agenda. Today, we have partnership agreements with nine European universities – of which many are members of the ULLA consortium – which holds enormous potential to broaden both personal and professional horizons, and we are now outlining the structures to to give even more students and colleagues the opportunity to experience everything our networks have to offer,“ says Christina Wedén, Senior lecturer in Pharmacognosy.

And there are even more reasons to anticipate the future. Throughout the year, our faculty introduces new Professors, including Christian Benedict, Thomas Dorlo, Olof Eriksson, Luke Odell and Elin Svensson, all of whom are already earning prominent positions on the international rankings of researchers whose progress are worth keeping an eye on. Among our many talented students, we congratulate Nora Al Zubeidi and Thelma Leifsdotter Ilbäcken on being awarded the Per Manell Award for Best Presentation of Degree Projects at the Master of Science Programme in Pharmacy, Olivia Steen, on winning the Swedish Pharmacy Association's Award for best presentation at the Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy R-POPS symposium, and Oskar Lövström, former chair of the Pharmaceutical Student Union, who is named Uppsala Student of the Year.

And we also... No, it is in fact time to put an end to 2024/2025. Therefore, to all employees, students, partners and alumni: Thank you for yet another amazing year. We wish you all a wonderful and well-deserved summer until we meet again in the fall!

Join as interns Hanna & Lovisa explore our lab

Text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt a o