Malin Holzmann

Malin Holzmann is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer and Docent at Karolinska Institutet, working within the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division for Neonatology, Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Health. She is also a senior consultant at the delivery unit at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. Her work bridges clinical practice and academic research in obstetrics, with a focus on improving fetal monitoring techniques during pregnancy and labor.

Dr. Holzmann completed her medical degree at Karolinska Institutet in 1996, became a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2008, and earned her PhD in Medical Science from KI in 2014 with her thesis "Lactate as an early marker of intrapartum fetal hypoxia." In 2019, she completed a course in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, and was appointed Docent in 2022 before becoming an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2024.

Dr. Holzmann's primary research focus is on electronic and biochemical fetal surveillance during pregnancy and labor. Her current projects investigate computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) in collaboration with researchers at KTH (Royal Institute of Technology). One significant aspect of her work examines whether cCTG can improve the objectivity and reliability of intrapartum fetal surveillance for early detection of fetal hypoxia. Another project investigates the potential of cCTG to identify signs of infection after preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). She also explores noninvasive methods to measure fetal acid-base status during labor. Her research aims to reduce both under- and over-diagnosis in fetal monitoring, which can lead to serious complications or unnecessary interventions.

Dr. Holzmann's extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on improving fetal monitoring techniques, particularly through computerized analysis of cardiotocography. Her research trajectory shows an evolution from studying basic relationships between fetal heart rate patterns and outcomes toward developing and validating more sophisticated computerized monitoring systems. Recent work increasingly involves collaborative, technology-driven approaches with engineering researchers to create more objective and reliable monitoring tools for clinical use.

Dr. Holzmann currently supervises two doctoral students: Tinna Birgisdóttir, who is researching premature rupture of membranes and risk of uterine inflammation, and Erika Gyllencreutz, who is investigating computerized CTG interpretation. She has been actively involved in medical education since 2009, serving as a clinical teacher, course leader, and examiner for medical students at Karolinska Institutet. From 2017-2021, she led an annual course in fetal surveillance for residents in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Holzmann leads a research group focused on coordinating clinical obstetrics research and leveraging team members' competencies to optimize research outcomes. The group's overall purpose is to improve diagnostics, monitoring methods, and treatments in pregnancy and childbirth care through clinical research, ultimately enhancing health outcomes for pregnant women and their children.