̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

Unnur Valdimarsdottir

Unnur Valdimarsdottir

Principal Researcher
Visiting address: Nobels väg 13, 17177 Solna
Postal address: C6 Institutet för miljömedicin, C6 Integrativ epidemiologi Fang, 171 77 Stockholm
Part of:

About me

  • In addition to serving as guest professor at the Department of Medical
    Epidemiology and Biostatistics, [1] ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, I am a professor
    of epidemiology and vice dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of
    Iceland [2]. My research lies on the boundaries of psychiatric and cancer
    epidemiology with the main emphasis on understanding how psychological stress
    influences major disease onset and development.
    * Early Scientific Achievement Award (Hvatningarverðlaunin) – The Science
    and Technology Policy Council, Prime Ministry of Iceland (2010)
    * David and Astrid Hageléns Foundation´s Science Award, Karolinska
    Institutet (2005)
    * BA Psychology, University of Iceland (1996)
    * PhD Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology-Pathology,
    ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ (2003)
    * Post Doc, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska
    Institutet (2004-2006)
    * Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Univerisity of Iceland (2007)
    [1] /en/meb
    [2]

Research

  • The overarching aim of my research program is to understand how various
    indices of psychological stress affect health and disease development during
    the life course. Another important aim of my research is to understand the
    genetics of favorable vs. adverse health outcomes in populations exposed to
    severe life stressors. I lead a graduate program in public health sciences at
    the University of Iceland, and a research group of several doctoral students,
    postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. In collaboration with an extended
    network of researchers from Sweden (e.g. Drs. Fang Fang [1] and Katja Fall
    [2]) and the US, we utilize the nationwide registries together with
    prospective cohorts with biomarker collections to address these hypotheses.
    Currently, my main research projects are the following:
    * Population-based registry studies in the Nordic countries of the impact of
    psychological stressors on disease development and progression (mostly
    based in Sweden).
    * The Genetics of survival and morbidity following exposure to extreme
    stressors (based at deCODE Genetics, Iceland)
    * The genetics of posttraumatic stress disorder in Swedish tsunami
    survivors.
    * The stress-response to a cancer diagnosis and disease progression (e.g.
    LUNG cancer project based in Reykjavik, Iceland
  • PROCESS based in Örebro,
    Sweden).
    * The Stress-And-Gene-Analysis (SAGA) Cohort – a longitudinal study on the
    combined impact of modern lifestyle, psychological stress and inheritance
    on major disease risk (based in Reykjavik, Iceland).
    [1]
    [2]

