– Interview with MedTechLabs’ New Chair Andreas Scheutz.
Andreas Scheutz is the new Chair of the Steering Group at MedTechLabs. We met him at his regular workplace at Region Stockholm’s Executive Office on Lindhagensgatan 98, where he works as Director of Research and Innovation.
Hi Andreas, could you tell us a bit about your background?
“I’ve essentially worked with research and innovation throughout my entire career—often with a focus on life science or healthcare. This has taken place in various types of organisations, from universities to companies and government institutions—and now, regionally.”
And a bit further back?
“Well, when I finished secondary school, I was interested in technology and development and imagined myself working in an international context someday. I studied Engineering Physics in Lund and gradually became fascinated by the intersection of technology and life. For instance, I learned about laser technology and realised there were many exciting applications in healthcare. My thesis was in in-vivo NMR spectroscopy within diagnostic radiology. A course in physical chemistry led me to study the molecules of life using biophysical methods. That later led to a PhD focusing on blood coagulation proteins using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). After that, I did a postdoc at the Department of Biochemistry in Oxford.”
And then you chose to leave academia for the private sector?
“Yes, although I continued working as a researcher. For eight years I worked in product development in life science, developing industrial applications for purifying biological drugs. Initially as a researcher, later as section head and product manager. But I was also eager to gain international experience, and when an opportunity arose, I took a job as Science and Innovation Counsellor at the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi. We moved there as a family—the children were small at the time—and we had a great experience. It was an exciting role in many ways. We ended up staying for seven years.”
Did you learn any Indian languages?
“I picked up a bit of Hindi, which was helpful, but English was the working language.”
After their years in India, the family returned to Sweden and Uppsala, where Andreas was offered the position of Director of Research and Innovation—the same role he now holds at Region Stockholm.
How did you become Chair of MedTechLabs?
“I inherited several roles from my predecessor Clara Hellner, the former Director of R&I at Region Stockholm, and this was one of them. I find it especially exciting, not least because it’s such a strong research centre. Even during my time in Uppsala, I heard it was the best-functioning medtech centre in the country — with well-run collaborations and good results. But I hadn’t visited it in person before.”
Do you see any differences between the approaches to research and innovation in Stockholm and Uppsala?
“There are of course many fundamental similarities, but the system in Stockholm is larger—both in overall volume and organisational complexity. There are more hospitals, primary care centres, and private actors here. A big similarity is the close cooperation between the medical faculty and the region in clinical research, education, and healthcare development. Karolinska is the largest and oldest partner in this collaboration, but the other hospitals also have university healthcare units and high ambitions for clinical research.”
You spent six years in India as the Swedish representative and Head of the Office of Science and Innovation. What did you take away from that experience?
“Here in the region, we develop with our own system in mind, of course. But medtech product development applies to all of Sweden—and indeed the global market. We need products that can be used in different countries, including both high-income nations and those with more limited resources. For the latter, simpler and more robust technologies are needed, but they still need to be quality assured. This applies to countries like India, China, and parts of Africa, where populations are growing rapidly and the need for quality healthcare is constantly increasing.”
Previous Chairs have had a medical background. You’re a Doctor of Physical Chemistry and an Engineering graduate. How will that influence MedTechLabs?
“For the past seven years, I’ve worked to strengthen the conditions for clinical research. Combined with my technical background, I believe this provides a valuable perspective on R&D in medical technology. I represent the region on the steering group and I think the development aspect is crucial—we want cutting-edge research that benefits patients and healthcare, supports growing companies that create jobs in Stockholm, and attracts other actors to establish themselves here. Skills development is also vital, so that we can translate technology into products—products that can be commercialised.”
You’ve just started your role as Chair, but can you already say something about what role MedTechLabs should play?
“We need cutting-edge research that advances all of medical diagnostics and treatment—research that enables things previously considered impossible. That requires entirely new forms of collaboration. Here I think of Mats Danielsson’s contribution—his visionary thinking led to the collaboration between KI, KTH, and Region Stockholm that eventually became MedTechLabs. I believe visionaries who are grounded in practical research and healthcare needs can help drive deep change in how we collaborate. All partners must see the value of that collaboration. Even participating researchers need to see the benefits of being affiliated with such a cross-disciplinary research environment—beyond just research funding. With MedTechLabs, we also see that many affiliated researchers receive large grants from other funders, and I’d like to believe that their association with MedTechLabs plays a part in that. The environment itself also strengthens their ability to conduct research through access to infrastructure and a broad network of fellow researchers. In English, we call this a “conducive environment”—a favourable setting where the right conditions exist for research to grow and thrive. That’s what I want MedTechLabs to continue being.”
