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Young Survivor Unit (YoSU)

adult hand holding the hand of a prematurely born baby.
Our research aims to better understand the development of children who have been seriously ill early in life.  Photographer: herjua

The child's early years are critical for later development. Injuries to the child in connection with childbirth, birth long before the expected date or serious illness early in life affect the child's opportunities to develop. Our research aims to better understand the development of these children.

In the past, many of these children did not survive the first period. As healthcare has developed, more and more are surviving. These new and later young survivors are at great risk for brain damage, motor abnormalities and CP, autism, ADHD and learning disabilities.

A research group sits on a bench at Campus US in Linköping.Young Survivor Unit (YoSU). Photo credit John Karlsson Our research aims to better understand the development of children who have been seriously ill early in life. Furthermore, to develop and study interventions that, in the long term, increase the children's functioning in everyday life. We evaluate assessment instruments with the aim of improving diagnostics and enabling the right support interventions for the children and families we meet. We study interventions with a focus on strengthening children's cognitive, motor and social skills.

The aim

The aim of our research is generally to improve knowledge, diagnostics and interventions for children who have been seriously ill during the newborn period. Ultimately, our vision is to move from "wait and see" to early intervention.

News

Publications

Latest publications

2025

Yali Zhang, Ashraf Yahia, Sven Sandin, Ulrika Ådén, Kristiina Tammimies (2025) Genome Medicine, Vol. 17, Article 108 (Article in journal)
Samson Nivins, Nelly Padilla, Hedvig Kvanta, Gustaf Martensson, Ulrika Ådén (2025) NeuroImage: Clinical, Vol. 48, Article 103876 (Article in journal)
Karoline Lode-Kolz, Wibke Jonas, Hanne Brit Hetland, Karen Helene Hovland Instebo, Henriette Tokvam, Hanne Pike, Siri Lillieskold, Stina Klemming, Agnes Linner, Ulrika Ådén, Siren Rettedal (2025) Children, Vol. 12, Article 986 (Article in journal)
Gustaf Hakansson, Mimmi Eriksson Westblad, Maria Ortqvist, Ulrika Ådén, Mats Blennow, Peter Fransson (2025) Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (Article in journal)
Bo Yang, Nina Zaks, Eero Kajantie, Monica S. M. Persson, Abraham Reichenberg, Mika Gissler, Kari Risnes, Alexander Kolevzon, Ulrika Ådén, Ezra Susser, Martina Persson, Jonas F. Ludvigsson, Kristiina Tammimies, Liona C. Poon, Benjamin Yip, Nora Doring, Sven Sandin, Weiyao Yin (2025) BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE, Vol. 5, Article 100535 (Article, review/survey)

Research group

Organisation