Research at KMC
Both individuals and society can be severely affected by external events. Disaster medicine research is a relatively young scientific field, but with strong roots in clinical practice and especially trauma surgery. It is closely linked to everyday healthcare and patient management as well as preparedness for serious incidents, and has become increasingly important as societal challenges such as climate change, pandemics, cyber attacks and antagonistic threats grow.
Research at the Center for Disaster Medicine (KMC) is interdisciplinary and interprofessional, spanning both fundamental disaster medicine research and work aimed at strengthening the entire trauma system. A central aim is to improve the whole trauma chain, from initial lay response through advanced care and recovery, and the organisational conditions that enable effective leadership and coordination.
Trauma (physical injury caused by external violence) has significant consequences for both the individual and the healthcare system, in terms of suffering, mortality and resource load. In mass-casualty events or situations with disrupted infrastructure, for example during war or major societal crises, complexity increases further and places high demands on coordination, prioritisation and decision-making with the patient at the centre. Since its establishment, KMC has played a leading role in developing disaster medicine nationally and internationally, including contributing to Sweden's first professorship in disaster medicine. The goal is to strengthen both healthcare function and society's collective resilience.
Research at KMC is organised in six focus areas that illuminate different levels of the trauma chain: from biological processes in the individual patient to society's overall preparedness.
Research is conducted in six focus areas
Traumatology
The traumatology focus area addresses the biological and medical processes that arise from injury and how these can be diagnosed, treated and followed up to improve patient outcomes. The research is oriented towards the nature of injury and the mechanisms that govern healing and complications.
In practice, this means research on traumatic injuries across the whole chain of care: from the injury event to recovery, caused by different injury mechanisms. It includes clinical and experimental trauma care, development of new treatment methods, studies of wounds and burns, and technology for diagnosis and patient follow-up.
- Johan Junker — Research leader
Innovation and implementation
The innovation and implementation focus area studies how knowledge can be translated into practical benefit through evaluation and the development and adoption of new solutions. A central premise is that innovation and evaluation together create the conditions for knowledge to be used in practice.
In practice, this means research on how new technologies, methods and ways of working are introduced in healthcare and preparedness systems, and how learning evaluations can support continuous improvement. The focus is on how innovations move from development to actual use in clinical care, education and preparedness work at operational and organisational levels.
- Johanna Nählinder — Research leader
Human factors
The human factors focus area analyses the human role in complex systems, focusing on how cognition, perception and physiology affect decision-making and performance under uncertainty. The research examines how people interpret information, prioritise and act when time, information and resources are limited. It addresses especially the interplay between people and systems and how this affects safety and effectiveness.
In practice, this means studies of how individuals and teams make decisions under stress, uncertainty and time pressure, for example in prehospital situations or during mass-casualty events. The research also covers workload, teamwork and non-technical skills, and how systems can be designed to support human performance.
- Erik Prytz — Research leader
Education
The education focus area addresses how knowledge and capability are developed, transferred and translated into practical action in complex organisations.
In practice, this means research on education and learning linked to disaster medicine and preparedness, from advanced professional training with simulation to public education aimed at the general population. The focus is on how education can strengthen individuals' and organisations' preparedness and capacity to act in real situations.
- Lars Kåreklint — Research leader
Organization and leadership
The organization and leadership focus area analyses how complex organisations are structured, coordinated and governed, especially when several actors must work together under uncertainty. The research focuses on decision systems, allocation of responsibility and coordination between actors, and how organisations can be designed to handle dynamic and resource-intensive events effectively.
In practice, this means research on how healthcare and preparedness systems are organised during serious incidents, including decision-making, resource allocation and collaboration between actors. The focus is on developing robust structures for leadership and coordination in complex and resource-intensive situations.
- Peter Berggren — Research leader
Public health and preparedness
The public health and preparedness focus area addresses society's collective ability to prevent, manage and recover from serious disruptions. The research is system-wide and analyses how different parts of society, such as healthcare, public authorities, civil society and the population, together contribute to preparedness and resilience. The focus is on long-term capacity building, policy and integration of resources at societal level.
In practice, this means research on how healthcare, authorities and the civilian population together contribute to preparedness and resilience. It includes the role of the civilian population in crisis and war, knowledge from global health, total defence planning, and how preparedness can be built and integrated at system level.
- Carl-Oscar Jonson — Research leader
Projects
Research projects
Selected research projects at KMC 2026.
Research project New treatments for wound infections Johan Junker, Daniel Aili
The projects in this family aim to develop and evaluate antimicrobial peptides as a treatment strategy for wound infections, through innovative design and optimised delivery systems, to increase stability, reduce toxicity and maintain or enhance antimicrobial effect ahead of future clinical studies.
Members: Zeljana Sotra, Elisa Zattarin
Collaborators: Georgios Sotiriou (Stockholm University), Martin Andersson (Chalmers), Hazem Khalaf (Örebro University), Linn Berglund (Luleå University of Technology), S2 Medical AB, Absorbest AB, Cytacoat AB, Ampheria AB.
Research project Biofabrication with autologous cells, biomaterials and 3D bioprinting Johan Junker, Daniel Aili
The projects in this family aim to develop a new method for skin grafting in large wounds, based on porous gelatin microcarriers and advanced biofabrication, to improve functional and aesthetic outcomes and enable clinically relevant cell transplantation from laboratory to clinic.
Members: Rozalin Shamasha, Shora Zamani Fekri, Sneha Kollenchery Ramanathan, Nina Reustle, Gunnar Kratz
Collaborators: Lars Kölby, Peter Apelgren, Karsin Säljö, Kristin Oskarsdotter (Sahlgrenska), Percell Biolytica AB.
Research project AI-driven Raman-based platform for rapid wound diagnostics and pathogen identification Johan Junker, Daniel Aili
The project aims to develop a rapid, non-invasive diagnostic platform for wound infections that combines surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and AI-based analysis, for real-time identification of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, reduced antibiotic use and improved clinical outcomes in healthcare settings and more precise treatment.
Members: Linnea Midlöv, Zeljana Sotra, Navneet Chaudhary, Ario Jafari, Thomas Ederth
Collaborators: Serstech AB.
Research project Exoskeletons for rescue personnel Erik Prytz
The project aims to investigate how active and passive exoskeletons can improve the work environment and reduce injuries in the rescue services, through needs analysis, technical adaptation and user testing, for increased safety, ergonomics and sustainability in operational work for Swedish rescue personnel nationally.
Collaborators: Emmanuel Dean, Chalmers; Fabian Just, Ulm University
Research project Resilient Citizen (RECITE) Carl-Oscar Jonson, Erik Prytz
The project aims to develop evidence-based models for total defence planning through systematic inclusion of civilian resources and roles in preparedness plans, to strengthen coordination, decision-making and effectiveness during crises, war and serious societal disruptions.
Collaborators: NTNU Samfunnsforskning (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Ohio State University, SINTEF
Research project Prehospital decision-making in mass casualty incidents Jenny Pettersson
The project aims to investigate prehospital decision-making in mass casualty incidents, with a focus on evacuation decisions, through interviews and comparisons across training levels, to strengthen decision support, training and effective medical command under uncertainty and time pressure in prehospital care and exercise-based scenarios.
Members: Sara Karlsson