Professor Ingelman-Sundberg is a world-renowned expert and academic leader in molecular toxicology and pharmacogenetics with a distinguished career spanning decades at one of Europe's premier medical institutions. He has served as Professor of Molecular Toxicology at Karolinska Institutet since 1996 and as research group leader in Pharmacogenetics at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology since 2006, where he also holds Section Head responsibilities. Born in 1951 in Danderyd, Sweden, he earned his Civil Engineer degree from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm in 1975, followed by a PhD in Physiological Chemistry the same year, and a BSc. Med from Karolinska Institutet in 1978. His academic journey at Karolinska progressed from Research Assistant in Physiological Chemistry to Lecturer, Acting Professor, and ultimately to his current senior leadership positions, demonstrating exceptional dedication to advancing pharmaceutical sciences.
His pioneering research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of how genetic variations affect drug metabolism and therapeutic outcomes. Professor Ingelman-Sundberg's groundbreaking work on cytochrome P450 enzymes, particularly the identification and characterization of novel CYP2D6 alleles causing ultrarapid or defective drug metabolism, established critical foundations for personalized medicine. With an impressive portfolio of over 550 original publications, more than 62,000 citations in Google Scholar, and an h-index of 134, his scientific impact is both profound and extensive across global medical communities. His translational research has been instrumental in developing individualized pharmacotherapy approaches that utilize genetic biomarkers as predictive tools for optimal drug development and treatment strategies, significantly improving medication safety and efficacy worldwide.
Beyond his research achievements, Professor Ingelman-Sundberg has profoundly shaped the global pharmacogenetics community through extensive mentorship and influential leadership roles. He has served as main supervisor for 35 PhD students and provided postdoctoral training for 33 additional PhDs, cultivating the next generation of scientific talent in the field. His distinguished service as a Member of The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet from 2008 to 2018 underscores his standing as one of the most respected figures in medical science. Recognized as the 18th most influential researcher worldwide in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences based on H-index, his work continues to drive innovation in personalized medicine through novel in vitro systems research at the recently opened Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine.
