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

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.

A banner with focus on cancer research.

Bojmar Lab

Cancer is a systemic disease. Our research focuses on understanding crosstalk between different organs in the human body, and how this affects cancer progression. We focus mainly on gastrointestinal cancers and their common hepatic metastasis.

Image of molecules that will take you to WCMM's homepage.

Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine at LiU

WCMM at LiU focuses on the medicine-technology interface, and build upon our existing strengths in research within medical technology, materials science and bioengineering.

News

Closeup of small pieces of liver in a petri dish.

A liver biopsy may predict spread of pancreatic cancer

Microscopic changes in the liver can be used to predict spread of pancreatic cancer. The discovery may provide new ways of predicting the course of the disease and preventing pancreatic cancer from spreading to other organs.

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.

Cell culture flask under a microscope in a lab.

They grow nose tissue in the lab

LiU researchers are among the first in the world to have grown human nasal tissue from stem cells. It is used to study how different viruses infect the airways.

Two women at a table.

Barnafrid supports war-torn Ukraine

Those working to help traumatised children in Ukraine are themselves in great need of support. Barnafrid at LiU, has been commissioned by the government to assist with working procedures and methods.

Headshot of a man in a clinical reserch lab.

He heals skin and shares his knowledge

Ahmed Elserafy spends his days researching skin and stem cells and how they can be used in the treatment of burns and wounds that do not heal properly. Over the last few years, he has also written a popular science book – in Arabic.

Two researchers seen through door, marked with warning signs about contagious materials.

Nasal spray with antibodies could prevent COVID-19

Researchers at BKV have participated in a large study in which an international research team has shown that IgA antibodies in the nasal mucosa can protect mice against infection with SARS-Cov-2. Their results were published in the journal PNAS.

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