Meet the researchers

Paulin Andréll

Associate Professor, MD, Consultant Physician

Consultant physician , specialist in internal medicine/pain medicine and researcher at Pain Centre at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden and Adjunct Senior Lecturer in pain medicine at the Department of Anestesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Project manager for research, education, development and innovation at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and member of the Docentur committee at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Axel Wolf

PRofessor, Specialist Nurse

I currently serve as the Centre Director at the Gothenburg University Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), a role that allows me to collaborate with an inspiring team of over 200 national and international researchers. Our work at GPCC is focused on interdisciplinary research, something I am deeply passionate about.

My professional journey includes previous roles such as Vice Head of Digitalization, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and Head of Research in the Anaesthesia and Intensive Care department at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. These experiences have enriched my understanding of the healthcare field, particularly in the areas of anaesthesia and intensive care.

In addition to my administrative roles, I have had the privilege of contributing to the academic community as a Professor in Anaesthesia Nursing at the University of Oslo (OsloMet), Norway, and as a Professor in Healthcare Sciences at the University of Gothenburg. My academic interests primarily lie in exploring opioid-free anaesthesia, person-centred care, and the integration of innovative technology in healthcare settings. I am continually learning from my peers and students, and I am committed to contributing to advancements in healthcare through research and education.

Birgit Heckemann

Associate PRofessor, Registered Nurse

Associate Professor at the Institute for Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden & Research, Development, Education and Innovation Co-ordinator at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

I am an experienced qualified nurse (adult nursing) with a PhD in Nursing Science. My current research explores various aspects of person-centred care (documentation, communication, relationships) and patient /unser involvment in research. I am working with qualitative methods (Content analysis, Thematic analysis, Constructive Grounded Theory) and have a particular interest in mixed methods research.

LinkedIn / ResearchGate

Jaquette Liljencrantz

Associate Professor, MD

Physician specialist in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine and unit chief physician for the ambulatory acute pain services at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Adjunct Lecturer in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Emma Varkey

Associate Professor, Senior Physiotherapist

I am a registered physiotherapist, specialised in pain and pain rehabilitation. My clinical work and research is based at the pain centre at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg. I finished my PhD 9 years ago, with research focused on exercise in migraine treatment. My current research, qualitative and quantitative, explores aspects of rehabilitation in patients with chronic pain focused on physical activity, self-efficacy and body awareness. I am also involved in several projects developing and evaluating digital healthcare programs.

Sven-Egron Thörn

Associate Professor, MD, senior physician

I am a senior consultant at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.

I am also an Associate Professor at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

My previous research has mainly been focused on perioperative anaesthesia with respect to gastrointestinal function, pain, nausea and vomiting, cognitive function, inflammation and cancer. My current research focuses on perioperative opioid-free anaesthesia and analgesia. I am also involved in research exploring the organic effects of preeclampsia.

Angelica Dahlbäck

Registered Physiotherapist

I am a physiotherapist and specialist in pain and pain rehabilitation. My clinical work and research are based at the Pain Centre, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital /Östra, Gothenburg. I am involved in research projects about rehabilitation in patients with chronic pain with a focus on physical activity, self-efficacy and body awareness.

Anneli Ringblom

Registered Nurse

I am a specialist nurse in primary health care with additional expertise in diabetes care and microbiology. I am currently a PhD candidate at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg.

My research focuses on pain in connection with diabetic foot ulcers. I examine how common pain is among individuals living with diabetic foot ulcers, how patients describe their encounters with healthcare professionals in relation to pain, and how pain is managed in clinical practice, particularly in terms of prescribed medication.

The research is conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Mika Evert

MD

I am a specialist in general medicine, pain medicine and a graduate of the Advanced Pain Medicine Programme by The Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. I work as a specialist at the Pain Centre, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital /Östra, Gothenburg, primarily with long-term pain and pain rehabilitation. I am a PhD student at the Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg in the group Circuits for affective touch sensation | Göteborgs universitet (gu.se).

My PhD project aims to investigate the impact on and the impact of the experience of touch on long-term pain, related to degree of central sensitization.

