Magnús Karl Magnússon

Throughout my career, beginning with my undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Medicine, I have been involved in basic scientific research. During my studies, I undertook an optional extra year to conduct research in endothelial cell biology under the mentorship of Professor Guðmundur Þorgeirsson. As a junior doctor in Iceland, prior to pursuing further education, I contributed to research on the epidemiology of heart diseases. From 1994 to 1998, during my graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, I followed a specialized academic training program known as the „Clinical Investigator Pathway.“ This program was designed for medical residents with substantial research experience, preparing them for academic careers. My research during this period focused on cell biology within the field of hematology. In the latter stages of my advanced studies, I shifted my focus to the molecular biology of blood diseases, particularly stem cells and leukemia. Between 1998 and 2002, I worked postdoctoral researcher and clinical fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) near Washington, D.C., one of the largest health and life sciences research centers in the United States. At every stage of my career, I published scientific articles in prestigious international journals. In 2002, I returned to Iceland and joined Landspítali (National University Hospital), where I established a basic research laboratory in Læknagarður. Shortly thereafter, I initiated a collaborative research partnership with Professor Þórarinn Guðjónsson, initially at the Cancer Research Laboratory and later at the Faculty of Medicine. After being appointed as a professor at the University of Iceland’s Faculty of Medicine in 2009, I continued this collaboration. Together, we founded and managed a laboratory specializing in cell and molecular biology with a focus on stem cell and cancer biology. It was a joy and honor to supervise six doctoral students and six master’s students along with four postdoctoral researchers and one physician. Since 2018, I have shifted my research focus to genetics and have been working part-time at deCODE genetics. In this role, I have led genetic research in hematology and supervised doctoral students—one has already graduated, while I currently supervise one doctoral student and advise two others. Additionally, I have served as an opponent for five doctoral defenses (three in Iceland, one in Denmark, and one in France). Alongside my teaching and research responsibilities, I have held numerous management and committee positions (detailed below). I have been awarded numerous grants from the Research Fund of the Science and Innovation Council (formerly the Science and Technology Council, VTR). Notably, I edited and led a large-scale application titled Strategic Program in Genetics for Health, which secured strategic funding for 2005–2009. This grant served as a precursor to the establishment of the University of Iceland’s Biomedical Center. In addition to this achievement, I have received three project grants and one strategic program grant from the VTR Research Fund. Furthermore, I was awarded a Center of Excellence grant from the VTR Research Fund, as well as another Center of Excellence grant in collaboration with Þórarinn Guðjónsson and other scientists. Together with Þórarinn, I also received a project grant from the VTR Research Fund. Beyond these major grants, I was honored with Iceland’s most prestigious science award in 2005, the Árni Kristinsson and Þórður Harðarson Medical Prize. Additionally, I have secured several smaller grants from institutions such as Landspítali and the University of Iceland.