What are you doing right now as the new Chair?
“I’ve had my first meeting with the steering group and am now trying to learn as much as possible about the centre to understand its potential. There are amazing opportunities here — which became very clear when I listened to the researchers at our Research Day in January. The many diverse projects, research questions, and methodologies left a strong impression.”
Finally, which stakeholders would you like to see become more aware of MedTechLabs?
I’m not sure how well-known MedTechLabs is within the system. But I imagine more researchers at both KI and KTH, clinicians, patient representatives, industry, and policymakers need to understand what the centre represents and what value it creates for them. When these groups see what can be achieved with the current funding the centre receives, it should open their eyes to the future possibilities of accomplishing great things in medical technology. Our regional ambition is to become one of the strongest life science clusters in Europe and the world—and medtech research is a crucial part of that.
On Friday 4 April, the final seminar for MedTechLab's course in ‘Acute stroke, diagnosis and treatment’ was held at BioClinicum in Solna. 16 course participants received a full-day summary and discussion on the diagnosis and treatment of stroke and cerebral ischemia.
The seminar was led by Håkan Almqvist, Consultant Neuroradiologist, CAPIO S:T GÖRANS SJUKHUS AB (right), Åsa Kuntze Söderqvist, Consultant, PhD, Neuroradiologist and Neurointerventionist. ME Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital (middle), and Michael Mazya, Consultant, Associate Professor, Neurologist. ME Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital (left).
“I think it was a successful course. We had participants from many parts of the country and had a good discussion where many were active. The fact that the course participants are radiologists, neurologists and internal medicine specialists favours the discussions and increases the understanding between participants with different specialties about how they think and make decisions about treatment,” said Åsa Kuntze Söderqvist afterwards.
Håkan Almqvist said that part of the discussion was about how the investigation is organised in different regions affects how an acute stroke investigation is carried out. Some regions have purchased automatic interpretation of CT perfusion, but not Region Stockholm, for example, where the distances are shorter, and the triage of patients is slightly different. However, Karolinska has extensive experience of CT perfusion, which has been used for about 20 years in connection with acute stroke investigations.
“The future AI support in stroke investigations may be based on a CT/MR perfusion to find even more peripheral vascular occlusions, provided that endovascular reperfusion has a positive effect. This course provides the basics of what perfusion disorders in the anterior circulation look like and there are some pitfalls. There are some difficulties in stroke investigations, especially in the posterior circulation where perfusion software works poorly today. Therefore, it is good if many have attended courses dealing with acute stroke”.
A new round of courses will be held in autumn of 2025.
As previously announced, Clara Hellner, Director of Research and Innovation at Region Stockholm, is stepping down as Chair of the MedTechLabs Steering Committee. We spoke to her about her experiences during her four years with the center.
When did you take up the position of President? And why did you get the job?
“I took over as FoI Director in June 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, when my predecessor Jan Andersson was due to retire. According to the statutes, Region Stockholm is supposed to lead the work of the steering group and thus the light fell on me as Jan had held the assignment before. I had previously been dean at KI and was at the time head of the Center for Psychiatry Research and had worked in the borderland between care and research for a long time, crossing Solnavägen back and forth throughout my career. In addition, I had been a member of KI’s management, which was probably seen as an advantage.”
What has been most fun, or most interesting, about leading MedTechLabs?
“What has been most fun is that I have gained insight into fantastic research with the potential to really make a difference for patients. And to have been able to fund strong Swedish research, I see it as a privilege to be able to distribute such large amounts of money. At MedTechLabs Research Day, which is held every year, you get to hear so many skilled and enterprising researchers talk about their work. These are really passionate about what they do. I would say that one of the most enjoyable things about leading MedTechLabs has been meeting these researchers who are people with the potential to change the lives of the rest of us.
What has been the most challenging? Can you give an example?
