Linda Björkhem-Bergman
About me
I am MD and Professor in Palliative Medicine.
I defended my PhD-thesis in Experimental Pathology in 2004 at the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡. The project involved carcinogenesis studies in animal models and cell-culturing of multi-drug resistant cells
- with focus on selenium compounds and selenoenzymes. During my post-doc time (2009-2012) at Dept of Clinical Pharmacology I expanded my knowledge about drug metabolism with focus on statins. During my Residency at Clinical Pharmacology (ST-läkare) (2006-2013) I started working with clinical research and with Phase I and II studies at the Clinical Trial Unit. I finished my Specialist Training in Clinical Pharmacology 2012 and I am since 2013 Associate Professor (Docent) in Clinical Pharmacology. Since 2013 I am working in the field of Palliative Medicine and I am Senior Consultant (Överläkare) at Stockholms Sjukhem, Dept of Palliative Medicine. Since 2021 I also have a Specialist degree in Palliative Medicine.
In 2018 I started up my own research group in Palliative Medicine at the Division of Clinical Geriatrics, NVS, KI. My overall aim is to find new pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to improve the quality of life in end-of-life patients. I have a translational approach where I try to combine clinical trials with pre-clinical experiments for mechanistic studies. My main focus during recent years has been on the role of Vitamin D in the immune system and possible beneficial effects of Vitamin D supplementation to cancer patients to improve symptom management, reduce the incidence of infections and improve the quality of life.
Today (2024) we are 8 members in my rearsch group, 3 PhD-students and 4 post-docs and one docent (me). We all combine clinical work in palliative care with reserach. We are 6 MDs, 1 reg nurse and 1 reg dietician.
Research
All the reserach in my reserach group involves different topics in palliative medicine and palliative care.
During recent years my main focus has been the role of Vitamin D in the immune system and possible beneficial effects of Vitamin D supplementation to cancer patients to improve symptom management (pain and fatigue), reduce the incidence of infections and improve the quality of life. Currently my main focus is projects on cancer related fatigue. This involvs both mechanistic studies, with focus on immunology, and treatment options in clinical care including studies on the use of cortisone, vitamin D, methylphenidate and phsyical activity.
In the research group we also have projects on nutrition in palliative care, treatment of malignant ascites, the use point of care ultra-sound in palliative home care, studies on the use of CAM (complementary and integrative medicine) in oncology and aspects of aging and immunity.
Teaching
Teaching in Palliative Medicine för MD and nurses on advanced level. Course manager for 2 mandatory courses in Palliative Medicine for resident physicians.
Teaching at basic levels for MDs, physiotherapists and occupational therapist in palliative care.
Scientific leader at Center of Palliative Care (Palliativt Kunskapscentrum) in Region Stockholm since 2022. This includes teaching on a regular basis for physicians, nurses and other health care professionals
- working in palliative care. My main foucs has been symptom managment and end-of-life care.
Teaching in Clinical Pharmacology at basic and advanced levels for physicians, nurses and bio̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ analysts.
Teaching in Geriatrics at basic and advanced level for MDs.
Teaching in Scientific methodology for resident physicians in geriatrics.
Main supervisor of 11 resident physicians for their Scientific Project (ST-projekt) in Palliative Medicine and Geriatrics.
Co-ordinator for the Master degree of MDs 2014-2015.
During 1995-2001
- teaching in biochemistry and pathology for MD:s.
