PROJECT
SUPERVISORS
Project Supervisor
Andreas Lennartsson
My academic path began at Lund University (Sweden), where I earned a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology and became increasingly drawn to the medical sciences. This interest led me to pursue a PhD at the university’s Medical Faculty, studying transcriptional regulation of hematopoiesis, especially myeloid differentiation. As my doctoral work progressed, I became increasingly interested in epigenetic regulation, which set the direction for the next stage of my career.
I conducted my first postdoctoral fellowship at the OMICS Center at RIKEN in Wako-shi (Japan), where we developed epigenomic technologies to study brain plasticity in mice and demonstrated that targeted epigenetic manipulation could restore juvenile-like plasticity in the aged brain. Seeking a more mechanistic understanding of epigenetic regulation, I then moved to Karolinska Institute (Sweden) for a second postdoctoral fellowship, where I later established my own research group in 2015, focusing on myeloid differentiation, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and cellular plasticity.
Co-supervisor’s background – Vanessa Lundin
I earned my master’s degree in Biotechnology from Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), followed by a PhD in Medical Science from Karolinska Institutet (Sweden). I then relocated to the United States to pursue postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. Since 2018, I have led a research group at the Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM) at Karolinska Institute, where I am committed to fostering a collaborative and inspiring research environment. Our research centers on stem cell–based modeling of myeloid neoplasms, employing patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to elucidate how inherited and acquired mutations impair hematopoietic stem cell function and contribute to disease pathogenesis. We combine multi-omics profiling, functional assays, and engineered microenvironments to uncover mechanisms of disease initiation and progression, working closely with clinicians to ensure translational relevance.
Our work focuses on uncovering epigenetic vulnerabilities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that can be targeted therapeutically, with the ultimate goal of developing new treatments for both pediatric and adult patients. We combine state-of-the-art OMICS technologies with biochemical and molecular biology approaches, leveraging both primary patient samples and innovative model systems, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
We believe that creativity thrives on collaboration. Through close partnerships with clinical hematologists and research groups pioneering new methodologies, we turn scientific ideas into translational progress. This integration of technical expertise, clinical perspective, and scientific curiosity provides our lab with the tools to drive meaningful advances in AML research and therapy.
Publications
Cozzi E, Neddermeyer A, Zhong X, Gamboa-Cedeño AM, Kanellis DC, Österroos A, Björklund M, Struyf N, Karlsson K, Qu Y, Månsson A, Pandzic T, Bengtzén S, Nilsson C, Fiskesund R, Baliakas P, Erkers T, Bartek J, Kallioniemi OP, Qian H, Lennartsson A, Lehmann S (2025). MALNC: a new mutant NPM1/IDH2R140 and PML-RARA-associated lncRNA with impact on AML cell proliferation, maturation and drug response. Cancer Gene Ther. Aug 23.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41417-025-00954-0
Palau A, Segerberg F, Lidschreiber M, Lidschreiber K, Naughton AJ, Needhamsen M, Jung LA, Jagodic M, Cramer P, Lehmann S, Carlsten M, Lennartsson A (2023). Perturbed epigenetic transcriptional regulation in AML with IDH mutations causes increased susceptibility to NK cells. Leukemia, Jul 26.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-023-01972-3
Mujahed H, Miliara S, Neddermeyer A, Bengtzén S, Nilsson C, Deneberg S, Cordeddu L, Ekwall K, Lennartsson A, Lehmann S (2020). AML displays increased CTCF occupancy associated to aberrant gene expression and transcription factor binding. Blood, Mar 31: blood.2019002326.
https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2019002326
Varnoosfaderani FS, Palau A, Dong W, Persson J, Durand-Dubief M, Svensson JP, Lennartsson A (2020). A regulatory role for CHD2 in myelopoiesis. Epigenetics, Jan 10: 1–13.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15592294.2019.1710913
Qu Y, Siggens L, Cordeddu L, Gaidzik VI, Karlsson K, Bullinger L, Döhner K, Ekwall K, Lehmann S, Lennartsson A (2017). Cancer-specific changes in DNA methylation reveal aberrant silencing and activation of enhancers in leukemia. Blood, 129(7): e13–e25.
https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2016-07-726877