Cecilia Ögren

Specialist Nurse

I am a Nurse Anaesthetist and Intensive Care Specialist Nurse and have been working in anesthesia and intensive care and at Pain Centers in Stockholm and Gothenburg since 1985. As a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg, Institute of Clinical Sciences, I am examining the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as a treatment for acute postoperative pain and health care professional’s attitudes towards and experiences of TENS as treatment of acute postoperative pain. A second project investigates whether routine preoperative peripheral venous cannulation can predict the intensity of postoperative pain in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit.

Raquel Gottfridsson

MD

Medical Intern at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg Sweden and PhD student at the Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. My PhD project focuses on Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) treatment for patients with neuropathic pain and its effects on pain intensity and physical activity level. 

Josefin Larsson

Specialist Nurse

I am a specialist nurse at Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden, and PhD student at the Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

My PhD project is part of a randomized controlled study, which aims to understand endometriosis related chronic pain and treatment with high frequency, high intensity (HFHI) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – patients´ experience and impact on physical activity and health related quality of life.

I have been practising as a Nurse Anaesthetist since 2015. Since 2020, I have been working both clinically and as a research nurse. I am currently  involved in several research projects at the specialist pain clinic (Smärtcentrum) and hold a Good Clinical Practice certificate.

Martin Olsson

MD

Physician at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden. PhD student at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. The research subject is Sleep Medicine with a special interest in biomarkers, and the effect of sleep on pain perception.

Salwan Diwan

Phd student

I am a PhD student at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences and affiliated with the Centre for Person-centred Care (GPCC), Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

My background is in social work and spans a decade. As a social worker, I worked primarily with at-risk youth, including young people dealing with issues related to opioid abuse.

My PhD project aims to explore how nudging strategies can facilitate the use of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in the postoperative phase.

Åse Lundin

Registered Physiotherapist

I am a registered physiotherapist and currently pursuing a PhD at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences. I am also affiliated with the Centre for Person-centred Care (GPCC), Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

My PhD-project is part of the EAPER trial investigating whether an early person-centred intervention can increase self-efficacy and increase return to work in case of long-term pain. My project also includes qualitative studies on being on sick leave for long-term pain as well as a health economic evaluation of the intervention.

Christine Roman-Emanuel

Specialist Nurse, Quality Developer

I am a Nurse Specialist in Anaesthesia and Operating Room care. I have been working at Sahlgrenska University Hospital since 1994, and prior to that at Örebro University Hospital.

My PhD research focuses on women with endometriosis, exploring pain and anxiety in acute and perioperative settings in the framework of patient-centred care and patient participation. The study also involves the use of VR headsets to assess their potential effect on pain and anxiety in the perioperative context.

Annabel Peyravi Latif

PHarmacist

As a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg’s Institute of Clinical Sciences, I conduct research on clinical decision support systems for intensive care.

I also work as a pharmacist at Västra Götalandsregionen, where I manage a national database for the co-administration of intravenous medications: https://blandbarhet.vgregion.se. I have experience as a clinical pharmacist and a background in research on natural product chemistry and antibiotic use.

Sofia Jonsvik

Assistant Nurse

I have been working as a resarch nurse at Sahlgrenska University Hospital / Östra, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Gothenburg, Sweden, since 2020. I am involved in several research projects at the specialist pain clinic (Smärtcentrum) and hold a Good Clinical Practice certificate. My areas of responsibility include supporting patient recruitment, data collection and management, as well as monitoring stocks to ensure that studies run smoothly. As a first contact point for study participants who have questions or queries, I contribute to ensuring high retention rates. I have ample clinical work experience as an assistant nurse at Operation 1, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, where I have been working since 2006.

Silva Litrop

Nurse

I am a registered nurse employed at the Smärtcentrum (Pain Clinic) at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital /Östra, Gothenburg.

I have been working with patients with long-term non-malignant pain since 2006. I particularly enjoy person-centred care planning and one-on-one contact with patients in my clinical work.

As a research nurse, I am currently involved in a multicenter study (Lund, Göteborg & Linköping) ”Tapering of prescribed opioids in patients with long-term non-malignant pain- efficacy and effects on pain, pain cognitions and quality of life”. In this role, I recruit study participants and support them in the process of gradual tapering of opiods. I collect and manage the study data.