Co-author in three textbooks for MDs and nurses:
'Palliativ Medicin' in the book Klinisk Geriatrik (Libers förlag 2020),
'Palliativ Cancervård' i böckerna Klinisk Omvårdnad 1 och 2 (Libers
förlag, 2021)
'VÃ¥rd i livets slut' in the book Boken om Demenssjukdomar (Libers
förlag 2023)
Articles
- Article: BMJ SUPPORTIVE AND PALLIATIVE CARE. 2024;15(1):141-148
- Article: JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE. 2024
- Article: CURRENT ONCOLOGY. 2024;31(10):6205-6217
- Article: JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE. 2024;27(10):1310-1317
- Article: THYROID. 2024;34(6):713-722
- Article: ACTA ONCOLOGICA. 2024;63:9-16
- Article: UPSALA JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES. 2024;129(1):e10504
- Article: BMC PALLIATIVE CARE. 2023;22(1):159
- Journal article: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. 2023;210(1_Supplement):75.20
- Article: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2023;120(12):e2220320120
- Article: BMJ SUPPORTIVE AND PALLIATIVE CARE. 2022;12(3):332-338
- Article: LIFE. 2022;12(6):846
- Article: LIFE. 2022;12(5):671
- Article: LIFE. 2022;12(4):525
- Article: LIFE. 2022;12(2):298
- Article: CANCERS. 2022;14(3):746
- Article: NUTRIENTS. 2022;14(3):602
- Article: LIFE. 2022;12(1):105
- Article: PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH & PERSPECTIVES. 2021;9(6):e00884
- Article: LIFE. 2021;11(11):1233
- Article: CANCERS. 2021;13(18):4689
- Article: INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2021;53(9):719-723
- Article: CANCERS. 2021;13(15):3707
- Article: BMC WOMEN'S HEALTH. 2021;21(1):166
- Article: PHARMACEUTICALS. 2021;14(4):368
- Article: DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS. 2021;13(3):550-557
- Article: JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE. 2021;24(3):433-437
- Article: BMJ SUPPORTIVE AND PALLIATIVE CARE. 2020;:bmjspcare-2020-002331-e1850
- Article: DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS. 2020;12(9):1229-1240
- Article: NUTRIENTS. 2020;12(5):E1230-1230
- Article: BMC PALLIATIVE CARE. 2019;18(1):80
- Article: BMJ SUPPORTIVE AND PALLIATIVE CARE. 2019;:e350-e352
- Article: ENDOCRINE CONNECTIONS. 2019;8(7):1070-1081
- Article: BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES. 2018;9(1):47
- Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2018;37(9):1735-1744
- Article: BMC RESEARCH NOTES. 2018;11(1):619
- Article: BMJ SUPPORTIVE AND PALLIATIVE CARE. 2018;8(1):30-33
- Article: BMC RESEARCH NOTES. 2018;11(1):51
- Article: BMJ SUPPORTIVE AND PALLIATIVE CARE. 2017;7(4):458-463
- Article: VACCINE. 2017;35(20):2654-2660
- Article: PLOS ONE. 2017;12(8):e0184208
- Article: HORMONE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH. 2016;48(12):834-839
- Article: CANCERS. 2016;8(9):84
- Article: BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY. 2016;118(6):499-502
- Article: BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY. 2016;118(3):214-218
- Article: PLOS ONE. 2016;11(9):e0163451
- Article: PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH & PERSPECTIVES. 2015;3(6):e00192
- Article: BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY. 2015;117(4):261-266
- Article: BMC RESEARCH NOTES. 2015;8:498
- Article: BMC RESEARCH NOTES. 2015;8:391
- Article: BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY. 2015;117(2):133-136
- Article: FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL. 2015;252:150-156
- Article: PLOS ONE. 2015;10(5):e0128223
- Article: JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE CARE. 2015;31(3):172-176
- Article: PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH & PERSPECTIVES. 2014;2(6):e00071
- Article: BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY. 2014;115(4):366-371
- Article: PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. 2014;23(10):1101-1106
- Journal article: JOURNAL OF HORMONES. 2014;2014(1):1-7
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS. 2014;44(2):125-130
- Article: SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND REHABILITATION. 2014;5:121-127
- Article: DRUG METABOLISM AND PHARMACOKINETICS. 2014;29(4):352-355
- Article: FEBS OPEN BIO. 2014;4:886-891
- Article: DRUG METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION. 2013;41(9):1610-1615
- Article: LAKARTIDNINGEN. 2013;110(32-33):1409-1411
- Article: DRUG METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION. 2013;41(8):1488-1493
- Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY. 2013;69:S73-S78
