معرفی
Patrik Ernfors is a Professor of Tissue Biology at the Karolinska Institutet (KI), affiliated with the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics. He is a leading researcher in pain biology and glioblastoma, with a focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying somatic sensation and chronic pain.
- Member of the Nobel Assembly (2007–present)
- Scientific Advisory Board, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (2022–present)
His research employs single-cell RNA sequencing, mouse genetics, and neurophysiological methods to classify sensory neuron types, identify pain transduction mechanisms, and explore glioblastoma origins. He discovered a novel pain-sensing organ in the skin comprising glial cells and nerve fibers, and revealed that glioblastomas arise from blood vessel cells, not glial cells.
Recent publications highlight his work on pain coding, Schwann cell roles in neuropathic pain, and molecular mechanisms in neuroblastoma. He has secured major grants from the Swedish Research Council, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
Scientific awards include three ERC Advanced Grants and advisory roles in prestigious foundations. His lab at KI includes a team of researchers working on sensory neuron diversity, pain pathways, and glioma biology.
