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Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV)

The Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV) is one of the largest departments at ҳ with affiliation mainly to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Our goal is to provide education and research in medicine and biomedicine, of high international quality.

Research

At BKV, you will find leading research with both depth and breadth across a wide spectrum of modern biomedicine; from detailed molecular and cellular studies to genetics, clinical research, and epidemiology.

The research activities are expanding and are still in a very positive development. Some of our strongest areas of research of very high caliber are neurobiology, genetics, cancer and blood cell research, drug research, as well as regenerative medicine and systems medicine.

Several research centers that BKV is involved in:

  • Barnafrid – National centre for knowledge concerning violence against children
  • Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience – CSAN
  • Ingrid Asp Psoriasis Research Center
  • The Center for Disaster Medicine and Traumatology – KMC
  • Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine – WCMM

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In basic education, BKV conducts activities in the following areas:

  • Biomedical Laboratory Science Programme, 180 credits
  • BSc Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine, 180 credits
  • Supplementary study programme to biomedical scientist, 60 credits
  • Complementary Programme for Biomedical Laboratory Scientists with a Foreign Degree, 90 credits
  • Speech and Language Pathology Programme, 240 credits
  • Medical Programme, 360 credits

ҳ at an advanced level

  • Master's Programme in Genetic counselling, 120 credits
  • MSc Experimental and Medical Biosciences, 120 credits

Doctoral studies

BKV has about 300 doctoral students, of which 50 are employed as doctoral candidates and the rest are clinical doctoral candidates.

Standalone Courses

BKV offers around 30 standalone courses.

Contract ҳ

Our experienced researchers and teachers provide contract education related to the fields of healthcare and social care, of high quality.

Collaboration with Region Östergötland

BKV is involved in the development of several strategic research areas at Linköping University and Region Östergötland. The missions of these areas are to conduct internationally outstanding research that can eventually lead to practical applicability in healthcare, social care, or business activities. And to create an inclusive research environment with a high scientific level.

The strategic research areas are:

  • Medical Inflammation and Infection Center (MIIC)
  • Center for Systems Neurobiology
  • Cancer
  • Strategic Research Area in Forensic Sciences
  • Circulation and metabolism - CircM

BKV in Numbers

  • Turns over half a billion SEK annually
  • Over 500 employees
  • 100 teaching positions
  • 50 professors
  • 300 doctoral students – 50 employed and the rest are clinical doctoral candidates

You can read more about our activities and departments below.

Upcoming events

Research

Black background. You see several

M4-health: the basis for general AI in health care

In the VR funded project “M4-health: the basis for general AI in health care” we make way for a more general and flexible type of AI in health care.

En grafik över mänskliga xenosomer och de mänskliga xenosomerna.

The Nestor Lab

Our research aims to understand the function of DNA methylation in the biology of human CD4+ T-cells, and use this knowledge to dissect its role in disease.

Logga 10th european rota virus biology meeting.

10th European Rotavirus Biology Meeting

Welcome to the 10th European Rotavirus Biology Meeting in Linköping, Sweden the 15-17th of June 2026.

News

A couple of people sitting at a desk in front of a computer.

How childhood liver tumor cells acquire different features

Researchers have discovered how the so called Wnt signaling pathway can result in tumor cells with different features within a single tumor. Their findings contribute to better classification of these tumors.

En närbild av en man som bär glasögon.

David Engblom wins award for his research on how our brains make us feel ill

David Engblom, Professor of Neurobiology, is awarded the 2026 Onkel Adam Prize for outstanding research at the Faculty of Medicine. He researches the role of the brain in making us feel ill in various medical conditions.

En kvinna står i ett laboratorium och bär en blå skjorta.

LiU professor to become the Swedish Research Council’s new Secretary General

Ulrika Ådén  has been appointed the Swedish Research Council’s new Secretary General for Medicine and Health. In her new role, she aims to promote international collaboration and contribute to greater impact of research in society.

En skara människor i en föreläsningssal.

Six new SciLifeLab group leaders appointed at ҳ

In the autumn of 2025, it was announced that ҳ has six new SciLifeLab Group Leaders: Linda Bojmar, BKV, Johanna Ungerstedt, BKV, Martin Hallbeck, BKV, Mika Gustafsson, IFM, Claudio Mirabello, IFM and Colm Nestor, BKV.

En man i svart polotröja.

Markus Heilig doesn’t mind being proven wrong

A storyteller with a passion for popular education. Head of one of LiU’s strongest research environments. And a physician. Markus Heilig researches the biology of the brain in addiction, and always considers the whole person.

En grupp människor står på ett trädäck.

Molecular medicine research secures long-term funding

The Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) at LiU has been granted extended funding until 2039 by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. This makes it possible to build on ten years of success and to recruit new physician-scientists.

Our divisions

Teaser image for the division Barnafrid at BKV.

Barnafrid (BARNAF)

Barnafrid is a national knowledge center with the aim of assembling and disseminating knowledge about violence and other abuses against children. It is a government commission that was assigned ҳ in 2015.

Teaser image for the Division BKH at BKV.

Division of Children's and Women's Health (BKH)

The Division of Children’s and Women’s Health consists of a number of different research and educational areas - obstetrics / gynecology and pediatrics.

The Division of Cell and Neurobiology (CNB)

The Division of Cell and Neurobiology is a dynamic and innovative environment where we conduct research and teaching on both the structure and function of various cells as well as the nervous system and sensory organs.

Core Facility 

Contact us

Department management

Co-workers