“Well, the first was the pandemic, which meant that neither researchers nor patients could come to our premises in BioClinicum. It knocked out the idea of us sitting together in MedTechLab’s premises. This has continued to be the case, except for our CT lab. Another important challenge has been to make MedTechLabs something more than just a research funder. To drive collaboration, innovation and exchange of ideas, to build a young faculty with junior researchers who are exposed to new ways of working. MedTechLabs has become an opportunity for researchers at different stages of their career to come together around these issues.”
How do you see MedTechLabs as a model for creating societal benefits from research?
“The most important contribution, beyond the research results themselves, is to shorten the time for implementation of the solutions developed. The entrepreneurial culture of the center is also crucial, with many of the researchers starting their own companies and/or choosing early on to collaborate with companies that make a marketable product or service based on the solutions developed. The training of healthcare professionals that we engage in also creates a concrete societal benefit.“
How do you hope MedTechLabs will develop after you leave?
“MedTechLabs contributes to strengthening Stockholm’s life science sector and I would like to see it double in size in five years. This is provided that the basic idea is kept alive – that is, that the center will clearly strengthen the medical technology development in Stockholm in five years. Also, that the center can continue to be an arena for cross-border projects and collaborations between academia, health care and industry.”
What will you do yourself, now that you are leaving your position?
“I will now devote more time to my own research. I am a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, and my research group has received a large grant from the Swedish Research Council for a multicenter study in suicide prevention, where five regions in Sweden will test a new model for care. In addition to research, I will serve as a senior advisor in life science to KI’s management, and I will also work on issues related to health data and AI in TEF-Health, an EU project that aims to support small and medium-sized companies and organizations to use AI solutions in health.”
MedTechLabs has granted SEK 35 million for research in two new areas. One research team will focus on technologies to enable individualized treatment of fatal forms of stroke and carotid artery disease. The other will combine imaging technologies to detect the onset of epileptic seizures and thus provide better conditions for surgical treatment.
“In this call for proposals, the number of applications peaked and the two projects that have now been granted funding for five years aim to improve diagnostics in important disease areas: peripheral vascular disease and epilepsy. In addition to a clear link to clinical application, the projects have great potential to contribute to better treatment of broad patient groups both in Sweden and internationally”, says Clara Hellner, MedTechLab’s Chair and until recently Director of Research and Innovation, Region Stockholm.
“Improving health care in peripheral vascular disease: from population-based to individualized decision-making“
Research leaders are Ulf Hedin, KI and Christian Gasser, KTH. Granted amount: SEK 4.5 million per year 2025 -2029.
Stroke disease from carotid atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm rupture and aortic rupture account for a significant proportion of cardiovascular disease mortality with major consequences for both individuals and society. Today, these diseases are managed with strategies based on population studies where the choice of treatment is based on algorithms that optimize treatment outcomes for many, but far from all, patients. New technologies for molecular, morphological, biomechanical and imaging analyses make it possible to profile patients to individualize their risk assessment and treatment.
The new project is based on a translational research platform in collaboration between the Vascular Surgeon at Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet (KI), SciLifeLab and the Department of Materials and Structural Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Initially, the researchers will develop molecular markers in blood, biomarkers, through advanced protein analysis for patients at high risk in each disease. In the next step, high-resolution imaging will be implemented to characterize in detail molecular, morphological and biomechanical features for risk assessment of disease expression. With this approach, patients with established clinical risk factors for unfavorable disease progression can be stepwise risk assessed and efficiently selected for appropriate treatment. This optimizes both individual survival and the use of health care resources.
“Imaging the Epileptic Brain using Multimodal Quantum Sensors”
Research leaders are Daniel Lundqvist, KI and Val Zviller, KTH. Granted amount: SEK 2.5 million per year 2025 – 2029.
Epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide and for 30%, medication does not work, causing them to have severe and frequent seizures. For these patients, surgery is often the best option, but it requires precise identification of the area of the brain that causes the seizures – called the Seizure Onset Zone (SOZ). Current methods to find the right zone where seizures start include medical imaging techniques such as MRI, PET and EEG, but these techniques sometimes don’t give a clear picture, especially when there are no obvious abnormalities in the brain. The granted project therefore combines two innovative techniques: superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SN-SPD) and optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG).
