Linda Björkhem-Bergman

Linda Björkhem-Bergman is a Professor and Senior Physician at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, affiliated with the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society. She holds expertise in Palliative Medicine, Geriatrics, Pharmacology, and Oncology. Her research focuses on improving end-of-life care through pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, particularly vitamin D's role in immune function and symptom management. She leads a research group of 8 members, including 3 PhD students, combining clinical work with translational research.

Education: MD (Karolinska Institutet, 2001), PhD in Experimental Pathology (2004), Docent in Clinical Pharmacology (2013). Specialist degrees in Clinical Pharmacology (2012) and Palliative Medicine (2021).

Research interests include cancer-related fatigue, nutrition in palliative care, and deprescribing strategies. Key projects involve vitamin D supplementation trials (e.g., 'Palliative-D'), methylphenidate efficacy, and immune response mechanisms in terminal patients.

Teaching roles: Course manager for palliative medicine programs, instructor in clinical pharmacology and geriatrics. Scientific leader at Stockholm Region's Palliative Care Center since 2022.

Grants: Received SEK 6.75 million from the Swedish Cancer Society (2024). Notable publications include studies on palliative sedation, adaptive immunity in end-of-life patients, and healthcare expenditures in cancer care.