SEK 590 million for Alpha Cell – initiative extended through 2033
Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is extending its support for Alpha Cell with an additional SEK 320 million. Alpha Cell is a research program that develops predictive models to understand how human cells function, adapt, and change in the presence of disease.
Of the new funds, SEK 260 million will go toward continuing the program during the period 2030–2033. In addition, SEK 60 million is allocated for the recruitment of three junior Alpha Cell group leaders, associated with the SciLifeLab or DDLS Fellows programmes. Previously, SEK 270 million had been allocated for the period 2026–2029. In total, this means that the total funding from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation for Alpha Cell amounts to 590 million Swedish kronor for the period 2026–2033.
Alpha Cell is a long-term initiative aimed at developing the next generation’s understanding of cell function through advanced technology, interdisciplinary research, and strong international recruitment.
Alpha Cell is closely linked to SciLifeLab and the Wallenberg Foundation’s national program for data-driven life sciences (DDLS). Together, they combine experimental methods with AI, machine learning, and large-scale data analysis to gain a deep understanding of biological systems.
“The recruitment of SciLifeLab or DDLS Fellows within the framework of Alpha Cell further strengthens the link between biological research, data-driven methods and the next generation of AI models for life science. The donationmakes it possible to recruit new internationally leading junior investigators directly into the Alpha Cell program and advance towards addressing a grand challenge of life science, to be able to predict a human cell ,” says Jan Ellenberg, SciLifeLab Director.
The expanded funding enables the continued development of groundbreaking methods and strengthens Sweden’s position in molecular bioscience and data-driven research.
About Alpha Cell
Alpha Cell is SciLifeLab’s flagship effort to create predictive models that explain how human cells function, adapt and transition in disease.
By integrating cutting-edge life science technologies and advanced computation, the program turns cellular complexity into experimentally validated knowledge and understanding of cells in health and disease.