The first technique detects small changes in brain metabolism, while the second measures the magnetic field generated by brain activity – with incredible precision. By combining the techniques, the researchers hope to create a uniquely detailed picture of where and how abnormal brain activity occurs in the patient. This would not only help to more accurately pinpoint where seizures start, but also provide new insights into how seizures start and spread throughout the brain. The benefit lies in providing surgeons with better maps of where to operate. If successful, the project could therefore lead to more effective treatments and a better quality of life for people with epilepsy.
Research at both programs is expected to be up and running by January 2025.
MedTechLabs is a multidisciplinary center for patient-oriented research that will contribute to breakthroughs in the development of medical technology with relevance to the important challenges of healthcare and our major public diseases. In all programs, researchers and clinicians with both technical and medical expertise always collaborate. The center is jointly run by KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Region Stockholm.
For more information, please contact:
Liz Adamsson
Executive Director MedTechLabs
Phone: 08-790 60 84
E-mail: lizad@kth.se
Website: www.medtechlabs.se
Professor Mats Danielsson, a key figure at MedTechLabs, has been honored with the prestigious KTH Innovation Award for his pioneering contributions to medical imaging. The award, which includes a prize of 500,000 SEK (€43,400), recognises his exceptional achievements in advancing the field.
As a driving force behind the establishment of MedTechLabs, Professor Danielsson played a crucial role in fostering collaboration between KTH, Karolinska Institutet, and Region Stockholm. He has served as the research leader for the Spectral CT Imaging and Endovascular Techniques program and remains closely affiliated with the center.
From the Award Committee’s Motivation:
The 2024 recipient of the KTH Innovation Award has developed technology that has helped patients and doctors across the world. As the founder of several medical technology companies and contributor to over 100 patents, Mats Danielsson has developed and implemented solutions enabling earlier detection of tumors and inflammatory conditions. Mats Danielsson receives the KTH Innovation Award for his contributions to the field of physics of medical imaging, his creativity, grit and courage in going from research to impact, and his endless pursuit improving lives as well as the medical system.
Read an interview with Mats Danielsson on the KTH Innovation website here
Welcome to a MedTechLabs seminar on Crystal Growth and Characterization of CdTe for Radiation Detectors with Professor Roman Grill, Charles University, Prague on Tuesday, August 27, 15.00-16.00.
When: Tuesday Aug 27, 15.00-16.00
Location: Seminar room FA32, Albanova Main building, 3rd floor,
Roslagstullsbacken 21, Stockholm
Videoconference: https://lnkd.in/dQAneyz9
About: CdTe-based semiconductors are the best materials for preparing room temperature spectrally sensitive detectors of high energy radiation. They are used in various medical applications, security, non-destructive testing, space research, etc. In this talk, Professor Roman Grill reports on the achievements and knowledge he and his colleagues have gathered during more than 30 years of CdTe research at the Institute of Physics, Charles University. Basic principles of operation of radiation detectors are presented and the required material properties are defined to meet strict criteria set for high-quality detectors. The entire production line is commented on, starting with the growth of single crystals followed by after-growth annealing, material characterization, detector manufacture, and testing. Theoretical concepts describing all processes will be outlined. Throughout the talk, Roman Grill will emphasize problems unsolved so far that critically limit the production yield and cause the high price of detectors. Particularly, the talk encompasses the following topics: CdTe phase diagram, point defect engineering and self-compensation, chemical diffusion, contactless resistivity mapping, bias- and light-induced space charge formation and sensor polarization, transient current technique, and specific contact designs in sensors.
Since 2023, MedTechLabs organises a hybrid course in acute stroke, diagnosis, and treatment. The course is Lipus-certified and is aimed at residents and specialists who are interested in learning more about stroke and cerebral ischemia. One of them is Kristoffer Linder, a specialist in neurology at Capio S:t Görans Hospital, in Stockholm.
Hi Kristoffer, why did you choose to take our course?
I thought it sounded like an interesting approach, it was not like any course I had taken before. I got a tip about it via an email from a colleague. I thought that when you work in an acute hospital that receives a lot of acute stroke cases, it might be valuable to attend. In the hospital where I work, we take care of almost 1,000 patients with stroke or TIA every year. I also saw that there were many interesting names as lecturers as well, such as Håkan Almqvist, Åsa Kunze and Mikael Mazya. Trusted and knowledgeable course leaders give high credibility.
