Ulrika Ådén Appointed New Head Secretary for Medicine and Health at Vetenskapsrådet

Ulrika Ådén will take on the role of head secretary for medicine and health at Vetenskapsrådet starting September 1, 2026. Ådén is a professor of neonatology and pediatrics at Karolinska Institutet since 2016 and a senior physician in neonatology at Karolinska University Hospital. She also holds a donation professorship and serves as a senior pediatrician at Linköping University since 2022.

Her research focuses on understanding the development of fundamental brain functions during childhood. Ådén brings extensive experience from both preclinical and clinical research and has combined her clinical practice with experimental and clinical studies, preparing her well for this leadership position.

As head secretary, Ådén plans to strengthen international collaboration and enhance the impact of medical research beyond academia to influence healthcare, policy, and society. Previously, she has chaired the Swedish Pediatric Society, led Vetenskapsrådet’s preparation group for women's and children's health research, and served as the main editor of a neonatology textbook.

She remarked, "I want to contribute to a stronger impact of research in both care, policy, and society," emphasizing her commitment to making medical research more relevant and impactful. Ådén's appointment marks a significant leadership change at Vetenskapsrådet, highlighting a strategic focus on broadening the reach and influence of Swedish medical and health research.