Our People
Strong academic, clinical, and translational leadership driving Anaxa forward.
Bridging scientific, clinical, and commercial perspectives to advance diagnostics with meaningful patient impact.
Albert Elfström is a medical research supporter and strategic leader dedicated to advancing clinical and translational research in inflammatory diseases. He founded the Myositis and Sarcoidosis Initiative at Karolinska Institutet in 2023 to stimulate multidisciplinary research efforts, promote innovative study designs, and accelerate the discovery of new diagnostic methods, biomarkers, and potential therapies for myositis and sarcoidosis. This work builds on earlier sarcoidosis research initiatives he helped establish at Karolinska Institutet.
Beyond his contributions to medical research, Elfström has extensive experience in business development, corporate strategy, and organizational leadership. His professional background spans strategic growth, innovation management, and cross-sector collaboration within the life science and healthcare fields.
Albert's academic background includes studies in engineering and technology at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), complemented by further education in business, management, and medical research–related fields. This multidisciplinary foundation enables him to bridge scientific, clinical, and commercial perspectives, connecting researchers, clinicians, and industry partners to advance initiatives with meaningful patient impact.
Anna Smed Sörensen is a Professor of Translational Immunology and research group leader at the Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. She holds a Master's degree in Biology from Uppsala University and earned her PhD in Experimental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet. After postdoctoral training at Yale University School of Medicine and Genentech in the United States, she returned to Karolinska Institutet in 2010 and has led her research group since 2014. She became an associate professor (docent) in immunology in 2015 and was appointed full professor in 2024.
Her research focuses on immune responses in the respiratory system, particularly the roles of dendritic cells and monocytes in pulmonary viral infections and inflammatory lung diseases such as sarcoidosis. Her group uses clinical samples and experimental immunological methods to understand disease mechanisms and identify biomarkers that may predict disease severity and inform better treatment strategies.
Expert Guidance
Experienced professionals providing strategic guidance and industry expertise.
Advisory Board Member
Peter Edman is a highly experienced pharmaceutical scientist and industry leader with more than 30 years of experience in drug development and research leadership. He holds a PhD and is an Associate Professor in Biochemistry, and has held senior research and development roles at major life science companies including Sobi (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum), Orexo, AstraZeneca, Astra, Biovitrum, and Pharmacia. At Sobi, he served as Chief Scientific Officer / Head of Research and Development, where he played a key role in reorganising and advancing the company's R&D strategy in recombinant protein projects for rare diseases before leaving the position at the end of 2011.
In addition to his industry roles, Edman has held academic positions, including professor-level appointments in pharmaceutical sciences and drug delivery at Uppsala University and roles at the Swedish Medical Products Agency. After his industry tenure, he has continued to contribute to the life sciences sector as an advisor and board member for various companies.
Advisory Board Member
With a background in preclinical research and now working as a respiratory physician, Susanna Kullberg has a strong interest in translational research. Her clinical work is largely carried out at the Sarcoidosis Centre at Department of Respiratory Medicine, where approximately 500 unique sarcoidosis patients are examined and evaluated each year, with referrals coming from all over Sweden.
Susanna's research aims to tailor therapy to each individual patient based on immunological, genetic, and phenotypic data. By thoroughly characterizing patients clinically, immunologically, and genetically, following them over time, and examining the effects of different treatments, she hopes to identify biomarkers that may predict disease progression and treatment response.
We welcome inquiries from researchers, clinicians, and industry partners who share our vision for improving sarcoidosis diagnosis.