Dr Bob Harris, Professor at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm (Karolinska Institutet), is a leading expert in neuroscience, focusing on how the interaction between the nervous and immune systems could pave the way for future therapies against dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.

He recently visited RU and gave a talk about his research, highlighting the growing collaboration between RU and leading international neuroscience researchers.

Dr Harris has built a strong international research programme investigating the roles of immune cells, glial cells, and signalling molecules such as TGF-β in inflammatory responses and neural tissue repair. His work has provided new insights into how immune cells cross the blood–brain barrier, contribute to neurodegeneration and demyelination, and can be harnessed in treatments for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Dr Harris has played a key leadership role at Karolinska Institutet, serving as program director and PhD supervisor, mentoring the next generation of researchers.

Neuroscience at HR
Reykjavik University is home to vibrant neuroscience research. To name some:

• Professor Karl Ægir Karlsson (Department of Engineering) studies neurological disorders through drug testing in zebrafish models.
• Professor Paolo Gargiulo applies virtual reality technology to the early detection of Parkinson’s disease.
• Associate Professor Hanna Steinunn Steingrímsdóttir (Department of Psychology) investigates how EEG measurements can detect subtle changes in brain activity linked to mild cognitive decline.

Useful links

• RU research and research centres
• NeurotechEU collaboration
• Dr Harris´s work and career