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Hans Forssberg

Hans Forssberg

Professor, Senior
Telephone: +46852482840
Visiting address: ALB, Q2:07, 17176 Stockholm
Postal address: K6 Kvinnors och barns hälsa, K6 Neuropediatrik Broström, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • Since my PhD in 1979 I have led a research group at ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ (KI) at the same time as I trained myself, and then worked as a neuropaediatrician at Karolinska Hospital (KS). I was head of the Children's hospital at KS 1993 and professor at KI 1995. I have had several management assignments at KI; among other things as vice president, dean, director of the Stockholm Brain Institute and director of the Strategic Research Program in Neuroscience. Was responsible for the functional program when planning Astrid Lindgren's Children's Hospital and responsible for the early planning of research and education at New Karolinska Hospital.

    I have been board member of Karolinska University Hospital, KIAB, KIND, and CMM. Have held several international assignments as chairman of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, was founder and first president of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disabilities, and chairman of UNICEF's expert group for early detection and intervention of children with developmental disabilities. Member of the Nobel Assembly at KI 2005-2016, and assignments at the Brain Foundation, the Children's House Foundation Freemason, Sunnerdahl Handicap Fund and the Sällskapet Barnavård.

Research

  • Previously, I conducted translational research on children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy, ADHD, autism spectrum, and language disorders as well as on the development of preterm born infants. By studying animal models, we could describe how different risk factors affected the early development of the brain (for example the bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract) and how active learning and training could improve brain functions (for example, dopamine-induced neuronal plasticity). At the same time, we conducted clinical examinations with brain imaging (such as PET and MRI), genetic analyses and functional examinations to understand underlying disease mechanisms, and to see how active learning and training could alter brain function and thereby also improve impaired motor and cognitive functions.

    The aim was to develop new treatment methods for children with different developmental disorders with neuroscience research. The research group has also delivered a series of new interventions and measuring tools that are now used worldwide. In recent years, I have gradually changed the focus to children with developmental disorders living in low and middle income countries, which make up more than 80% of all children. In these countries, disability constitutes a stigma and the children are neglected and discriminated against.

    One of the problems in most countries is that there are no epidemiologic statistics; therefore, we are now carrying out a number of population-based studies to determine the prevalence of different neurodevelopmental disorders. Another problem is that the inadequate resources available are used on old and ineffective methods; we therefore develop and evaluate new, efficient, low-cost interventions that can be used in areas where there are no trained professionals. I also participate in a UNICEF / WHO project aiming at developing systems approach for early detection and intervention of children with developmental disorders that can be used to develop national programmes in low and middle income countries.

Articles

  • Article: TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY. 2023;13(1):257
    Zuffa S; Schimmel P; Gonzalez-Santana A; Belzer C; Knol J; Bolte S; Falck-Ytter T; Forssberg H; Swann J; Heijtz RD
  • Article: CHILD CARE HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT. 2023;49(3):464-484
    Amer A; Hermansson L; Jarl G; Kamusiime S; Forssberg H; Andrews C; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Eliasson AC
  • Article: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE. 2023;12(6):2325
    Andrews C; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Kamusiime S; Forssberg H; Eliasson A-C
  • Article: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 2023;65(2):274-284
    Andrews C; Namaganda LH; Imms C; Eliasson A-C; Asige E; Wanjala G; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Forssberg H
  • Article: PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH. 2023;3(6):e0001241
    Namaganda LH; Andrews C; Wabwire-Mangen F; Peterson S; Forssberg H; Kakooza-Mwesige A
  • Article: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 2022;64(1):70-79
    Andrews C; Namaganda L; Eliasson A-C; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Forssberg H
  • Article: BMC PEDIATRICS. 2021;21(1):544
    Tsige S; Moges A; Mekasha A; Abebe W; Forssberg H
  • Article: BMJ OPEN. 2021;11(3):e047634
    Saloojee G; Ekwan F; Andrews C; Damiano DL; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Forssberg H
  • Article: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 2020;62(4):454-462
    Andrews C; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Almeida R; Swartling Peterson S; Wabwire-Mangen F; Eliasson A-C; Forssberg H
  • Article: PLOS ONE. 2020;15(12):e0243948
    Namaganda LH; Almeida R; Kajungu D; Wabwire-Mangen F; Peterson S; Andrews C; Eliasson AC; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Forssberg H
  • Article: MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY. 2019;56(10):6883-6900
    Fragopoulou AF; Qian Y; Heijtz RD; Forssberg H
  • Article: CHILD NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. 2019;25(3):318-335
    Stalnacke J; Lundequist A; Bohm B; Forssberg H; Smedler A-C
  • Article: CLINICAL GENETICS. 2018;94(3-4):313-320
    Kalnak N; Stamouli S; Peyrard-Janvid M; Rabkina I; Becker M; Klingberg T; Kere J; Forssberg H; Tammimies K
  • Article: CHILD CARE HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT. 2018;44(4):562-571
    Amer A; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Jarl G; Tumwine JK; Forssberg H; Eliasson A-C; Hermansson L
  • Article: CHILD CARE HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT. 2018;44(4):552-561
    Kakooza-Mwesige A; Tumwine JK; Forssberg H; Eliasson A-C
  • Article: BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY. 2018;69:273-282
    Femenia T; Qian Y; Arentsen T; Forssberg H; Heijtz RD
  • Article: EBIOMEDICINE. 2018;28:162-167
    Heijtz RD; Almeida R; Eliasson AC; Forssberg H
  • Article: LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH. 2017;5(12):e1275-e1282
    Kakooza-Mwesige A; Andrews C; Peterson S; Mangen FW; Eliasson AC; Forssberg H
  • Article: MEDICAL ENGINEERING & PHYSICS. 2017;47:198-209
    Wang R; Herman P; Ekeberg O; Gaverth J; Fagergren A; Forssberg H
  • Article: MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY. 2017;22(2):257-266
    Arentsen T; Qian Y; Gkotzis S; Femenia T; Wang T; Udekwu K; Forssberg H; Heijtz RD
  • Show more

