Lena Ström

Lena Ström, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, specializes in sister chromatid cohesion, DNA damage responses, and genome integrity. Her research explores the role of Structural Maintenance of Chromosome (SMC) complexes in DNA repair, chromosome segregation, and developmental syndromes like Cohesinopathies.

• 2017: Senior Lecturer at Karolinska Institutet
• 2015: Docent at Karolinska Institutet
• 2002: PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from Karolinska Institutet

Her work focuses on the Cohesin complex's dual role in sister chromatid cohesion and DNA repair, particularly in cancer and Cohesinopathies. By studying yeast and human cells, her group investigates how DNA damage activates cohesion, impacts telomere maintenance, and contributes to tumor development and developmental disorders.

Recent publications highlight Cohesin's role in damage-induced cohesion, DNA repair regulation, and SMC complex dynamics. Key collaborations span genetics, immunology, and medical research, with applications in cancer treatment and patient support for Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Current projects aim to elucidate Cohesin network mechanisms in chromatin structure, transcriptional regulation, and cancer therapy targets. Her group integrates advanced biochemistry, genomics, and functional studies to address molecular pathways in healthy and malignant cell cycles.