معرفی
Tom Hemming Karlsen is a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Oslo and serves as Research Head in the Division of Surgery and Specialized Medicine at Oslo University Hospital. He is also a Senior Consultant in the Department of Transplantation Medicine at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, where he maintains active clinical responsibilities alongside his research leadership.
Dr. Karlsen earned his MD from the University of Bergen in 1997 and completed his PhD at the University of Oslo in 2007. His educational background established the foundation for his dual expertise in clinical hepatology and genetic research. Previous positions include Full Professor of Gastroenterology at the University of Bergen (2012-2014) and Executive Manager of the Norwegian PSC Research Center (2007-2012).
Dr. Karlsen's research program centers on the genetic architecture of liver diseases, particularly primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), with groundbreaking contributions to understanding the connections between inflammatory bowel disease and liver conditions. His work bridges basic science with clinical applications through extensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS). More recently, he has played a significant role in the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative, helping identify genetic factors influencing disease susceptibility and severity. His research has direct implications for advancing personalized medicine approaches in hepatology and improving patient outcomes through precision diagnostics and treatment strategies.
Dr. Karlsen has held numerous influential leadership positions including Secretary General of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) from 2017-2019, and currently serves as President Elect of the Biomedical Alliance in Europe. He co-chaired The Lancet-EASL Commission on Liver Disease in Europe, which produced two major reports that have shaped liver health policy across Europe.
- 2024 Klatskin-Boyer Lectureship in Hepatology (Yale School of Medicine)
- 2024 European Association for the Study of the Liver Recognition Award
- 2022 Lancet profile
- 2019 Elected member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
- 2015 International Hans Popper Award
- 2013 Oslo University Hospital Early Career Award
- 2012 United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Association Rising Star Award
Dr. Karlsen has held significant institutional responsibilities including project leadership for implementing personalized medicine at Oslo University Hospital (2019-2021) and serving on the Research Council for the Southeastern Norway Regional Health Authority. His editorial contributions include serving as Co-editor of the Journal of Hepatology since 2024 and previously as Associate Editor (2019-2024).
He leads research groups investigating the genetic basis of liver diseases using large-scale genomic approaches. His work connects basic science with clinical applications, particularly in understanding how genetic factors influence liver disease development and progression. His team has been instrumental in identifying genetic risk factors for PSC and establishing connections between IBD and liver conditions, with implications for developing targeted therapies.
