Biying Zheng, Lisen Arnheim Dahlström and Keng-Ling Wallin for contributing to the great spirit of the lab. Warm thanks also to Andrej Nikoshkov for sharing your experience in technical matters and for always making me laugh.
To all co-authors, but especially to Bengt Persson and Jonas Carlsson for putting your full effort in helping in getting my last paper ready for this thesis.
All former and present members of the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, including the “skin heads” (Dermatology group at CMM, floor 2), who have made the Friday breakfasts and seminars, journal clubs, book seminars and overall working atmosphere so fun to be a part of. Special thanks to Magnus Nordenskjöld with your smart but fun-filled sense of humor that inspires the whole department, Lovisa Bylund who taught me so much on how to fight with computers and all the chats and laughs we shared in the writing room, Günther Weber for your kindness and willingness to always help in various technical matters, Lennart Helleday for saving my computer numerous of times from getting thrown out of the window and for always making me smile, Caterina Zannen for always asking about my children and being so friendly, and Erik Björk especially for saying the right words at the right time during all the “ups and downs” that I have gone through writing this thesis. For all other fellow Ph.D. students, lab technicians, post docs, group leaders and administration for daily company, pleasure, assistance and inspiration. You are so many – it is impossible to mention you by name – but you have all meant so much to me!
Alicia Bergsten, my talented colleague and dear friend who brightened up my days at CMM with numerous sushi lunches, and sharing both the enrichment and frustration of combining Ph.D. studies with motherhood – and lately reminding me that there does exist a life after writing this thesis! My fellow graduate students, Sara Pihl, Anna De Geer and Maria Gustafsson for all our nice picnic lunches, reminding me how fortunate I have been with my Ph.D. project! KI without you would not have been the same, and our trio of friendship is obliged to live on! My friends outside of KI: Ingrid Hammarström for showing such interest and effort to understand my work but also for our long walks in the woods of Dalarna with discussions about relationships and life in general. I highly value your generous friendship.
Piia Hiltunen, my sincere life-companion: Thank you for always being so understanding, smart and enjoyable! Ulrika Götesson, for our numerous summer vacations together, always reminding me what life is really all about. My friends from childhood, Kiti Äikiö, Mariella Gink, Antina Juntunen and Claudia Virtanen, who continue to enrich my life beyond any words. Lena and Örjan Mohlund for regarding not only me, but also Magnus and our children as part of your own family. All other friends whose names are not in print in this thesis but so close to my heart.
Mary Robins, my Granny, for your love and understanding and always being so proud of me.
Thank you for being the mainstay of our globally spread family! Jenny Wiberg, my older sister, for coming into my life and thereby making my dreams come true. Our relationship has meant more than you can ever understand. Emma, Iida and Emil Wahlin my younger siblings, for turning into own individual personalities, all very special to me. Åke Wahlin for all care and respect you have always shown towards me. I highly appreciate you in so many ways. Thank you also for making the cover of this thesis the way I wished it to be. Susan Robins, for being so sincerely kind and open-minded, for your emotional generosity, and for sharing the passion of gardening. Thank you also for taking on the role as the American
“Grandma” to my children, the best anyone could wish for! Fia Lindborg and Christer Carlsson for so warmly accepting me into your family and for feeling proud of me!
My parents, Tarja-Brita Robins Wahlin and Stephen Robins: To Mamma to whom perhaps my getting my doctorate means more than to anyone else. Thank you for always convincing me that I can do more and better, by always reminding me that I have good genes! “Never say never or hardly ever”, has become the motto of my life, in thanks to you. Without your constant help, encouragement and love I would not (without any doubt) have come this far.
My Dad, for giving me an introductory lesson in the wonders of inheritance when I was only ten years old, thereby initiating my eagerness to learn more. You have always helped me understand the real values of life, and provided me with your unconditional love and support.
Thank you also for editing this thesis for correctness in English and for giving me valuable feedback. Any remaining errors are all my own work!
And last but not least, Magnus the man in my dreams in real life. Thank you for your endless support and patience with my years of studies, for sharing the same fundamental views of life, but most of all four your everlasting love – without you nothing would have mattered.
Our precious daughters and “äidin kullannuput”, Emilia and Selina for bringing perspective into to my life. You are my sunshine and I love you endlessly. Science is fun, but not the essence of life, although at times while writing this thesis I may have given that impression.
This work was supported by grants from the Samariten, Sven Jerring, Novo Nordisk, Emil and Vera Cornell, Fredrik and Ingrid Thuring, Ronald McDonald Foundations; the Stockholm County Council; the Frimurare Barnhuset; the Society of Child Care; the Ministère de l’Education Nationale, de l’Ensignement Supérieur et de la Recherche; the Counseil Régional d’Ile de France; the Swedish Medical Research Council (project no 12198); Linköping University and Karolinska Institutet.
Stockholm, September 2005