Research and development

Since the beginning, we have integrated research and development into our activities. We want to be a good example among private healthcare providers and healthcare choice clinics and show that research and development can also be conducted outside university hospitals. With the ongoing relocation of dermatology from hospitals to specialist clinics closer to citizens, it is also natural that this is where research is conducted. We have run a number of projects over the years, but by far the largest is our ongoing VINNOVA-funded initiative in Artificial Intelligence (AI). See more below.

Our first in-house research project was conducted in spring 2013. It consisted of interviews and surveys of our patients who sought treatment for suspected skin tumors about their concerns, sun habits and skin tone ideals. Questions were also asked about whether they had delayed seeking care or not, and it emerged that mainly some of the older men had delayed seeking care because they thought that skin changes were too trivial to seek medical attention for. The studies on sun habits and skin tone ideals have shown that the majority of young people in Sweden with naturally pale skin strive for a clear "tan". The results have been highlighted in the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority's UV Council annual report.

In later projects, also in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet, we examined our ability to efficiently find malignant melanoma among all those who come to us for such suspicion. We were able to demonstrate short lead times and the results were published in a scientific paper.

A total of eight medical students have successfully completed their semester-long degree projects with us. Responsible for the studies and the students is oncologist and co-founder Magnus Bäcklund together with Professor Yvonne Brandberg.