All other publications

  • Review: ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION. 2021;102(9):1764-1774
    Damiano DL; Longo E; de Campos AC; Forssberg H; Rauch A
  • Review: JAMA PEDIATRICS. 2021;175(8):846-858
    Morgan C; Fetters L; Adde L; Badawi N; Bancale A; Boyd RN; Chorna O; Cioni G; Damiano DL; Darrah J; de Vries LS; Dusing S; Einspieler C; Eliasson A-C; Ferriero D; Fehlings D; Forssberg H; Gordon AM; Greaves S; Guzzetta A; Hadders-Algra M; Harbourne R; Karlsson P; Krumlinde-Sundholm L; Latal B; Loughran-Fowlds A; Mak C; Maitre N; McIntyre S; Mei C; Morgan A; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Romeo DM; Sanchez K; Spittle A; Shepherd R; Thornton M; Valentine J; Ward R; Whittingham K; Zamany A; Novak I
  • Corrigendum: MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY. 2019;56(10):6901
    Fragopoulou AF; Qian Y; Heijtz RD; Forssberg H
  • Editorial comment: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 2019;61(10):1121
    Damiano DL; Forssberg H
  • Review: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 2019;61(7):744-749
    Forssberg H
  • Editorial comment: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 2019;61(5):511-512
    Andrews C; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Eliasson A-C; Forssberg H
  • Letter: LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH. 2019;7(2):e188
    Damiano D; Forssberg H
  • Review: JAMA PEDIATRICS. 2017;171(9):897-907
    Novak I; Morgan C; Adde L; Blackman J; Boyd RN; Brunstrom-Hernandez J; Cioni G; Damiano D; Darrah J; Eliasson A-C; de Vries LS; Einspieler C; Fahey M; Fehlings D; Ferriero DM; Fetters L; Fiori S; Forssberg H; Gordon AM; Greaves S; Guzzetta A; Hadders-Algra M; Harbourne R; Kakooza-Mwesige A; Karlsson P; Krumlinde-Sundholm L; Latal B; Loughran-Fowlds A; Maitre N; McIntyre S; Noritz G; Pennington L; Romeo DM; Shepherd R; Spittle AJ; Thornton M; Valentine J; Walker K; White R; Badawi N
  • Editorial comment: MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY. 2017;22(2):161
    Arentsen T; Qian Y; Gkotzis S; Femenia T; Wang T; Udekwu K; Forssberg H; Heijtz RD
  • Editorial comment: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 2016;58(7):649
    Damiano D; Forssberg H
  • Letter: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 2014;56(4):398-400
    Autti-Ramo I; Eliasson AC; Forssberg H
  • Review: MOVEMENT DISORDERS. 2010;25(11):1538-1549
    Sanger TD; Chen D; Fehlings DL; Hallett M; Lang AE; Mink JW; Singer HS; Alter K; Ben-Pazi H; Butler EE; Chen R; Collins A; Dayanidhi S; Forssberg H; Fowler E; Gilbert DL; Gorman SL; Gormley MEJ; Jinnah HA; Kornblau B; Krosschell KJ; Lehman RK; MacKinnon C; Malanga CJ; Mesterman R; Michaels MB; Pearson TS; Rose J; Russman BS; Sternad D; Swoboda KJ; Valero-Cuevas F
  • Published conference paper: ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 2005;1060:368-376
    Ullén F; Bengtsson SL; Ehrsson HH; Forssberg H
  • Published conference paper: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. 2005;57(3):229-238
    Jucaite A; Fernell E; Halldin C; Forssberg H; Farde L
  • Review: CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY. 1999;9(6):676-682
    Forssberg H
  • Review: NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS. 1998;22(4):591-596
    Brogren E; Hadders-Algra M; Forssberg H
  • Review: NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS. 1998;22(4):501-506
    Hadders-Algra M; Brogren E; Forssberg H

Employments

  • Professor, Senior, Department of Women's and Children's Health, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2024-2025
  • Professor, Department of Women's and Children's Health, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2020-2024

Degrees and Education

  • Medical Doctor, On integrative motor functions in the cat's spinal cord, University of Gothenburg, 1975

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