- Article: DRUG METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION. 2013;41(4):704-708
- Article: BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS. 2013;430(1):90-94
- Article: JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY. 2013;61(1):1-7
- Article: PHOTOCHEMICAL AND PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. 2012;11(12):1797-1801
- Article: BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS. 2012;425(2):348-352
- Article: HEPATOLOGY. 2012;55(4):1112-1121
- Article: BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS. 2012;417(3):1046-1051
- Article: BMJ OPEN. 2012;2(6):e001663
- Article: LAKARTIDNINGEN. 2011;108(48):2512
- Article: BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY. 2011;72(1):153-156
- Article: DRUG METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION. 2011;39(5):933-937
- Article: PLOS ONE. 2011;6(8):e24394
- Article: LAKARTIDNINGEN. 2010;107(46):2900-2901
- Article: ANTICANCER RESEARCH. 2010;30(4):1105-1112
- Article: JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH. 2010;51(2):318-323
- Article: LAKARTIDNINGEN. 2008;105(42):2942
- Article: LAKARTIDNINGEN. 2008;105(19):1398-1399
- Article: BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY. 2005;69(12):1765-1772
- Article: CARCINOGENESIS. 2005;26(1):125-131
- Article: PEPTIDES. 2004;25(11):1849-1855
- Article: HISTORY OF PSYCHIATRY. 2004;15(58 Pt 2):193-200
- Article: BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY. 2004;67(3):513-522
- Article: JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 2003;278(4):2141-2146
- Article: BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY. 2002;63(10):1875-1884
- Article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2001;35(2):259-264
- Show more
All other publications
- Conference publication: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. 2023;210(1)
- Editorial comment: ACTA ONCOLOGICA. 2022;61(12):1435-1436
- Review: LIFE. 2022;12(5):613
- Preprint: BIORXIV. 2021
- Review: CANCERS. 2021;13(5):985
- Review: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. 2017;18(10):2170
- Review: BMJ SUPPORTIVE AND PALLIATIVE CARE. 2016;6(3):287-291
- Review: EXPERT REVIEW OF ANTI-INFECTIVE THERAPY. 2013;11(12):1391-1400
- Conference publication: THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING. 2013;35(5):728
- Review: PLOS ONE. 2013;8(6):e65835
- Review: IN VIVO. 2012;26(4):527-535
- Letter: BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY. 2011;72(1):164-165
- Review: JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. 2011;25(3):299-305
- Conference publication: BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY. 2011;109:153-154
- Conference publication: BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY. 2011;109:40-41
- Review: PLOS ONE. 2010;5(5):e10702
- Review: LAKARTIDNINGEN. 2009;106(26-27):1746-1747
- Thesis / dissertation: 2004
- Published conference paper: BIOFACTORS. 2003;18(1-4):45-50
- Corrigendum: BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY. 2002;64(1):159
- Review: BIOMEDICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES. 1997;10(2-3):271-279
- Show more
Grants
- To live until death - Factors affecting symptom distress, quality of life and survival time in cancer patients in palliative stages. Focus on vitamin D and the immune system.Swedish Cancer Society1 January 2018
- Can treatment with vitamin D for palliative cancer patients reduce the burden of infection and pain and increase the quality of life?Swedish Cancer Society1 January 2017
- Can treatment with vitamin D for palliative cancer patients reduce the burden of infection and pain and increase the quality of life?Swedish Cancer Society1 January 2016
- Can treatment with vitamin D for palliative cancer patients reduce the burden of infection and pain and increase the quality of life?Swedish Cancer Society1 January 2015
Employments
- Professor/Senior Physician, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2024-
- Principal Researcher, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2022-2024
- Researcher, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2018-2022
- Researcher, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2015-2018
Degrees and Education
- Docent, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2013
- Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2004
- University Medical Degree, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2001