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Erik Melen

Professor of Paediatrics, Karolinska Institutet
My research projects aim to advance the understanding about the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors involved in lung growth, respiratory and allergic diseases in children. The projects are primarily based on a Swedish birth cohort, BAMSE that allows for unique investigation of lung function, respiratory and allergic diseases in a large number of children up to adulthood. Detailed information about perinatal events, environmental exposures such as air pollution and tobacco smoke exposure from birth and onwards has been collected. Currently, we are also performing a targeted COVID-19 follow-up of the cohort.

In our ongoing genetics projects, genome-wide approaches are primarily used (GWAS, global methylation analyses and RNA sequencing / microarray approaches) together with detailed clinical and epidemiological data. Extensive national and international collaboration is established (e.g. through the PERMEABLE, GABRIEL, EAGLE and MeDALL projects). We are also engaged in exposome-related research within the EXPANSE consortium. From this translational platform for advanced studies using clinical and epidemiological data sets, we are performing projects that will generate exciting new information in areas that have been little explored so far. For example, the long-term consequence of preterm birth and childhood exposures on lung function in young adulthood (CADSET ERS collaboration); identification of subgroups of the population that are particularly vulnerable to air pollution exposures; clarification of new genetic mechanisms for disease development.

Economy

Gold Prices Rebound as U.S.-China Tensions and Russia-Ukraine Conflict Fuel Safe Haven Demand

Gold prices surged in Asian trading Thursday, bouncing back from earlier losses as uncertainty over the U.S.-China trade war and renewed Russia-Ukraine tensions boosted demand for safe haven assets. Spot gold rose 1.3% to...

Thailand’s Exports Surge to 3-Year High Despite U.S. Tariff Risks

Thailands exports jumped 17.8% year-on-year in March, marking the ninth consecutive monthly increase and the highest level in three years, according to the Commerce Ministry. The figure outperformed analysts expectations...

FxWirePro- Major Economic Events for the day

Time Currency Detail Actual Forecast Previous 2:30am AUD RBA...

Malaysia Weighs Growth Forecast Cut as U.S. Tariff Deadline Looms

Malaysia is likely to lower its 2025 GDP growth forecast of 4.5% to 5.5% due to rising trade tensions and looming U.S. tariffs, according to Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour. Speaking at an IMF event in...

Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Japan Gains, Korea Lags on Weak GDP

Asian stocks saw modest gains on Thursday, with Japan leading the region on renewed hopes of U.S. trade dialogue. Investors remained cautious, reassessing optimism over a potential de-escalation in the U.S.-China trade war...

Politics

Ramaphosa Urges Unconditional Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks During Zelenskiy Visit

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia to begin without any preconditions, including the controversial idea of Ukraine ceding territory to Moscow. His remarks came during...

Trump Urges Putin to Halt Missile Strikes on Kyiv, Calls Timing "Very Bad"

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a rare rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, urging him to stop missile and drone strikes on Kyiv. Vladimir, STOP! Trump wrote in a social media post following Russias...

Modi Vows Retaliation After Deadly Kashmir Attack, India Cuts Ties with Pakistan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to hunt down the perpetrators of a deadly militant attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, calling it the worst civilian assault in nearly two decades. Speaking at a rally...

Japan’s Economy Minister Heads to U.S. for Crucial Tariff Negotiations

Japans Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa is set to travel to Washington from April 30 to May 2 for a second round of high-stakes negotiations with U.S. officials regarding tariffs on Japanese exports, according to media...

Trump Signs Executive Order Tightening College Accreditation and Targeting Foreign Funding

President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Wednesday aimed at tightening college accreditation standards, a move that could affect access to billions in federal student aid. The order is part of a broader...

Science

Kennedy Sets September Deadline to Uncover Autism Causes Amid Controversy

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a bold plan to identify the cause of autism by September 2025. Speaking at a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, Kennedy declared a global...

AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Gets US Approval for Bladder Cancer Treatment

AstraZenecas drug Imfinzi (NASDAQ: AZN) has received U.S. approval to treat adult patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, a significant advancement in cancer therapy. The approval allows Imfinzi to be used in...

Sanofi’s New Hemophilia Drug Qfitlia Gains FDA Approval with Breakthrough Bimonthly Dosing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Qfitlia, a groundbreaking hemophilia treatment by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY). Designed for patients aged 12 and older with hemophilia A or B,...

FDA Vaccine Chief Peter Marks Resigns Amid Controversy Over Transparency

Peter Marks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) top vaccine official, has resigned after reportedly being forced out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to The Wall Street Journal....

Museums have tons of data, and AI could make it more accessible − but standardizing and organizing it across fields won’t be easy

Ice cores in freezers, dinosaurs on display, fish in jars, birds in boxes, human remains and ancient artifacts from long gone civilizations that few people ever see museum collections are filled with all this and more....

Technology

South Korea Flags DeepSeek for Unauthorized Data Transfers to China and U.S.

South Koreas Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has accused Chinese AI startup DeepSeek of transferring personal user data and prompt content without consent during its app launch in January 2025. The PIPC...

Adobe Expands Firefly with AI from OpenAI and Google, Launches Mobile App

Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) is expanding its Firefly generative AI service by integrating image-generation models from OpenAI and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL), while also making the app available on mobile devices. This move...

Nintendo Switch 2 Sees Surging Demand with 2.2 Million Lottery Applications in Japan

Nintendo has revealed that over 2.2 million people have entered a lottery for the new Switch 2 console in Japan, signaling overwhelming demand ahead of its June 5 launch. The company admitted it cannot fulfill all orders...

TSMC to Launch Advanced 1.4nm Chips by 2028 to Power AI Growth

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the worlds leading contract chipmaker and a key supplier to Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), announced plans to begin mass production of its next-generation 1.4 nanometer (nm) chip...

SK Hynix Q1 Profit Soars on AI Chip Boom and Tariff Stockpiling

SK Hynix (KRX:000660) more than doubled its quarterly operating profit as demand for AI chips surged and clients stockpiled inventory ahead of potential U.S. tariffs. The worlds second-largest memory chipmaker posted an...