Ole Petter Ottersen

His research interest is in the field of neuroscience, with a particular focus on synaptic structure and function and on the molecular mechanisms underlying edema formation and water transport in brain. From 2002 to 2009 Ottersen served as Director of Centre for Molecular Biology and Neuroscience – one of Norway’s Centres of Excellence. He also chaired a Nordic Centre of Excellence in Molecular Medicine, funded by NordForsk. In recent years he has been engaged in global health, much inspired by his experiences gained as Chair of The Lancet-University of Oslo Commission on Global Governance for Health (2014).

Ole Petter Ottersen was elected rector at the University of Olso for the period 1 August 2009 – 31 July 2017.  From 1 August 2017 to 28 February 2023 he served as the President of Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

Ottersen was Chief Editor of Neuroscience (2006-2009) – the official journal of the International brain research organization (IBRO) – and served as panel leader in the European research Council (ERC Advanced Grants) from the start to 2012. He is now panel leader in ERC Synergy Grants. Ottersen was Founding Chair (2016-2017) of a European network of Research Intensive Universities (The Guild).
Ottersen has chaired several prize award committees, including the Jahre Prize Committee, the Thon Prize Committee, and the Kavli Prize Committee in Neuroscience.

Ottersen has received a number of national and international awards including the Jahre Prize and the Lundbeck Prize (shared with Jon Storm-Mathisen). He holds Honorary Doctorates at several institutions including École Normale Supérieure, Lyon.