Young Survivor Unit (YoSU)

adult hand holding the hand of a prematurely born baby. Photographer: herjua
Our research aims to better understand the development of children who have been seriously ill early in life. 

The child's early years are critical for later development. Injuries to the child in connection with childbirth, birth long before the expected date or serious illness early in life affect the child's opportunities to develop. Our research aims to better understand the development of these children.

In the past, many of these children did not survive the first period. As healthcare has developed, more and more are surviving. These new and later young survivors are at great risk for brain damage, motor abnormalities and CP, autism, ADHD and learning disabilities.

A research group sits on a bench at Campus US in Linköping.Young Survivor Unit (YoSU). Photo credit John Karlsson Our research aims to better understand the development of children who have been seriously ill early in life. Furthermore, to develop and study interventions that, in the long term, increase the children's functioning in everyday life. We evaluate assessment instruments with the aim of improving diagnostics and enabling the right support interventions for the children and families we meet. We study interventions with a focus on strengthening children's cognitive, motor and social skills.

The aim

The aim of our research is generally to improve knowledge, diagnostics and interventions for children who have been seriously ill during the newborn period. Ultimately, our vision is to move from "wait and see" to early intervention.

News

Publications

Latest publications

2026

Maria Ortqvist, Nelly Padilla, Cecilia Montgomery, Karin Savman, Thomas Abrahamsson, Aijaz Farooqi, Fredrik Serenius, Lisa B. Thorell, Ulrika Ådén (2026) Motor difficulties and associated risk factors at 12 years in children born extremely preterm: a population-based cohort study Archives of Disease in Childhood (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2025-329687
Fredrik Serenius, Thomas Abrahamsson, Ulrika Ådén, Kerstin Hellgren, Karin Savman, Andreas Ohlin, David Ley, Lena Hellstrom Westas, Aijaz Farooqi, Karin Kallen, Lisa B. Thorell (2026) Neurodevelopmental Outcomes 12 Years After Extremely Preterm Birth in Sweden Pediatrics, Vol. 157, Article e2025073742 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2025-073742
Anna Hallin Provenzano, Noni Wadstrom, Kristina Lowing, Samson Nivins, Erika Zettby, Ann Charlotte Smedler, Mara Westling Allodi, Bjorn Westrup, Ulrika Ådén, Maria Ortqvist (2026) Neurodevelopment after a strength-based intervention in children born extremely preterm: a randomised controlled trial Pediatric Research (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41390-026-04940-6
Benjamin Lassebro, Matilda Morin, Weiyao Yin, Sven Sandin, Ulrika Ådén (2026) Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in a Neonatal High-Risk Population JAMA Network Open, Vol. 9, Article e263672 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3672
Veronica Smedbäck, Lars J. Bjorklund, Anders Flisberg, Jolanta Wroblewska, Olivier Baud, Erik Wejryd, Ulrika Ådén (2026) Early Prophylactic Hydrocortisone and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia-Free Survival in Extremely Preterm Infants JAMA Network Open, Vol. 9, Article e2560146 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.60146

Research group

Organisation