Björn Fischler

Björn Fischler is an Adjunct Professor of Paediatrics specialising in liver diseases at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet since January 2021. His primary position is as Senior consultant at the Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. His clinical and research work focuses on pediatric liver diseases with particular emphasis on cholestatic conditions.

Dr. Fischler's educational background includes:

• Doctor of Philosophy from Karolinska Institutet (1998)
• Docent (Habilitation) from Karolinska Institutet (2003)

Dr. Fischler's research primarily focuses on liver disease in children, particularly different forms of cholestasis. His work has demonstrated an association between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and biliary atresia, and he is investigating whether anti-CMV medication can improve the severe prognosis. He has contributed to international clinical studies showing that new drugs effectively mitigate symptoms of cholestatic conditions like PFIC (Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis) and Alagille's syndrome. His work spans both clinical and translational research, often conducted within international networks and in collaboration with preclinical groups.

Analysis of Dr. Fischler's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on cholestatic liver diseases in children, particularly biliary atresia, Alagille syndrome, and PFIC. His work frequently addresses clinical management challenges, treatment innovations (including novel pharmaceuticals like odevixibat and maralixibat), and the interplay between viral infections and liver disease. International collaboration is a hallmark of his research, with many publications involving large multinational consortia such as the Global ALagille Alliance (GALA) Study Group.

Dr. Fischler has been involved in developing significant clinical guidelines and recommendations, including Swedish recommendations for CMV management and ESPGHAN guidelines for hepatitis C treatment in children. His research has contributed to drug approvals, notably for odevixibat in PFIC, which has been licensed in Europe and USA following phase III studies he participated in.

His clinical work is conducted within the Division of Paediatrics at Karolinska Institutet, collaborating with research groups like Emma Andersson's team which has developed mouse models for studying Alagille's syndrome. Dr. Fischler's approach integrates clinical data from patients with preclinical models to explain pathophysiologies and test new therapies.