Mårten Risling, M.D., Ph.D.

Experimental Traumatology Unit

This unit was, until April 1, 2008, a part of the FOI (Swedish Defence Research Agency). The unit was transferred to Department of Neuroscience after negotiations between Karolinska institutet and the Swedish Defense. The unit is composed of two groups: The Neurotraumatology Group (Risling) and the General Traumatology Group (Arborelius). Experimental traumatology is a part of the KI Traumatology Research Center. Many of the projects include involvement of collaborators at the Trauma Surgery unit and intensive care at Karolinska University Hospital as well as Forensic Medicine. More information on the Trauma Research Center and ongoing projects can be found on their website.

• Trauma Research Center Website

The Neurotrauma Group

The focus of the research activities is to study effects of different types of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which is the leading cause of death and disability for people up to about 40 years of age. In close collaboration with Dr. Johan Davidsson at Chalmers in Gothenburg the group has developed unique models for penetrating TBI and rotational acceleration injury. These models can be used to define thresholds for lesions such as diffuse axonal injury (DAI), which is an important component in TBI occurring after car collisions or detonation of roadside bombs. Important aspects include vascular function, edema and inflammation. The use of biomarkers and digital EEG analysis is studied in the animal models as well as clinical material in collaboration with Dr. B-M Bellander at neurosurgery at Karolinska University Hospital. Other collaborators comprise groups at USU and NIH in Bethesda and DSO in Singapore.

Other projects incorporate studies on lesions on spinal nerve roots and effects of high power microwaves on nerve cells.

Selected Publications