Nanna Fyhrquist, Professor of Public Health Science

She went on to be appointed as a docent in physiology and neuroscience at the same university. For the past nine years, she has worked at Karolinska Institutet, and for just over a year, she has also been working at Karlstad University. 

“My research career has evolved from neuroscience to focus primarily on immunology, microbiome and allergies, as well as the toxic effects of environmental chemicals.” 

Nanna Fyhrquist’s research was cited in the most recent recommendation from Region Stockholm regarding allergy management in schools and preschools. She has contributed to the Swedish Food Agency’s guidelines on food allergies, the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s knowledge base on children’s allergies, and the latest report on tattoos and their health effects from the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet. Her most cited research shows that children who grow up in the countryside are likely to be protected against allergies thanks to the natural biodiversity of their environment. This diversity contributes to a richer composition of good bacteria in the body, which in turn helps train the immune system to become more tolerant.

“Allergies are the most common chronic illness among children and are increasing rapidly in many parts of the world. It is therefore crucial to understand how we can improve early prevention and treatment. Environmental chemicals, such as PFAS, phthalates and bisphenols, have also emerged as risk factors that affect children’s development and increase the risk of both physical and mental health issues later in life.”

In the future, Nanna Fyhrquist will focus primarily on the Selma Study, which offers a unique opportunity to link environmental exposures to different health outcomes. 

“My goal is to build a strong research track and establish a vibrant research team at Karlstad University. In large research collaborations, I view trust as transparency, fairness and long-term commitment. When this is in place, teams can achieve genuine synergy and reach results that no individual could accomplish alone.”

In her free time, she enjoys being on the tennis court, where she delivers a fast, unexpected and merciless serve. In addition, Nanna Fyhrquist has played the piano since the age of four and could read sheet music before she could read letters – so music was her first passion in life.