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Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt appointed Secretary General for Medicine and Health
She is a professor of muscle biology and a great advocate for basic researcher-initiated research. But Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt thinks that one of the most important tasks right now is to consider the ongoing pandemic and its consequences.
The Swedish Research Council’s new Secretary General for Medicine and Health is Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt, who has been Professor of Muscle Biology at Lund University since 2010. Her research relates to rare muscle diseases, known as muscular dystrophies. Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt is very experienced as research team leader, and has been Head of the Department of Experimental Medical Science at Lund University since 2018.

Photo: Agata Garpenlind
– My long experience of leading research and my solid background in operational management and strategic work are experiences that I think will be of benefit in my role as Secretary General, says Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt.
As Secretary General for Medicine and Health, she wants to safeguard a continued excellent assessment process – making sure the very best researchers take part in the review work. Another important issue is increased government grants to research, in dialogue with the research community.
– I know what it is like to be a researcher. It is a brilliant job, independent and creative, but at the same time extremely competitive in terms of research funding, publication and appointment to tenured positions.
Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt is a great advocate of basic researcher-initiated research, but thinks that one of the most important tasks right now is to consider the ongoing pandemic and its consequences.
– We need to think about what type of research we should invest in, to be better prepared ahead of the next pandemic.
Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt takes up the position as Secretary General for Medicine and Health on 15 August 2020.
The Swedish Research Council has five secretaries general, each with a high level of scientific competence, who contribute knowledge and experience to the organisation
The secretaries general are part of the Swedish Research Council’s executive management team, and initiate, drive and follow up issues within their respective areas of expertise. The secretaries general are active researchers, and usually employed by the Swedish Research Council on a part-time basis for a maximum of six years.
Read more about the Swedish Research Council’s secretaries general
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