I am deeply grateful to all those who in various ways have helped me, supported me and contributed to this thesis.
My supervisors:
Maria Bradley, my main supervisor, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you for taking me on as your PhD student, for teaching me about research and for your generous support. You made this journey a lot of fun and always with interesting projects! For every obstacle, you always found an even better solution and the projects grew stronger. You are a true inspiration as a much beloved and skilled doctor to your patients, an excellent researcher, and a caring mother, grandmother and dog owner. I don’t know how you manage to balance all these things! I think it is your very clever positive mind and lots of coffee, and that you recognise the importance of seeing the big picture in life.
Carl-Fredrik Wahlgren, there are not enough words to describe your expertise as a clinician, researcher and teacher – I will not even try to do so. I am extremely grateful for your generous and invaluable support, your teachings, our very interesting discussions, giving me new perspectives and lots of laughs. I even learned some Russian: Pojechali! ‘let’s go!’
Emma Johansson, I would like to express my deepest appreciation for your invaluable hands-on advice, for your always being by my side and for sharing of your profound
knowledge. Your striving for perfection and your immensely sharp mind have challenged me and helped me improve my work. But most of all, I am grateful for your true friendship.
Bernt Lindelöf, the most experienced epidemiologist. Thank you for your guidance,
patience, interesting discussions, and for helping me to take my first quivering steps into the world of epidemiological research. Without you, I wouldn’t even have known how to get started.
My co-authors:
Henrik Dal, statistician, thank you for your collaboration and patience. You came from a world of numbers and I from the clinic – many times, we had different ways of thinking. I have really enjoyed all our debating and conversations through millions of email. I have learned a lot and you always gave me new perspectives.
Maria Lundqvist, research nurse, thank you for helping us establish the research register and helping us, in every way imaginable, to run it in the clinic. Your positive energy,
effectiveness and care for the patients have been invaluable. Thank you!
Axel Svedbom, thank you for practical support and expert guidance in how to approach clinical register data. In addition, thank you for inspiration on how to write a thesis.
Lena Ivert, researcher, skilful ophthalmologist and my aunt. Thank you for collaboration in Study III, which enabled us to give optimal care to the patients with acute ocular adverse events. I sincerely appreciate your guidance in research, and far beyond.
In addition, I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Ylva Rodvall for suggestions and methodological considerations in the first epidemiological study.
Thanks also to all my colleagues at the Karolinska University Hospital for creating an inspiring and fun workplace. I sincerely appreciate the open-minded atmosphere we create together. It is such a privilege to have so many close friendships at work – I think it is unique!
You mean very much to me.
I would like to acknowledge the support, during the thesis work, of:
Josefin Lysell, my sharp mentor. Speaking with you always makes me happy. Our discussions regarding several of the research projects helped me more than you know. In addition, thank you for taking care of my administration for almost 6 months!
Lena Lundeberg, head of the Department of Dermatology, and Toomas Talme, Maria Sund Böhme and Arne Wikström, my former closest superiors, for creating a workplace where research is possible! Moreover, for all your teachings and support through the years, whatever happens in life.
Jan Lapins, one of our most reputable clinicians, I cannot thank you enough for always supporting me in my clinical work and generously sharing your immense knowledge. Thank you for our discussions regarding Study II, which helped me to find important reference articles.
To my colleagues Maria Karlsson and Natalia Kuzmina, I am extremely grateful that I have had the opportunity to learn about dermatology from the most genuine experts like you.
This have been of importance when managing patients with AD of all ages. You always took the time to answer my questions, no matter the place: during lunch, in the changing room or in the elevator.
Johan Jäderstad, my great colleague and collaborative partner at the inpatient dermatology ward. Thank you for taking care of my duties and attending meetings during my absence.
Thank you Jenny Lundgren and Melanie Cremer, medical secretaries, for adapting and always finding solutions for combining research and clinical work in our schedules.
I would like also to extend my sincere thanks to the teachers and friends at the Research school for clinicians in epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet.
And…
Johan Heilborn, founder of Hudcentrum Hagastaden. I will always be grateful for your unwavering guidance, invaluable teachings and kindness at my first job as a specialist in dermatology – when I needed it the most.
Birgitta Kelfve, the most respected clinician, my first main supervisor in dermatology.
Thank you for your support, nurturing and giving me an excellent dermatological training.
Without you, none of this would have been possible.
Gina Marku, my friend, teacher and a brilliant dermatologist in Västerås. I am so grateful for our friendship. I know I can call you in the middle of the night!
Mahsa Tayefi and Martin Gumulka, through ups and downs, we have known each other for more than 10 years, since we started our dermatological training in Västerås. It will always be liberating to have you around – and feel like home.
Britt-Inger “Bii” Haenflein, my first dance teacher and very close friend, who taught me everything from ballet to rock ’n roll. The years spent dancing and competing with you as a teacher taught me lessons of life that have been invaluable. Your wisdom extends far beyond physical steps.
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my family:
My father Torbjörn Ivert and his wife Lisa Ivert. My brother and sisters, Hannes Ivert, Clara Ivert and Emelie Ivert. Thank you for being my beloved daughter Rebecca’s second family and giving her experiences for life.
Thank you to my mother, Kerstin Ivert – despite working in Norway, you and your husband Johnny Wahlstedt have helped out more than seemed possible. My sister Charlotta
Larsdotter, thank you for the cover page design! My brother, Hampus Ivert, I will always admire you for following your dreams and making them real.
My dear husband and closest friend, Anders Ivert – the completion of my dissertation would not have been possible without you.
The project would not have been possible without the support of the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association’s Research Fund, Hudfonden (The Welander-Finsen Foundation), the Stockholm County Council (ALF grants), and The Swedish Society for Dermatology and Venereology.