Mikael Karlsson

Mikael Karlsson is a Professor at Karolinska Institutet, leading the research group 'Inflammatory responses in cancer and autoimmunity' within the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology. His work focuses on understanding innate immune mechanisms driving autoimmune diseases and cancer progression, with a particular emphasis on B cells and macrophages.

Research interests include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), B-cell activation pathways in autoimmunity, allergy, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. He investigates how inflammatory processes in the spleen influence disease progression and explores therapeutic targets such as macrophage polarization and B-cell-directed treatments. Collaborators include institutions like Rockefeller University, Harvard Medical School, and the NIH.

Key methodologies include flow cytometry, intravital microscopy, and genetic models to study immune cell interactions. His group has discovered novel roles for macrophage-derived factors in tumor microenvironments and identified mechanisms linking inflammation to atherosclerosis in SLE patients.

Over 20 students and alumni have been part of his team, advancing to postdoc positions at prestigious institutions. His work bridges basic immunology with clinical applications, aiming to translate findings into therapies for autoimmune and cancer-related conditions.