2026 Rudbeck medallists and Linnaeus medallist named

The Rudbeck Medal was awarded for the first time in 2003. The medal was instituted by the University on 17 September 2002, on the occasion of the Tercentenary of the death of Olof Rudbeck the Elder. The medal is awarded “for extraordinarily prominent achievements in science, to be conferred primarily for such accomplishments or findings attained at Uppsala University”.

The 2026 Rudbeck Medal has been awarded to professors Kerstin Sahlin, Mia Phillipson and Giuliano di Baldassarre. From the award citations:

Kerstin Sahlin is a Senior Professor of Public Management at the Department of Business Studies. She is one of the most influential researchers of her generation in this field. Her academic achievements span four decades and include theoretical basic research as well as in-depth empirical studies that consistently engage with the conditions for research in society. Together, these dimensions have shaped a research career of rare breadth and impact. Sahlin’s key theoretical contribution concerns how ideas travel and are translated and transformed as they spread across organisations, sectors and countries. The empirical spectrum of her research is as impressive as her contribution to theory, and includes studies of different sectors of society, especially the education system. Through her research and her involvement in the collegial governance of universities and the social role of the sciences, Kerstin Sahlin has contributed positively to Uppsala University’s reputation in a highly commendable way.

Mia Phillipson is Professor of Physiology at the Department of Medical Cell Biology. She is receiving the medal for her pioneering work in the field of immune system physiology. Through a unique combination of fundamental mechanism studies, technological innovation and clinical relevance, she has significantly altered our understanding of the role of the immune system in tissue repair, inflammation and vascular function. Her pioneering work on the use of genetically modified lactic acid bacteria for the local production of bioactive substances directly in tissue is ground-breaking. It represents an entirely new way to control the immune response and wound healing locally, and has great therapeutic potential. Her activities are thus an example of how cutting-edge academic research can be translated into concrete applications in medicine.

Giuliano Di Baldassarre is Professor in Hydrology and Environmental Analysis at the Department of Earth Sciences, and an affiliated professor at the Uppsala University Conflicting Objectives Research Nexus (UUniCORN), as well as a UNESCO professor. He is receiving the medal for his interdisciplinary work in understanding the interplay between water, the environment and society. His research combines qualitative and quantitative methods to advance basic science and contribute to policy development in the area of disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable water management.

The Linnaeus Medal

Uppsala University’s Linnaeus Medal was awarded for the first time in connection with the Tercentenary of the birth of Carl Linnaeus on 23 May 1707. It is conferred in gold “for truly outstanding scientific achievement, especially in the Linnaean subject areas but also for meritorious furtherance of the legacy of Linnaeus or Uppsala University”.

The 2026 Linnaeus Medal in gold has been awarded to Professor Johan Sundström. From the award citation:

Johan Sundström holds the Linnaeus professorship in clinical epidemiology at the Department of Medical Sciences and is clinically active as a specialist at the Cardiology Clinic, Uppsala University Hospital. His research ranges broadly, encompassing epidemiological studies in large national and international cohorts as well as randomised trials. He has systematically gathered large cohorts by successfully pursuing national and international collaborations. Sundström’s randomised trials are characterised by great creativity and innovative methodologies. An example is the ongoing study U-SCREEN-HF – a home-based screening system for heart failure. His research has had a significant influence on all modern clinical guidelines for the treatment of high blood pressure. His paradigm-breaking work will have a major impact on clinical healthcare as well as future clinical precision medicine research on complex diseases.

Ulrika Hurtig