Articles

  • Article: MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY. 2024;29(11):3422-3430
    Yang H; Yang L; Chen W; Zeng Y; Zhang Y; Tang Y; Zeng H; Yang D; Qu Y; Hu Y; Liu D; Song J; Fang F; Valdimarsdottir UA; Li Q; Song H
  • Article: JAMA PSYCHIATRY. 2024;81(6):586-594
    Danielsdottir HB; Aspelund T; Shen Q; Halldorsdottir T; Jakobsdottir J; Song H; Lu D; Kuja-Halkola R; Larsson H; Fall K; Magnusson PKE; Fang F; Bergstedt J; Valdimarsdottir UA
  • Article: NATURE GENETICS. 2024;56(5):792-808
    Nievergelt CM; Maihofer AX; Atkinson EG; Chen C-Y; Choi KW; Coleman JRI; Daskalakis NP; Duncan LE; Polimanti R; Aaronson C; Amstadter AB; Andersen SB; Andreassen OA; Arbisi PA; Ashley-Koch AE; Austin SB; Avdibegovic E; Babic D; Bacanu S-A; Baker DG; Batzler A; Beckham JC; Belangero S; Benjet C; Bergner C; Bierer LM; Biernacka JM; Bierut LJ; Bisson JI; Boks MP; Bolger EA; Brandolino A; Breen G; Bressan RA; Bryant RA; Bustamante AC; Bybjerg-Grauholm J; Baekvad-Hansen M; Borglum AD; Borte S; Cahn L; Calabrese JR; Caldas-de-Almeida JM; Chatzinakos C; Cheema S; Clouston SAP; Colodro-Conde L; Coombes BJ; Cruz-Fuentes CS; Dale AM; Dalvie S; Davis LK; Deckert J; Delahanty DL; Dennis MF; Desarnaud F; DiPietro CP; Disner SG; Docherty AR; Domschke K; Dyb G; Kulenovic AD; Edenberg HJ; Evans A; Fabbri C; Fani N; Farrer LA; Feder A; Feeny NC; Flory JD; Forbes D; Franz CE; Galea S; Garrett ME; Gelaye B; Gelernter J; Geuze E; Gillespie CF; Goleva SB; Gordon SD; Goci A; Grasser LR; Guindalini C; Haas M; Hagenaars S; Hauser MA; Heath AC; Hemmings SMJ; Hesselbrock V; Hickie IB; Hogan K; Hougaard DM; Huang H; Huckins LM; Hveem K; Jakovljevic M; Javanbakht A; Jenkins GD; Johnson J; Jones I; Jovanovic T; Karstoft K-I; Kaufman ML; Kennedy JL; Kessler RC; Khan A; Kimbrel NA; King AP; Koen N; Kotov R; Kranzler HR; Krebs K; Kremen WS; Kuan P-F; Lawford BR; Lebois LAM; Lehto K; Levey DF; Lewis C; Liberzon I; Linnstaedt SD; Logue MW; Lori A; Lu Y; Luft BJ; Lupton MK; Luykx JJ; Makotkine I; Maples-Keller JL; Marchese S; Marmar C; Martin NG; Martinez-Levy GA; McAloney K; McFarlane A; McLaughlin KA; McLean SA; Medland SE; Mehta D; Meyers J; Michopoulos V; Mikita EA; Milani L; Milberg W; Miller MW; Morey RA; Morris CP; Mors O; Mortensen PB; Mufford MS; Nelson EC; Nordentoft M; Norman SB; Nugent NR; O'Donnell M; Orcutt HK; Pan PM; Panizzon MS; Pathak GA; Peters ES; Peterson AL; Peverill M; Pietrzak RH; Polusny MA; Porjesz B; Powers A; Qin X-J; Ratanatharathorn A; Risbrough VB; Roberts AL; Rothbaum AO; Rothbaum BO; Roy-Byrne P; Ruggiero KJ; Rung A; Runz H; Rutten BPF; de Viteri SS; Salum GA; Sampson L; Sanchez SE; Santoro M; Seah C; Seedat S; Seng JS; Shabalin A; Sheerin CM; Silove D; Smith AK; Smoller JW; Sponheim SR; Stein DJ; Stensland S; Stevens JS; Sumner JA; Teicher MH; Thompson WK; Tiwari AK; Trapido E; Uddin M; Ursano RJ; Valdimarsdottir U; Van Hooff M; Vermetten E; Vinkers CH; Voisey J; Wang Y; Wang Z; Waszczuk M; Weber H; Wendt FR; Werge T; Williams MA; Williamson DE; Winsvold BS; Winternitz S; Wolf C; Wolf EJ; Xia Y; Xiong Y; Yehuda R; Young KA; Young RM; Zai CC; Zai GC; Zervas M; Zhao H; Zoellner LA; Zwart J-A; DeRoon-Cassini T; Van Rooij SJH; van den Heuvel LL; Stein MB; Ressler KJ; Koenen KC
  • Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2024;34(2):394-401
