EATRIS is an organisation that brings together over 155 translational medicine institutes. This means that many amazing treatments and innovations are being developed every day for the benefit of the patients. As a part of the Swedish Spotlight Programme, we are highlighting some of the promising research happening in EATRIS Sweden.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Annika Jenmalm Jensen, Infrastructure Director at SciLifeLab, Karolinska Institutet.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m originally from Sweden and currently based in Stockholm. I have a background in pharmaceutical sciences and have a PhD in medicinal chemistry. Over the years, I’ve worked in the pharma industry and since 2010 in the intersection of science, infrastructure, and strategy to support translational research and innovation. Since 2016, I serve as the Infrastructure Director at SciLifeLab, Sweden’s national centre for molecular biosciences, where I lead strategic development of over 40 advanced technology units that support thousands of academic and clinical researchers across the country.
How are you connected to EATRIS?
I represent Sweden on the EATRIS Board of Governors and act as the national governor, bridging the Swedish research ecosystem—particularly through SciLifeLab—with the broader EATRIS community. I am also a work package lead in one of EATRIS’ flagship European projects, REMEDi4ALL.
What is your current research focusing on, and what’s the potential impact on human health?
While I don’t run a research group myself, I work closely with research communities to enable cutting-edge science and translational breakthroughs. At SciLifeLab, we provide access to high-end technologies and expertise in areas such as genomics, proteomics, imaging, functional biology, and drug discovery. My focus is on advancing infrastructures that make it possible to identify biomarkers, develop new therapeutics, and translate molecular data into clinical insights.
What challenges do you face in this field and in your research?
A key challenge is integrating diverse data types—from genomics and imaging to clinical and environmental data—into unified pipelines that can inform patient care or broader societal insights. Ensuring sustainable funding models and long-term support for these advanced infrastructures is also critical. Additionally, fostering collaboration across sectors and disciplines, particularly between academia, healthcare, and industry, remains essential yet complex. I’m also passionate about promoting team science and supporting alternative academic career paths to ensure we retain and nurture talent in research infrastructure and coordination.
What future trends or technologies in translational medicine excite you the most?
I’m excited about the integration of multiomics with AI and machine learning to identify disease mechanisms and predict treatment responses. The convergence of spatial biology, single-cell technologies, and functional genomics is opening entirely new dimensions in understanding human disease.
What has been the greatest milestone for SciLifeLab during your time there?
A major milestone has been the establishment of SciLifeLab as a truly national infrastructure, with nodes across Sweden involving all major universities. This level of nationwide coordination is unique and a major asset for a country of Sweden’s size, fostering collaboration, accessibility, and innovation across the entire research landscape.
Where do you see SciLifeLab in 10 years’ time?
I envision SciLifeLab as a global leader in data-driven life science and translational research, with even stronger integration into healthcare and industry. It will continue to grow as a hub for cutting-edge technologies and collaborative research, empowering scientists to address complex challenges related to health, sustainability, and society at large.
How would you strengthen cooperation between SciLifeLab and EATRIS, and how could EATRIS be of importance to SciLifeLab in future?
Strengthening cooperation could involve more joint pilot projects, shared training programs, and showcasing Swedish capabilities through EATRIS’ platforms. EATRIS brings a unique value through its pan-European network and its professionalism in managing large-scale consortia.
