Ole Petter Ottersen, president Karolinska Institutet 2017-2023

We should be proud that GEN-PEP has selected KI as a knowledge partner. What can be more important than the health and wellbeing of children and future generations. After that I have participated in five panel, two round table discussion and a number of other activities. My final activity was to listen to Henrik Grönberg when he presented the Stockholm 3 study at a seminar organized by the prostate cancer society. Very important, innovative and solid work that holds great promise for a more stratified diagnosis and improved treatment for this common disease.

Why is Almedalen an important meeting place for me in my present role as acting vice-chancellor of KI? Firstly, it presents an opportunity to discuss topics that are important to us as a medical university such as student’s health, the new Karolinska hospital (NKS), how we get clinicians to choose a research career, Swedish life science in general and the Stockholm-Uppsala cluster in particular and research infrastructure. It was also important for me to get the opportunity to present actions taken at the Karolinska Institutet in the last few months following the Macchiarini affair.

Secondly, Almedalen presents an opportunity to meet and discuss with politicians from for example the Stockholm County Council, our most important collaborator, as well as representatives from companies and the health care system and of course colleagues from other universities and higher educational institutions.

With these words the KI acting vice-chancellors blog takes a break until the middle of August. Wishing you all a pleasant continued summer.