Honorary doctorate lectures at the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy

Dr Elinor Karlsson is Associate Professor in Genomics and Computational Biology at UMass Chan Medical School and Director of Vertebrate Genomics at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Her research uses new technologies and the power of evolution to explore the genetic basis of disease and the origins of exceptional mammalian traits.

She co-leads Zoonomia, an international collaboration comparing the genomes of more than 240 mammals to identify the most important segments of DNA. She also leads Darwin’s Ark, an open, community-science project engaging tens of thousands of pet owners to study how genetics and environment shape health and behaviour in dogs and cats. In partnership with Zoo New England, her team is also developing genomic tools to support biodiversity conservation.

Dr Karlsson has collaborated for many years with researchers at Uppsala University to identify genes linked to disease – both by comparing hundreds of mammalian species and by using dogs as models for conditions shared between dogs and humans – with the goal of developing better diagnostics and more effective treatments for diseases such as cancer and psychiatric disorders, where new therapies are urgently needed.

Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge is a medical doctor and public health expert, currently serving his second term as WHO Regional Director for Europe. He focuses on strengthening health systems, preventing disease and promoting well-being, especially for vulnerable populations such as migrants. He has worked in conflict zones and prisons, among other settings, addressing serious public health challenges.

His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing crises in Europe and the Middle East has been exemplary, emphasising preparedness, resilience and international collaboration. Dr Kluge has championed initiatives such as the Pan-European Mental Health Coalition and the European Immunization Agenda 2030.

Under his leadership, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Migration and Health was established at Uppsala University, promoting refugee and migrant health. His dedication to global health, inclusive health systems, and commitment to translating science into policy and practice make him a deserving recipient of this prestigious honour.

Eva Nyström has made crucial contributions to the documentation and preservation of the history and cultural heritage of the Faculty of Medicine, of great value to both the Faculty and Uppsala University.

As head of the Linnaeus Correspondence project, she has digitised Carl Linnaeus’s letters, thereby opening access to his correspondence with the scientific elite of his time, previously known only to a small circle. The letters are now openly available via Alvin, Uppsala University Library’s digital platform, and thus accessible to people around the world.

Eva Nyström’s work has resulted in numerous scholarly publications and also fulfils the University’s mission to disseminate research to the public. In addition to the Linnaeus project, she has published several works in the history of medicine. She has thus made a significant contribution to affirming Uppsala University’s status as an institution of high international standing.

Dr Peter Langguth is Professor in Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany. He has conducted research on various types of innovative and advanced dosage forms, with a focus on optimising drug delivery. He has served as Dean, received international awards and held key positions within Germany’s pharmaceutical community.

Langguth has authored over 290 scientific papers that have significantly influenced the development of biopharmaceutics and galenic pharmacy internationally, including a landmark publication in Nature on RNA-based immuno-oncological therapy. Over the past decade, he has made major contributions to the development of lipid-based nanoparticles for mRNA delivery. At Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, he built a GMP manufacturing laboratory that provides the manufacture and translation of novel delivery forms from preclinical phase to clinical studies in human volunteers and patients.

Professor Langguth has collaborated with Uppsala University for several decades. Within the large IMI project OrBiTo, he worked closely with the university for over eight years. He has also collaborated with the Faculty of Pharmacy through research and advanced education. This exchange has greatly contributed to the internationalisation of the Faculty and to the development of doctoral education.