Karin Lundberg

About Karin Lundberg

Research

Salivary Biomarkers and the Oral–Systemic Axis in SLE
Karin Lundberg conducts research in the Clinical and Translational Research within Lupus and Autoimmunity group. Integrated within the broader programme on disease mechanisms and precision medicine in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the team aims to identify accessible and clinically meaningful biomarkers for diagnosis and disease monitoring. Current tools rely largely on empirical assessments, and there is a critical need for sensitive, non-invasive measures that capture immune activity with high sensitivity and predict disease flares. To address this, saliva is investigated as an underexplored yet highly informative biofluid that reflects both systemic and mucosal immune processes.

A key part of the work focuses on the oral–systemic axis in SLE, including the study of oral manifestations such as mucosal lesions and xerostomia, and associated Sjögren’s disease, to better understand disease initiation, immune dysregulation, and factors that drive flares. By integrating salivary and blood-based multi-omics data with detailed clinical phenotyping, the aim is to elucidate the molecular pathways linking mucosal and systemic inflammation. These insights have the potential to reveal new druggable targets and help define disease endotypes that underpin heterogeneity in treatment response.

Through this integrative approach, the team ultimately seeks to establish saliva as a patient-friendly matrix for precision monitoring while deepening understanding of the mechanisms that drive SLE. The long-term goal is to support more timely, personalised interventions and contribute to improved outcomes for individuals living with the disease.

Short Career Narrative
My scientific career has focused primarily on understanding the immunological mechanisms that trigger and drive systemic autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Through mechanistic and translational studies, I have investigated how genetic, microbial, and environmental factors interact to disrupt immune tolerance and contribute to autoimmune development.

After earning an M.Sc. in Immunology (Stockholm University, 1999) and a Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine (Karolinska Institutet, 2005), I completed a five-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London, where I was part of the team that identified citrullinated α-enolase as a key autoantigen in RA – work that led to a patent, high-impact publications, and young investigator awards. In 2010, I established an independent research programme at Karolinska Institutet to investigate the links between oral pathogens and RA-related autoimmunity, supported by major national and EU funding and strengthened by broad international collaborations.

I have extensive experience in research leadership and mentoring and have also contributed expertise to industry and digital health initiatives. In 2025, I joined the Clinical and Translational Research within Lupus and Autoimmunity group, focusing on salivary biomarkers and the oral–systemic axis in SLE. Additionally, I serve as Scientific Coordinator of the strategic research profile X-HiDE – Exploring Inflammation in Health and Disease.

Role in X-HiDE
As Scientific Coordinator of X-HiDE – Exploring Inflammation in Health and Disease, I help guide the scientific direction of the programme and ensure that research activities align with our shared goals. I facilitate collaboration and synergies across partners and external stakeholders, fostering scientific interaction and supporting the quality and relevance of our outputs, while also planning future initiatives to strengthen the long-term impact of X-HiDE.