Interview with SPIDeRR project collaborator: Martina Johannesson

“Being part of large collaborative projects like SPIDeRR allows us to share and build on good ideas”

During the SPIDeRR conference in Budapest on April 17 and 18, we interviewed immunologist and geneticist Martina Johannesson, PhD. She is involved in various projects within the SPIDeRR consortium and works as a scientific coordinator at the Karolinska Institute, a research-led medical university in Sweden and one of the foremost medical research institutes globally. 

“During my postdoc at the University of Oxford, studying the genetics of gene expression and complex traits, I coordinated a large project in Spain, which led to my current role as a research coordinator at the rheumatology department at Karolinska.”  

From lab work to coordination

Initially, Johannesson did a lot of lab work, mainly genotyping and data collection. During her postdoc at Oxford, she began doing more data analysis, though she never saw herself as a data analyst. From 2011 until 2014, she did another postdoc at the Karolinska Institute, on the function of genetic variations to better understand autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, during which her interest shifted towards project coordination, where she balanced research with coordinating a large project together with Prof. Lars Klareskog. “Meeting various partners and companies sparked my interest in coordination. I found myself naturally taking on administrative tasks like writing reports and managing funding applications, which many researchers found frustrating. 

It became my expertise, and I enjoyed it.” Johannesson’s role evolved as she started helping researchers manage their deadlines and contributions, translating their work into required reports, which eased their stress and ensured smooth project management. Johannesson: “I appreciated combining scientific knowledge with project coordination, which made the work more meaningful and effective.” Johannesson got involved with SPIDeRR through collaborations with Dr. Rachel Knevel and rheumatologist Prof. Tom Huizinga, Lin European projects like AutoCure, BT-Cure, and RT-Cure. “Rachel Knevel led the data science package in RT-Cure, and we continued our work together in SPIDeRR. We have several parallel projects aiming to stratify patients with rheumatic diseases, including a project called DigiPrevent funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Health) where Rachel is also involved”.

Challenges and achievements

Within SPIDeRR, integrating the Rheumatic questionnaire into the EHR system at Karolinska University Hospital has been a significant accomplishment. "It's a big step and we're thrilled", says Johannesson, addressing that collaborating with IT specialists and clinic nurses during this implementation process has been particularly engaging. However, there are challenges ahead, especially regarding the placement and sustainability of Rheumatic across diverse healthcare systems. Johannesson: “Determining its accessibility and long-term viability remains unclear, especially in academia where continuity is often overlooked. Being the point of contact for urgent queries is one of my roles, ensuring smooth communication and problem-solving.” Johannesson explains that she and her team members at Karolinska are currently also working on a proposal with national rheumatology registers and a patient organization to visualize patient-reported outcomes over time. “If funded, this could greatly improve patient-provider communication.”

Thriving through collaboration

Johannesson thrives in SPIDeRR’s collaborative environment, where a blend of different expertise enhances project outcomes. Her understanding of the science behind the projects allows her to manage them efficiently and connect the right people. Focused on rheumatic diseases, Johannesson is driven by witnessing patients’ struggle with diagnosis delays, motivating her to improve care and diagnosis. “Working with diverse scientists, like data analysts and social scientists, has been very interesting. For example, it has given us a learning experience with the rheumatic questionnaire that we created in 2018, and where we didn’t document the creation process thoroughly, but this taught us valuable lessons. Being part of large collaborative projects like SPIDeRR allows us to share and build on good ideas.” Johannesson is passionate about rheumatic diseases and helping people find accurate diagnoses, which keeps her motivated. She states: “I enjoy project management and coordination in this field and appreciate the community and long-term relationships with colleagues. Combining old knowledge with new, like social sciences and machine learning, is rewarding and enriches our projects.”