    Wang Y; Unnarsdottir AB; Magnusdottir I; Fang F; Thordardottir EB; Runarsdottir H; Love TJ; Kristinsson SY; Palsson R; Jakobsdottir J; Zoega H; Asbjornsdottir KH; Song H; Hauksdottir A; Aspelund T; Valdimarsdottir UA
  • Article: JAMA NETWORK OPEN. 2024;7(4):e244525
    Chourpiliadis C; Zeng Y; Lovik A; Wei D; Valdimarsdottir U; Song H; Hammar N; Fang F
  • Article: JAMA PSYCHIATRY. 2024;81(4):374-385
    Chen Y; Shen Q; Lichtenstein P; Gradus JL; Arnberg FK; Larsson H; D'Onofrio BM; Fang F; Song H; Valdimarsdottir UA
  • Article: MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY. 2024;29(3):602-610
    Brann E; Chen Y; Song H; Laszlo KD; D'Onofrio BM; Hysaj E; Almqvist C; Larsson H; Lichtenstein P; Valdimarsdottir UA; Lu D
  • Article: PLOS MEDICINE. 2024;21(3):e1004372
    Herweijer E; Hu K; Wang J; Lu D; Sparen P; Adami H-O; Valdimarsdottir U; Sundstroem K; Fang F
  • Article: PLOS MEDICINE. 2024;21(3):e1004363
    Yang Q; Braenn E; Bertone-Johnson ER; Sjolander A; Fang F; Oberg AS; Valdimarsdottir UA; Lu D
  • Article: BMC MEDICINE. 2024;22(1):63
    Chen X; Wei D; Fang F; Song H; Yin L; Kaijser M; Gurholt TP; Andreassen OA; Valdimarsdottir U; Hu K; Duan M
  • Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2024;15(1):1209
    Han X; Shen Q; Hou C; Yang H; Chen W; Zeng Y; Qu Y; Suo C; Ye W; Fang F; Valdimarsdottir UA; Song H
  • Article: BMC MEDICINE. 2024;22(1):59
    Wen S; Zhu J; Han X; Li Y; Liu H; Yang H; Hou C; Xu S; Wang J; Hu Y; Qu Y; Liu D; Aspelund T; Fang F; Valdimarsdottir UA; Song H
  • Article: BJPSYCH OPEN. 2024;10(2):e37
    Chen X; Hu K; Song H; Yin L; Kaijser M; Gurholt TP; Andreassen OA; Valdimarsdottir U; Fang F; Duan M
  • Article: THE BMJ. 2024;384:e075462
    Hagatulah N; Brann E; Oberg AS; Valdimarsdottir UA; Shen Q; Lu D
  • Article: CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY, BIOMARKERS AND PREVENTION. 2024;33(1):136-142
    Chowdhury-Paulino IM; Vaselkiv JB; Cheng I; Schernhammer ES; Lin Z; Haiman CA; Le Marchand L; Valdimarsdottir U; Wilkens LR; Markt SC; Mucci LA
  • Article: JAMA NETWORK OPEN. 2024;7(1):e2350897
    Yu H; Shen Q; Braenn E; Yang Y; Oberg AS; Valdimarsdottir UA; Lu D
  • Article: PLOS MEDICINE. 2024;21(1):e1004322
    Liu Q; Laszlo KD; Wei D; Yang F; Fall K; Valdimarsdottir U; Feychting M; Li J; Fang F
  • Article: THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. SUPPLEMENT. 2024;224(1):6-12
    Koehler-Forsberg O; Ge F; Hauksdottir A; Thordardottir EB; Asbjoernsdottir K; Runarsdottir H; Tomasson G; Jakobsdottir J; Guomundsdottir B; Bjoernsson AS; Sigurosson E; Aspelund T; Valdimarsdottir UA
  • Article: JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES. 2023;24(8):2395-2439
    Asgeirsdottir TL; Gylfason G; Hauksdottir A; Thordardottir EB; Valdimarsdottir UA
  • Article: THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE. 2023;35:100756
    Shen Q; Joyce EE; Ebrahimi OV; Didriksen M; Lovik A; Sævarsdóttir KS; Magnúsdóttir I; Mikkelsen DH; Unnarsdóttir AB; Hauksdóttir A; Hoffart A; Kähler AK; Thórdardóttir EB; Eythórsson E; Frans EM; Tómasson G; Ask H; Hardardóttir H; Jakobsdóttir J; Lehto K; Lu L; Andreassen OA; Sullivan PF; Pálsson R; Erikstrup C; Ostrowski SR; Werge T; Aspelund T; Pedersen OBV; Johnson SU; Fang F; Valdimarsdóttir UA
  • Show more

