鈥淚 wonder if it鈥檚 possible to reschedule the interview to next Friday instead鈥�, asks Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson politely by email.
A meeting about EU collaboration in COVID-19 research has been scheduled, and as secretary general of the Swedish Research Council with responsibility for health and medicine, Jan-Ingvar is to participate as representative for the Swedish government.
It鈥檚 the end of April 2020, we鈥檙e living in remarkable times, and Link枚ping University remains in distance mode. Initially, Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson had a reasonable amount to look after (according to his standards). But in the middle of April, the government allocated SEK 100 million for virus research, and suddenly he had more than enough on his plate.
Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson must log in to a never-ending stream of meetings, such as the collaboration group under the European Commission, international researcher groups within WHO, colleagues in Nordic collaboration groups, or Swedish actors involved in clinical studies of COVID-19.
鈥淲e have to coordinate so that countries do not unnecessarily repeat work. And we need a structured collaboration so that we can share new results鈥�, he says.
The scientific community is under enormous pressure to get the COVID-19 pandemic under control. Society must act now: this is a crisis. Do we have time for conventional quality control and ethical discussions?
鈥淭here are many questions that we must take the time needed to discuss鈥�, says Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson.
鈥淭here are always risks when politicians want to decide. It can lead to researchers adapting what they say to the requirements of society, and allowing their normally critical approach to take a back seat.鈥�
In addition, one integral risk characterises all research: the desire to be first may lead to compromises.
Secretary general of the Swedish Research Council
Photo credit Charlotte PerhammarJan-Ingvar J枚nsson has been secretary general of the Swedish Research Council for the past four years, with scientific responsibility for medicine and health.
In addition to work with the grant-awarding process, he has served on national committees and in international organisations, advised the government on research issues, and helped develop future research policy.
He has also played an important role as coordinator for corona-directed research, reporting directly to the director general.
Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson is, as he himself says, involved in everything.
In theory, the post at the Swedish Research Council is 75% of full-time, but in practice he is always at work.
And just at the moment, it鈥檚 particularly tough.
As early as June, the government wants to know how the SEK 100 million it made available on 15 April is to be distributed.
鈥淟et鈥檚 sit outside鈥�, says Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson and walks through the kitchen to the patio. He mentions in passing the state of the house, and its clear need for TLC.
鈥淚t鈥檚 high time I did something about it, I suppose. I鈥檒l probably have time during the summer.鈥�
LiU鈥檚 new vice-chancellor has a practical side and is happy using his hands. Painting the house, for example, or building an extension. Or controlling his racing bike hurtling down a mountain in France at 70 kilometres an hour (although he does admit that it鈥檚 been a while since he reached such speeds).
Photo credit Magnus Johansson鈥淚 suppose the speed I reach when cycling to the university will depend on what I鈥檝e got on the agenda that day. If I have to wear a suit, I鈥檒l slow down a bit鈥�, says Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson.
None of LiU鈥檚 previous vice-chancellors has had a background in medical research. Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson is the first. And it鈥檚 probable that none of his predecessors has had such broad and concrete experience in international collaboration, nor such influence over research policy.
Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson arrived at Link枚ping University in 2003. By then he had accumulated nine important years of research at the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg, followed by a period in Toronto, working on blood stem cells and the immune system. It wasn鈥檛 immediately clear where the family would eventually end up. In the end, they decided on Link枚ping and a fixed point not far from the lock at Hjulsbro.
Photo credit Charlotte PerhammarHe was appointed professor in medical cell biology in 2008, working at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences. But he could just as easily have ended up as a professional jazz pianist. For a while, the choice between a career in science and one on the stage was hanging in the balance.
鈥淏ut I wasn鈥檛 sure that I was good enough for a career as professional pianist.鈥�
His field of research has never ceased to fascinate
He was good enough, however, to be appointed professor. And chose a field of research, blood, that has never ceased to fascinate him.
鈥淲here does it come from? Why does it never run out? And why do blood cells react so differently in the various diseases that affect the blood system? The questions are simple, but the answers complex.鈥�
Is it ever possible to say exactly when something begins? Such as a career in research?
Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson has to think, but only for a moment.
鈥淎s children, we were taught to question everything we heard, to consider whether what we heard was true or not, and form our own ideas and principles. I think that this gave me a secure basis. And curiosity about pretty much anything was then added to this.鈥�
He was awarded a prize by Lund University for a project he carried out during a summer break. A journey to Lund and a visit to Akademibokhandeln was another starting point for a research career.
鈥淚 had never seen so many books in one place. And I wanted to study everything.鈥�
He ended up studying molecular biology in Lund. A chance opportunity turned out to be decisive, and Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson worked as a doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute of Immunology. Enthusiastic, stubborn and working with some wild ideas.
He experienced in the lab an almost magical joy of research.
鈥淚 managed by myself to work out how an experiment could answer a complex question鈥�, says Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson.
It became clear that his idea was successful, and the world-leading researchers at the Max Planck Institute were quick to congratulate him, for the elegant solution. What an achievement!
Jan Ingvar J枚nsson and the Cytof2A further major research success occurred at LiU.
鈥淚 managed to acquire a research grant to purchase an advanced instrument, a CyTOF mass cytometer. I can鈥檛 describe how happy I was to receive the equipment. This was the first to be installed in Sweden, and we could carry out extremely advanced analysis of the proteins in cells, and develop this research field鈥�, says Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson.
Accustomed to dealing with storms
Now the vice-chancellor鈥檚 chain of office awaits, and with it the leadership of a broad university with approximately 30,000 people, and a huge diversity of wills. Further, a role in the public sphere.
Photo credit Magnus JohanssonThis is not something that Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson is worried about. He has a certain experience of public performance to rely on. Not least from a period when he was active in student theatrical performances in Lund, and had to come up with rapid and humorous replies.
There are some occasions when storms arise, but again Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson is accustomed to dealing with these.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to be able to take it easy and to be transparent鈥�, he says.
Throughout the years, scandals have arisen in which the way in which the Swedish Research Council has controlled grants awarded to projects in medical research has been questioned. And Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson was the person who was compelled to face the media.
The Macchiarini scandal at Karolinska Institutet was unique.
鈥淚 remember that my response the evening it was made public was: how on earth was this possible? What happened?
And the failure of those who were responsible in the Macchiarini scandal to take responsibility really made me furious.鈥�
The responsibility for research lies in principle with the institutions of higher education, and research ethics is high on Jan-Ingvar J枚nsson鈥檚 long list of priorities as vice-chancellor.
鈥淚 believe we need to establish an advisory body that can discuss ethical questions and promote ideas about how to ensure research integrity. But research depends on research environments that are secure, creative and provide the opportunity for open collaboration between different fields of research, with international research groups, and with the society around us. I hope that this will be my major contribution to improving research at Link枚ping University.鈥�
Translated by George Farrants
