Gabriella Lindgren

One of the major challenges in biology is to understand how a one-dimensional sequence of nucleotides can give rise to a three-dimensional organism. To comprehend this process, it is essential to determine gene function and regulation. My research is based on a combination of genomic, molecular genetic, proteomic, cellular, and bioinformatic methods, as well as animal models, to investigate genetic variants and their phenotypic effects.

Overall Research Interest
Mapping genomes and gene regulation of traits important for health, performance, and production in domestic animals.

Field of Expertise
Genomics and molecular genetics with a focus on gene function and gene regulation.

Selected Projects

• Genetics of hair growth (including an evolutionary perspective in collaboration with Professor Juan José Negro, CSIC, Seville, Spain, and others).
• Genetics of movement patterns (in collaboration with Professor Marie Rhodin, Miguel Novoa, and several partners).
• Genetics of athletic performance and durability (multiple collaborators).
• Genetics of blood pressure regulation (comparative regulatory genomics using human and horse data, together with Professor Pelin Sahlén, KTH, and others).
• Genetics of developmental traits (several collaborators).
• Genetics behind myotonic dystrophy (in collaboration with Professor Stephanie Valberg).
• Horse domestication (in collaboration with Professor Ludovic Orlando).
• Origin of the Öland horse (with Dr. Marie Sundqvist, Ylva Telldahl, and Professors Ludovic Orlando and Anders Götherström).
• Ancestry of the Swedish Ardennes horse (together with Professor Terje Raudsepp and others).
• Genomic adaptation to high altitude in Ethiopia (in collaboration with Professor Getinet Tarekegn).

I am the course coordinator and examiner for the online course Veterinary Clinical Genomics. In addition, I teach in the master's and doctoral course Genome Analysis and am responsible for the genetics section of the course Molecular Cell Biology and Microbiology. Each year, I supervise 2–4 students at various levels, primarily at the master’s level.

I am currently co-supervisor for a PhD student:

• Sergio Hernández, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza, Peru

I am currently mentor for a postdoctoral researcher:

• Youchahou Poutougnigni, SLU

I have close research collaborations with:

• Dr. Rakan Naboulsi (Karolinska Institutet)
• Dr. Mahmoud Amiri Roudbar (Safiabad-Dezful Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center)

I have been the main supervisor for:

• Lisa S. Andersson, who completed her PhD in 2012
• Merina Shrestha, years 2012–2015, who completed her PhD in 2017
• Kim Jäderkvist Fegraeus, who completed her PhD in 2017
• Maria Rosengren, who completed her PhD in 2022

I have been co-supervisor for:

• Helena Chalkias, who completed her PhD in 2013 (SLU)
• Freyja Imsland, who completed her PhD in 2015 (Uppsala University)
• Co-promoter for Liesbeth François, who completed her PhD in 2018 (KU Leuven)
• Miguel Novoa Bravo, who completed his PhD in 2019 (National University of Colombia)
• Yasaman Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi, who completed her PhD in 2023 (University of Kurdistan)
• Heidrun Sigurdardottir, who completed her PhD in 2025 (SLU)

I have mentored six postdoctoral researchers:

• Aneta Ringholm, 2005. Carl Trygger Foundation
• Jeanette Axelsson, 2009–2011. Formas
• Brandon D. Velie, 2015–2019. Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research and the EU project HORSEGENE
• Marina Solé, 2018–2020. Swedish Research Council and Formas
• Rakan Naboulsi, 2021–2022. Swedish Research Council
• Doreen Schwochow, 2023. Swedish Research Council

I have supervised over 45 master’s theses or equivalent projects.

• I collaborate with various stakeholders, including cat and horse breeding organizations as well as other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the industry.
• Co-founder of Capilet Genetics AB together with Lisa S. Andersson and Leif Andersson (founded in 2011). CEO and Chairman of the Board since 2021.
• Founder of Oberion Genetics AB. CEO and Chairman of the Board since 2023.
• Member of the Swedish Gene Technology Advisory Board (Gentekniknämnden) since January 2023.

• Master of Science (MSc) in Agricultural Sciences with a specialization in Biotechnology, SLU, 1996.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Evolutionary Genetics, “Genome analysis in the horse,” Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, 2001.
• Associate Professor (Docent) in Genetics since May 2009.

• 2007–2011: Assistant professor, Department of Animal Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
• February – April 2007: Visiting Scientist, Omics Science Center, RIKEN Yokohama Institute, Yokohama, Japan
• 2004–2007: KAW Researcher, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University
• 2002–2003: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
• January – February 2002: Visiting Scientist, Perlegen Sciences Inc., Mountain View, California, USA
• June – December 2001: Researcher, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University
• 1999–2001: PhD Candidate, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University
• 1997–1998: PhD Candidate, Department of Animal Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

• AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize, 2023
• Winner of the SKAPA Innovation Award (Innovator of the Year) in Uppsala County, 2012. Award shared with Lisa S. Andersson and Leif Andersson
• SLU Silver Medal for Meritorious Contributions, 2015
• Equine Research Project of the Year, 2020. The Foundation for Equine Research (Swedish-Norwegian)
• Member of AcademiaNet since 2022, nominated by the Swedish Research Council (VR)
• Co-inventor of granted patent: Method for predicting movement patterns in horses
• Co-inventor of granted patent: Method for predicting skeletal atavism in horses
• Co-inventor of a patent application: Biomarkers for the conformation of the back and croup in horses (filed 2021)

• Scientific Reports, since 2021 (ongoing)
• Heredity (https://www.nature.com/hdy/) and Genes (previously)
• Peer reviewer for scientific journals, since 2000–ongoing
  Nature, Nature Ecology & Evolution, Nature Communications, PNAS, Current Biology, PLOS Genetics, Frontiers in Neuroscience, International Journal of Cancer, Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Mammalian Genome, PLOS One, G3, Animal Genetics, BMC Genetics, Molecular Ecology, Genetics Selection Evolution, Livestock Science, Journal of Animal Science, Gene, The Veterinary Journal, Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Equine Veterinary Journal, Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift, book on horse coat colors (Wiley-Blackwell), Journal of Heredity, Ecology and Evolution, Ecological Genetics and Genomics.