Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV)

The Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV) is one of the largest departments at Linköping University with affiliation mainly to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Our goal is to provide education and research in medicine and biomedicine, of high international quality.

Research

At BKV, you will find leading research with both depth and breadth across a wide spectrum of modern biomedicine; from detailed molecular and cellular studies to genetics, clinical research, and epidemiology.

The research activities are expanding and are still in a very positive development. Some of our strongest areas of research of very high caliber are neurobiology, genetics, cancer and blood cell research, drug research, as well as regenerative medicine and systems medicine.

Several research centers that BKV is involved in:

  • Barnafrid – National centre for knowledge concerning violence against children
  • Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience – CSAN
  • Ingrid Asp Psoriasis Research Center
  • The Center for Disaster Medicine and Traumatology – KMC
  • Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine – WCMM

Education

In basic education, BKV conducts activities in the following areas:

  • Biomedical Laboratory Science Programme, 180 credits
  • BSc Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine, 180 credits
  • Supplementary study programme to biomedical scientist, 60 credits
  • Complementary Programme for Biomedical Laboratory Scientists with a Foreign Degree, 90 credits
  • Speech and Language Pathology Programme, 240 credits
  • Medical Programme, 360 credits

Education at an advanced level

  • Master's Programme in Genetic counselling, 120 credits
  • MSc Experimental and Medical Biosciences, 120 credits

Doctoral studies

BKV has about 300 doctoral students, of which 50 are employed as doctoral candidates and the rest are clinical doctoral candidates.

Standalone Courses

BKV offers around 30 standalone courses.

Contract Education

Our experienced researchers and teachers provide contract education related to the fields of healthcare and social care, of high quality.

Collaboration with Region Östergötland

BKV is involved in the development of several strategic research areas at Linköping University and Region Östergötland. The missions of these areas are to conduct internationally outstanding research that can eventually lead to practical applicability in healthcare, social care, or business activities. And to create an inclusive research environment with a high scientific level.

The strategic research areas are:

  • Medical Inflammation and Infection Center (MIIC)
  • Center for Systems Neurobiology
  • Cancer
  • Strategic Research Area in Forensic Sciences
  • Circulation and metabolism - CircM

BKV in Numbers

  • Turns over half a billion SEK annually
  • Over 500 employees
  • 100 teaching positions
  • 50 professors
  • 300 doctoral students – 50 employed and the rest are clinical doctoral candidates

You can read more about our activities and departments below.

Upcoming events

3 April 2024

Public defence of doctoral thesis in Medical Science: Beatrice Toia

9.00 am – 12.00 pm Belladonna, Building 511, Campus US

Beatrice Toia, at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, defends her doctoral thesis "Molecular characterization of the interplay between DNA-PK and TRF2 in telomere protection". The opponent is Grazia Daniela Raffa, Associate Professor, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. The defense takes place in Belladonna, Campus US. For questions, contact principal supervisor Francisca Lottersberger.

Contacts

26 April 2024

Public defence of doctoral thesis in Medical Science: Maike Bensberg

9.00 am – 12.00 pm Granitsalen, Floor 9, Building 440, Entrance 7, Northern entrance, Campus US

Maike Bensberg, at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, defends her doctoral thesis "DNA methylation in T cell leukaemia". The opponent is Docent Sofie Degerman, Umeå University. The defense takes place in Granitsalen, Campus US. If you have any questions, contact main supervisor Colm Nestor. If you want to follow via Zoom, contact maike.bensberg@liu.se.

Contacts

Research

The Morrison Lab

The Morrison Lab: Embodied Brain Lab investigates emotional and social aspects of both touch and pain, and how these influence - and are influenced by - behavior.

A photo montage of some people partying, a homeless person and a therapy session.

The Johansson Capusan Lab

We explore genetic and environmental risk and follow clinical outcomes in addiction medicine using national and regional Swedish registers with the overall aim to improve healthcare for addiction.

Girl reaches for a book on a bookshelf.

Swedish-speaking children with developmental language disorder in comparison with second language learners

The focus of this project is language processing in children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and bilingual children learning Swedish as their second language (L2). They are similarly challenged by Swedish grammar.

News

Lonely child in silhouette.

Lack of guidelines on care for children subjected to sexual abuse

Only half of 34 surveyed European countries have national guidelines on how to provide health care and treatment to children who have been subjected to sexual abuse. This is shown in a study led by researchers at Barnafrid at Linköping University.

Researchers in a lab.

Boosted nano material to secure hip implant

Cellular biologist Anna Fahlgren has  teamed up with materials scientist Emma Björk. Together, they will use nano materials that may contribute to a better healing process and faster recovery for the patient.

The world's largest eye research organization praises LiU researchers

Neil Lagali and Mehrdad Rafat earn global acclaim, winning ARVO Foundation's 2023 Point of View Award. Recognized by the world's largest eye research organization, their work in regenerative ophthalmology offers new hope for vision restoration.

Picture from the emergency department at Linköping US.

Triaging tomorrow: Hyperspectral imaging redefines emergency care

Each year, more than 2 million patients in Sweden visit an emergency department. These departments often experience crowding leading to a rise in return visits and increased mortality. A WCMM project will target shortcomings of current triage tools.

People drinking coffee.

Beans to genes: WCMM study on coffee and heart health

With 2.25 billion daily consumers worldwide, coffee is a ubiquitous behavioural stimulant. However, coffee's clinical impact on cardiovascular health remains uncertain. Supported by WCMM, researchers will now explore coffee's impact on heart health.

young woman in a wheelchair.

Severe MS predicted using machine learning

A combination of only 11 proteins can predict long-term disability outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) for different individuals. The proteins could be used to tailor treatments to the individual based on the expected severity of the disease.

Our divisions

Teaser image for the division Barnafrid at BKV.

Barnafrid (BARNAF)

Barnafrid is a national knowledge center with the aim of assembling and disseminating knowledge about violence and other abuses against children. It is a government commission that was assigned Linköping University in 2015.

Teaser image for the Division BKH at BKV.

Division of Children's and Women's Health (BKH)

The Division of Children’s and Women’s Health consists of a number of different research and educational areas - obstetrics / gynecology and pediatrics.

The Division of Cell and Neurobiology (CNB)

The Division of Cell and Neurobiology is a dynamic and innovative environment where we conduct research and teaching on both the structure and function of various cells as well as the nervous system and sensory organs.

Core Facility 

Contact us

Department management

Co-workers