A professor of surgery with long-standing experience in translational cancer research, Lisa Rydén combines clinical practice with laboratory-based investigation, an approach that closely reflects WCMM’s mission to accelerate discoveries from molecular research into improved patient care.
A career shaped by clinical and translational research
Rydén studied medicine in Uppsala and began her research career early, initially working in experimental diabetes research. She later specialized in both general surgery and paediatric surgery before completing a PhD based on a translational breast cancer project. Since 2010, she has led a multidisciplinary research group bringing together clinicians and basic scientists and she was appointed Professor of Surgery in 2016.
Her research focuses on understanding why breast cancer spreads to lymph nodes. A question that challenges long-standing assumptions in oncology.
- “Lymph node metastasis has often been seen simply as a reflection of tumour size and how long the tumour has existed,” she explains. “But this does not explain why some very small tumours metastasize early while some much larger tumours have completely healthy lymph nodes.”
Using translational approaches alongside clinical trials, her work aims to uncover the biological mechanisms behind disease progression, helping refine prognosis and future treatment strategies.
Strengthening the clinic–lab connection
For Lisa Rydén, the new role represents an opportunity to expand possibilities for clinician-scientists.
- “I want more clinical researchers to have the opportunity to conduct translational research,” she says. “Strengthening collaboration between clinical medicine and basic science is essential.”
At WCMM Lund, translational research, where clinical questions and molecular technologies inform each other, is a central principle. According to Rydén, successful collaboration depends as much on mindset as infrastructure.
- “When both sides share genuine curiosity about the research questions, one plus one truly becomes three,” she says. “Success begins with mutual respect for each other’s expertise and perspectives.”
Building stronger dialogue in Lund
Lund offers unique conditions for collaboration between healthcare and academia, but maintaining effective dialogue requires active effort. Rydén emphasizes the importance of understanding how both systems operate.
- “It requires insight into the structures and motivations of both organizations, as well as strong relationships across them,” she says. “I hope to contribute to strengthening those connections.”
In her first period as Clinical Co-Director, she plans to focus on understanding the centre’s development so far, identifying successful initiatives while helping create conditions for even closer collaboration between researchers and clinicians.
Supporting the next generation
Lisa Rydén is already involved in WCMM’s mentorship programme and highlights time and engagement as the most valuable resources senior researchers can offer early-career scientists.
- “An old monastic principle applies here, time is the most important thing you can give,” she says. “Good mentorship requires listening, sharing experience and offering support beyond formal instruction.”
Advancing translational medicine
As Clinical Co-Director, Rydén’s experience at the intersection of surgery, clinical trials and molecular research positions her to help advance WCMM Lund’s long-term ambition: enabling discoveries at the molecular level to translate more rapidly into improved diagnosis, treatment and patient outcomes.
By strengthening collaboration between clinicians and basic researchers, the centre aims to ensure that scientific advances are increasingly shaped by real clinical needs and that new knowledge can move more efficiently from laboratory insight to patient benefit.