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

Research

A robot holding hands with an old lady.

Atypical Interaction Conference

Welcome to Linköping University, Sweden and the Atypical Interaction Conference, 10-12 June 2025. Abstract submissions will appear here in November. Abstract submission deadline will be 20 January 2025.

Children's hands paint a house with crayons.

Journeys - Safe and Informed Journeys through Barnahus

The overall objective of the JOURNEYS project is to contribute to improved access to child-friendly justice, protection and recovery for child victims and their families.

McIntyre lab.

The McIntyre Lab

Holding a mug, feeling the ground as you walk, petting your furry friend, or hugging your child, all of these touch sensations start with deformation of the skin that the nervous system must process to serve physiological, emotional and social goals.

News

Kaiqian Wang.

Discovery about pain signalling may contribute to better treatment

LiU researchers have pinpointed the exact location of a specific protein fine-tuning the strength of pain signals. The knowledge can be used to develop drugs for chronic pain that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

LiU receives SEK 232 million from the Swedish Research Council

The Swedish Research Council has now decided on the allocation of research grants in four areas. At Linköping University, the area of natural and engineering sciences is to receive the most funding.

A researcher is working together with a test subject.

Our sense of touch consists of 16 unique types of nerve cells

No less than 16 different types of nerve cells have been identified by scientists in a new study on the human sense of touch. Comparisons between humans, mice and macaques show both similarities and significant differences.

Male researcher in university surrounding.

Claudio Cantù receives prestigious award

Professor Claudio Cantù has been awarded this year's Eric K. Fernström prize for young, particularly promising and successful researchers at Linköping University.

All participants of the 2024 PALS Summer School.

Thirteen countries represented at this years PALS Summer School

At the end of June, the PALS Summer School in Transcriptomics during Development and Cancer was held, offering four days of inspiring talks, lively discussions, and even some sauna sessions by the lake.

Forum Scientium members in front of Golden Gate bridge.

Bay Area expedition for future collaborations

Forum Scientium's annual study visit is designed to broaden the academic and professional networks of its students. This year's focus was on the Bay Area - one of LiU's strategic areas for collaboration.

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