Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren

Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren is a Professor and Chief Physician at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medicine, Huddinge, where he leads the research group 'Immune responses to human viral infections and cancer'. His team investigates immunological reactions to viral pathogens (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, hantavirus, flavivirus) and develops NK cell-based immunotherapies for cancer. He obtained his Medical Degree from Karolinska Institutet in 1992.

Research focuses on viral immunology, cancer immunotherapy, and NK cell biology. Key interests include immune evasion mechanisms, vaccine efficacy in immunocompromised populations, and translational applications of innate immunity in oncology. The group employs high-dimensional profiling and clinical trials to dissect immune correlates of protection and disease severity.

Recent publications emphasize SARS-CoV-2 variant evolution, T/NK cell cross-reactivity, and immunotherapy optimization. Articles frequently integrate virology, structural biology, and clinical immunology to address pandemic threats and cancer resistance mechanisms. Longitudinal studies reveal durable immune memory post-vaccination and infection, while translational work advances adoptive NK cell therapies for hematologic malignancies.

Dr. Ljunggren advises multiple doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows, including Mira Akbar, Eleni Bilev, and Quirin Hammer. His group collaborates extensively with the Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM) and has secured funding from the Swedish Cancer Society and Swedish Research Council for projects on antiviral immunity and cancer immunotherapy.