Mattias Svensson

Mattias Svensson

Principal Researcher | Docent
Visiting address: Alfred Nobels allé 8, plan 7, 14152 Huddinge
Postal address: H7 Medicin, Huddinge, H7 CIM Svensson, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • Candidate in KI:s academic election 2026 – the position as dean/vice-dean for doctoral education

    I am applying for this position because it aligns with my strong commitment to doctoral education and my desire to contribute to its continued development at KI. I have extensive experience in leadership within doctoral education, including serving as principal supervisor, as Director of Doctoral Studies at MedH with responsibility for more than 180 doctoral students, and as chair of the Dissertation Committee. These roles have given me a deep understanding of the processes that shape doctoral education and the challenges we need to address going forward.

    I want to lead the development in which doctoral education is characterized by simplicity, quality, and clear direction, with an administration that supports rather than burdens, and with more stringent and considerate follow-up of doctoral students’ progression. An important priority is to strengthen the recruitment of doctoral students and supervisors with clinical activities, as well as to help develop a doctoral training environment that truly makes a difference and enables a sustainable combination of clinical work and research.

    I also see a need to strengthen supervisors’ ability to provide qualified and supportive supervision, which is crucial for both quality and the doctoral students’ experience. My vision as dean is to continue building a doctoral education that is internationally competitive, inclusive, and sustainable in the long term, where we promote excellence, innovation, and the researchers of the future. I want to contribute with my experience and commitment to strengthening KI’s position as a leading university in doctoral education.



Research

  • Our research group [1] at the Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM [2]),
    Department of Medicine, Huddinge conducts research aimed at understanding how
    the tissue microenvironment influences the development and function of myeloid immune cellsin homeostasis, infection and chronic inflammatory conditions. In particular the focus is on the ability of tissue-specific cells, especially fibroblasts, to shape the function of myeloid cells. 
    We strive to identify proteins and metabolites that are important for
    tissue-specific cells, such as fibroblasts, to shape the microenvironment for
    the function of myeloid immune cells and the specific properties of bacteria.
    The goal is to:
    1. Develop customized human organotypic models for homeostasis and disease mechanism 
    identification, biomarker detection, and validation of interventions in infection and inflammatory disease.
    2. Utilize identified disease mechanisms to develop tailored therapy and
    implement personalized medicine in sever infectious diseases caused by bacteria
    3. Identify central host-derived mediators which in the tissue environment influences the development and function of human myeloid immune cells. 
    [1] https://ki.se/en/medh/mattias-svensson-group-studies-of-tissue-microbiology-and-immunology
    [2] https://ki.se/en/medh/center-for-infectious-medicine-cim

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
    The biological importance of fibroblasts is undisputed. However, in depth fibroblast characterization on protein level in situ and ex vivo, as well their functional relationship with immune cells, such as macrophages, in microanatomical niches do not exist today. Macrophages are found in all tissues, and are important for tissue homeostasis, as well as in controlling infection and inflammation. We hypothesize that the contrasting functions of macrophages in tissue might be linked to tissue and context dependent modulation through fibroblasts. Our preliminary data indicate that (PDGFRA+CD142-) fibroblasts co-localize with monocytes/macrophages in human inflamed and non-inflamed intestine. Through access to organ donor tissue and well-characterized patient samples, as well as cutting edge single cells RNA sequencing, multiparameter flow cytometry, and novel ultra-high content imaging technologies combined with advanced in-house developed cell culture-systems, we will (1) investigate transcriptional fibroblast heterogeneity across and within human tissue (2) validate transcriptional data at protein and cellular levels, and (3) investigate the conditions and prerequisites for fibroblasts shaping the macrophage pool. The proposed research has the potential to provide new mechanistical insights into tissue homeostasis, inflammation, and resolution, as well as into fibroblast functions which can be explored in novel therapeutic approaches targeting fibroblasts in disease.
  • Assays for acceleration: from fit-for-purpose models to scalable assays of broad systemic and mucosal protection against all strains of Group A Streptococcus
    National Institutes of Health
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2019 - 31 July 2019
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2014 - 31 December 2017
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2010 - 31 December 2012
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2010 - 31 December 2012
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2009 - 31 December 2009

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-
  • Researcher, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2011-2022
  • Principal Researcher, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2010-2010
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2006-2009
  • Researcher, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2004-2005

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2010
  • PhD, Immunology, Dendritic cell interactions with gram negative bacteria, Lund University, 2000

Leadership and responsibility assignments

  • Director of studies, Doctoral Education, MedH, Karolinska Institutet, 2019-

Committee work

  • Chair, Dissertation Committee, Karolinska Institutet, 2020-

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