Jan Olof G. Karlsson has a PhD in pharmacology from Linköping University, Sweden, where he also holds a position as an assistant professor. Between 1990 and 1992 he held a position as a research fellow at the Swedish Medical Research Council. Thereafter he was offered a position as a senior research scientist at Nycomed Imaging AS in Oslo (which later became GE Healthcare), where he stayed until 2007. Karlsson is one of the founders of PledPharma AB, where he worked between 2007 and 2014. This company is developing MnPLED-derivatives as new medicinal products intended for treatment of serious diseases, such as cancer and acetaminophen intoxication. He has successfully supervised three PhD students and number of students during their Master works. Karlsson has published 80 scientific papers and is inventor of 11 issued patent families including the new chemical entity calmangafodipir (PledOx®).

Dr. Jan Olof G. Karlsson research interest is Superoxide dismutase mimetic activity and heavy metal binding capability of MnPLED-derivatives - potentially useful properties in treatment of a variety of pathological conditions.