ten G.E. Lindahl, M.D., Ph.D., Professor at Karolinska Institutet and Chief of Research and Education at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, will deliver the plenary lecture at the 2007 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The plenary session is scheduled for Tuesday, October 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. The topic is “Oxygen.”

Sten G.E. Lindahl, M.D., Ph.D.

In his lecture, Dr. Lindahl will discuss aspects on the appearance of atmospheric oxygen and the time prior to the invention of oxygenic photosynthesis — still the only known source of oxygen. There also will be thoughts on oxygen sensing and interactions with anesthetic agents as well as on hypoxia and hypoxic-inducible factors. In addition evolutionary views on pulmonary oxygen uptake with important clinical relevance will be presented. Furthermore, results from work on brown adipose tissue, present in neonates, concerning oxygen consumption, i.e., heat production, and uncoupling of the respiratory chain will lead not only to temperature balance during anesthesia but also to a disclosure of mechanisms — known from before oxygenic photosynthesis — that may be of possible value in modern medicine.

Born in Malmö, Sweden, Dr. Lindahl trained at the University of Lund, Lund, Sweden, and interned at Helsingborg General Hospital and Malmö General Hospital, both in Sweden. He is certified as a pediatrician and an anesthesiologist.

Among his many appointments, Dr. Lindahl has served as Professor, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (1988), Academic Chair of the Department of Surgical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, and Chief of Research, Education and Development at Karolinska Hospital. He has served in his current position since 1990. He has served as an adjunct member of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine and is an ordinary member of the Board of Trustees of the Nobel Foundation. Dr. Lindahl also is on the International Advisory Board, Journal of Anesthesia, Japan. He holds memberships in many medical and scientific organizations.

Dr. Lindahl’s research interests include ventilation/perfusion matching, prone position, oxygen sensing and regulation of breathing. He has received funding from the Swedish Medical Research Council, the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation and the medical faculty, Karolinska Institutet.

He has published in 119 original scientific publications and has had more than 200 abstracts published. Publications also include editorials and review articles, book chapters and various other publications. He has been invited to present many national and international lectures.

To unwind, Dr. Lindahl enjoys opera and literature. “Outside” interests include backpacking north of the Arctic Circle in the Swedish or Norwegian mountains, jogging and following his soccer team.