We are pleased to announce the appointment of a new NEAR Steering Group, effective from 26 May 2026 to 31 December 2029. The Steering Group brings together leading national and international expertise across geriatrics, epidemiology, psychology, and life sciences, reflecting NEAR’s interdisciplinary mission and global outlook. Kaare Christensen and Luigi Ferrucci remain on the Steering Group from the last period, while four new members are listed below.
Boo Johansson is the new Chair of the Steering Group. He is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Gothenburg. Boo has extensive experience in epidemiological research, and his research interests include cognition and mental health in late adulthood and aging; normal aging, compromised cognition, and dementia; and twin studies using longitudinal, population-based aging data. Other members include Lina Keller, Medical Manager and Early Detection Lead in Immunology and Type 1 Diabetes for Northern Europe at Sanofi. She holds a PhD from Karolinska Institutet, where her research focused on aging and genetic studies of both familial and sporadic forms of Alzheimer’s disease. Lina also brings extensive experience from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, where she has worked as a project manager for national guidelines and as a coordinator for national screening programs. Hugo Lövheim is Professor of Geriatrics at Umeå University and Senior Consultant Physician in Geriatrics at Norrland University Hospital. His research focuses on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, with particular emphasis on the role of infections in brain health. Finally, Carina Metzner, who is the Chair of the Swedish Geriatrics Society (SGF), is also the Theme Head and Senior Consultant Physician at Karolinska University Hospital. She brings extensive clinical and leadership experience in geriatrics, with a focus on the care and treatment of older adults.
“I am pleased to join this Steering Group at an important time for NEAR. Together, we bring a strong, complementary breadth of expertise spanning research and clinical practice, as well as extensive experience across academia, professional associations, public authorities, and the private sector. This diversity of perspectives will be crucial for NEAR’s continued development and strengthens our ability to support innovative, high-quality research on aging,” says Boo Johansson, new Chair of the NEAR Steering Group.
Picture of the NEAR Steering Group (top row, left to right): Hugo Lövheim, Carina Metzner, Kaare Christensen, Lina Keller, Boo Johansson, and Luigi Ferrucci.
Willhelmina Hoffman, Björn Halleröd, Kaare Christensen, Luigi Ferrucci, Anne, W Ekdahl
NEAR has now entered phase 2.0, with a focus on consolidation and expansion. Due to that, a newly formed Steering Group has been appointed. The newly formed Steering Group consists of members with national and internationally recognized expertise in aging research and research infrastructures, as well as representatives of societal issues related to aging and user perspectives. The Steering Group oversees the strategic plan, budget, and steering documents.
On February 20, the newly formed Steering Group and adjunct members met via Zoom to get an introduction to NEAR and an update on current projects and future plans.
Steering Group Members:
Björn Halleröd, Chair, Professor in sociology, University of Gothenburg
Wilhelmina Hoffman , President of the Swedish Dementia Centre (SDC)
Anne Ekdahl, Senior lecturer, senior physician, specialist physician, Lund University
Luigi Ferrucci, Scientific Director of National Institute on Aging, USA
Kaare Christensen, Professor of epidemiology at the University of Southern Denmark
Associated members: Laura Fratiglioni, Lena Lewin, Debora Rizzuto, Davide Liborio Vetrano, Linnea Sjöberg
We look forward to continued work with the Steering Group!
