None really, except that unexpected findings often direct one’s research into new areas. During my career I have so far been actively involved in research on cytochrome P-450, mechanisms of cytotoxicity, glutathione and other cellular defense systems, oxidative stress, calcium signaling and, most recently, regulation and mechanisms of cell death. The move into any one of these research areas was not carefully planned in advance but was a result of unexpected findings generating novel ideas.

  What role did practical support (facilities, funding, etc.) play?

Adequate support is obviously critical for running a laboratory and recruiting graduate students and postdocs, but it never influenced the direction of my research.

  How do you see the current state of affairs in your field and its prospects for the future?

Apoptosis research is one of the most active areas in biomedical research. Many of the basic regulatory mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The same is true for the role that dysregulation of apoptosis plays in the pathogenesis of disease. The latter will clearly influence the future interest in apoptosis research.

  What are the implications of your work for the future of your field in terms of clinical/therapeutic applications/products?

Clearly, the elucidation of mechanisms of apoptotic cell death may reveal novel targets for therapeutic intervention. Development of caspase inhibitors is an early example of this. However, it is still too early to speculate about the potential importance of therapeutic modulation of apoptotic cell death in future clinical medicine. For example, we still know very little about possible adverse effects of such therapy.

When young colleagues who trained with me as graduate students or postdocs are successful in their academic careers.

Professor Sten Orrenius, M.D., Ph.D.
Institute of Environmental Medicine
Karolinska Institutet
Stockholm, Sweden