What do you think about the course organisation?
I think they have chosen a good division and balance between the radiology and the clinical parts of the stroke panorama, including a review of trobectomy. For me, it was good and important that you can take the course at your own pace. You watch the videos when you have time and can pause and go back through the material as needed. Otherwise, it can be difficult to get through longer course sections when you are busy at work.
What has the course given you?
The part where you had X-rays available and the opportunity to look at them yourself was very valuable to me. You can’t get that any other way. Of course, there are many databases and websites with X-rays, but here you could scroll through the material and at the same time get the necessary information about the symptoms, how long it’s been since the illness and so on. I have been a specialist for two years and have been working with stroke patients since I became a doctor more than ten years ago, but it was very good to be able to get this refresher course. The investigation and treatment of stroke has changed a lot in recent years but it’s also good to go back to basics, which this course also addresses.
Who do you think should take the course and why?
Can I answer everyone? Primarily those who are in training or already working as doctors. Both residents and specialists who have been working for a while can benefit greatly from the course. The course is good for updating your knowledge. I think it is also valuable for medical and radiologists working with stroke cases.
We talked with Patrik Jarwoll and asked him to introduce himself, why he joined MedTechLabs, and how he will contribute to the board.
Hi Patrik, what is You background?
I have a PhD from Chalmers Technical University and have worked for Varian inc. and Agilent Technologies in service, sales, marketing and RND before I started as an MR physicist at KERIC, Karolinska Experimental Research and Imaging Center at the Karolinska University Hospital.
And what do you do now?
Today I’m the head of KERIC, a Core Facillity situated in BioClinicum that supports research from academia as well as companies. KERIC is a preclinical facility that supports everything from surgical training to imaging in small animals with a special focus on translational research projects. We want to take projects from vitro or even earlier stages into clinical research in a safe way that will not risk any patient health. In many ways we can act as a bridge of technology to medical science. I am also Operations and Business manager at CIR, Centre for Imaging Research – a centre for world-leading imaging, jointly formed by Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, and Region Stockholm. CIR supports academic, clinical and industry users with access to imaging facilities and related services at the highest international level. CIR offers an exceptional and unique collection of core facilities for cutting-edge structural, functional, and metabolic in vivo imaging of all organs, in humans, non-human primates, large, and small animals.
What made You want to work with MedTechLabs?
I am very enthusiastic to support MedTechLabs and think it has an important role to link advanced technology such as AI, electronics, implants and material science to work in heath and clinical applications. An interesting condition, but also something that truly boast cross-disciplinary work, is the fact that you need a PI from both KTH and KI in all research at MedTechLabs. Another factor is that the project should reach clinical trials or clinical applications within 5 years. That really put the focus to projects that are applied and really can become a benefit to the public health within a reasonable timeframe.
How will You contribute to the board?
For me innovation and applied research has always been something I have had an interest and passion for. MedTechLabs is a bridge between KTH, KI and Karolinska University Hospital, which is important for innovation and progress in applied medical research. With my roles at KERIC and CIR and background from a more technical environment in academia as well as industry, I hope to contribute with supporting the work that can bridging technology with life science.
Welcome to an exciting seminar with Rolf Behling, one of the world's leading experts on x-ray sources for medical imaging and author of the book "Modern Diagnostic X-Ray Sources" (CRC press).
Title: Modern Diagnostic X-Ray Sources
Speaker: Rolf Behling, Department of Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Time: Monday June 3, 15.15-17.00, with time for questions afterwards
Location: FA32 (Albanova main building, third floor, opposite to the restaurant) and also on Zoom https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/63062020009
Abstract:
More than 100,000 diagnostic X-ray tubes are being newly installed or replaced year on year. Tubes for dental application, non-destructive testing and material analytics add to this number. This lecture will help to improve understanding the physics of X-ray production, in particular for “clinical” diagnostics. It will discuss functional principles of modern X-ray sources, design aspects, special features, radiation protection, and manufacturing technology. Why is vacuum technology not at all outdated? Will we find the X-ray LED, compact X-ray Laser machines or other alternative sources soon? Which breakthrough development is our group at KTH aiming at? The lecture may spark fascination for these vacuum electronic light sources off-the-mainstream.