All other publications

  • Corrigendum: MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY. 2024;29(3):858
    Braenn E; Chen Y; Song H; Laszlo KD; D'Onofrio BM; Hysaj E; Almqvist C; Larsson H; Lichtenstein P; Valdimarsdottir UA; Lu D
  • Letter: CANCER COMMUNICATIONS. 2023;43(7):834-837
    Liu Q; Laszlo KD; Wei D; Obel C; Yang F; Fall K; Valdimarsdottir U; Feychting M; Li J; Fang F
  • Review: NORDIC JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. 2022;76(6):423-432
    Karalexi MA; Eberhard-Gran M; Valdimarsdottir UA; Karlsson H; Munk-Olsen T; Skalkidou A
  • Corrigendum: HUMAN REPRODUCTION. 2022;37(6):1373
  • Letter: EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2022;33(1):e5-e6
    Thordardottir EB; Song H; Arnberg FK; Hauksdottir A; Fang F; Butwicka A; Lichtenstein P; Hultman CM; Valdimarsdottir U
  • Corrigendum: JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH. 2021;5(11):e34897
    Thorarinsdottir K; Holmes EA; Hardarson J; Hedinsdottir U; Kanstrup M; Singh L; Hauksdottir A; Halldorsdottir T; Gudmundsdottir B; Valdimarsdottir U; Thordardottir EB; Gamble B; Bjornsson A
  • Corrigendum: PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE. 2021;51(11):1960
    Li Y; Wang Y; Jiang J; Valdimarsdottir UA; Fall K; Fang F; Song H; Lu D; Zhang W
  • Letter: PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE. 2021;51(11):1952-1954
    Li Y; Wang Y; Jiang J; Valdimarsdottir UA; Fall K; Fang F; Song H; Lu D; Zhang W
  • Letter: THE LANCET. HEALTHY LONGEVITY. 2021;2(2):e65
    Yang H; Chen W; Fang F; Valdimarsdottir UA; Song H
  • Review: CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2021;13:533-554
    Laugesen K; Ludvigsson JF; Schmidt M; Gissler M; Valdimarsdottir UA; Lunde A; Sorensen HT
  • Letter: CANCER COMMUNICATIONS. 2020;40(5):239-242
    Zhu J; Chen R; Davidsson S; Carlsson J; Messing-Eriksson A; Fridfeldt J; Andren O; Andersson S-O; Valdimarsdottir U; Fang F; Fall K
  • Editorial comment: ICELANDIC MEDICAL JOURNAL. 2019;105(12):543
    Valdimarsdottir UA
  • Letter: JAMA PEDIATRICS. 2019;173(11):1095-1097
    Kantor ED; Udumyan R; Giovannucci EL; Valdimarsdottir UA; Signorello LB; Montgomery S; Fall K
  • Letter: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION. 2019;49(6):e13097
    Adami H-O; Kalager M; Valdimarsdottir U; Bretthauer M; Ioannidis JPA
  • Editorial comment: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION. 2019;49(3):e13062
    Adami H-O; Kalager M; Valdimarsdottir U; Bretthauer M; Ioannidis JPA
  • Letter: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (JAMA). 2018;320(17):1817-1818
    Song H; Fang F; Valdimarsdottir UA
  • Corrigendum: PLOS ONE. 2018;13(10):e0206026
    Haraldsdottir A; Torfadottir JE; Valdimarsdottir UA; Adami H-O; Aspelund T; Tryggvadottir L; Thordardottir M; Birgisdottir BE; Harris TB; Launer LJ; Gudnason V; Steingrimsdottir L
  • Letter: JAMA ONCOLOGY. 2017;3(4):566
    Lu D; Valdimarsdottir U; Fang F
  • Letter: THE LANCET PSYCHIATRY. 2015;2(11):962-963
    Arnberg FK; Hultman CM; Valdimarsdottir UA
  • Editorial comment: OBSTETRICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL SURVEY. 2015;70(9):553-554
    Furu K; Kieler H; Haglund B; Engeland A; Selmer R; Stephansson O; Valdimarsdottir UA; Zoega H; Artama M; Gissler M; Malm H; Norgaard M
  • Show more

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Institute of Environmental Medicine, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2022-

Degrees and Education

  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Oncology-Pathology, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2003

News from KI

Events from KI