In a recently published , professors Ann-Marie Wennberg Larkö and Lars Ny at the Institute of Clinical 91̽s, together with Hanna Kataoka, doctoral student at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, highlight the vital role of medical research in both the development of healthcare and society’s resilience.
Research impact in the pandemic
The authors point to the COVID-19 pandemic as proof of how much research can achieve when vaccines and treatments are developed at record speed. At the same time, they emphasize that clinical research is still often sidelined due to time and resource constraints.
“Everything we do in healthcare today was once a research project,” they write, citing breakthroughs such as Losec, thrombectomy for stroke, and rising cancer survival rates.
Independent research protects society
To secure future preparedness, the authors call for investments in education, biotechnology, and innovation. They also warn that the conditions for conducting research are steadily worsening.
“If decision-makers do not act, we risk losing both medical progress and a central part of our societal protection,” they write.
The op-ed ends with a direct appeal to political leaders: “We therefore urge policymakers to reach a broad commitment to invest in clinical research and healthcare as cornerstones of Sweden’s national defense.”
Text: Jakob Lundberg
