Businessman and life-science investor Mats Arnhög and his family have pledged SEK 50 million to the research being done at Karolinska Institutet into epilepsy, glioblastoma and Parkinson's disease. The aim of the donation is to strengthen the early and long-term research that future medical breakthroughs require, an area in which Arnhög often sees a serious mismatch between resources and needs.
Following a long career in the overlap between capital, research and biotech, Arnhög has developed a deep understanding of how important basic research is to bringing medical innovations to realisation. His experiences from several major medical development projects, some of which went all the way to phase 3 without reaching the market, have shaped his view of the risks that come with research and the conditions under which it operates.
"Basic research is fundamental to all clinical development, and without it there can be no future breakthroughs," he says.
It is insights such as this that have informed the family's decision to support research being conducted at KI into epilepsy, an area in which early studies rarely attract commercial investment.
"This is an extremely generous donation from someone who truly understands the value of basic research," says Professor Sten Linnarsson at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics , KI. "For glioblastoma, which is one of the most difficult-to-treat forms of brain tumour, it is imperative that we can try out new, more innovative routes towards effective drugs."
A personal responsibility to contribute
For Arnhög, the donation is both an opportunity and a responsibility, and the importance of channelling his resources to where they make the greatest difference is a point he wants to stress.
"The ability to make a contribution entails a responsibility. For me and my family, it's only natural to give back and to strengthen research where the needs are the greatest."
Epilepsy he describes as an unpredictable and terrifying disease, especially for children and their families, and despite the fact that many patients are greatly helped by modern treatments, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. This is why basic research into the condition is particularly important.
Hope of lasting results
Arnhög sees the donations as the start of a long-term commitment to research in which he hopes to be able to follow the work being done and gain insight into the scientific considerations that shape the projects.
"Being able to follow the research, hear how the researchers reason and see how their projects develop is, to me, both meaningful and important," he says.
Arnhög also recognises the value of academic integrity and how important it is that peer reviews are carried out to assure the quality of research and that the researchers and KI are prepared to reassess their work when their results do not turn out the way they expected.
"It's essential that researchers have the courage to reassess and redirect a project if it's not up to scratch. Research may never continue in the dark."
Facts about Mats Arnhög
Born: 6 August 1951 in Gothenburg, Sweden
Education: MSc in business and economics, Stockholm School of Economics
Background: Businessman and investor in e.g. shipping, medical technology and biotechnology
Currently: Chair of MGA Holding
Other engagements: Shareholder activities and directorships in business, media and education and longstanding philanthropic work
Donation to KI: SEK 50 million for research into epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and glioblastoma
