Improving the transparency, reproducibility, and trustworthiness of science

Metascience

We work in metascience to make research more trustworthy and useful. To this end, we measure and assess transparency and reproducibility on a large scale. We also run experiments to try and improve research quality. Particular interests in meta-science include multi-analyst designs, quality control and error checking, researchers’ incentives, and evidence synthesis.

Neuroscience

Our research in neuroscience concerns mainly sleep, diurnal rhythms, and markers of inflammation.

Psychiatry

Together with colleagues, we assess biomarkers in psychiatry and to develop better ways to predict interventions for patients.

2026-03-23: Debate in Svenska Dagbladet: Ökad öppenhet gynnar forskningen (in Swedish)

2026-04-01: News item on the KI website: Half of social science results cannot be replicated

Research projects

The Sleepy Brain project

was a large multimodal brain imaging study of sleep deprivation, funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. We showed, among other things, that sleep deprivation caused increased variability of blood flow and reduced functional connectivity in the brain. We have shared the rich dataset from this project, which has led to numerous collaborations and re-use by other teams. Analyses of data from the Sleepy Brain project still continues.

The EEGManyPipelines project

aims to investigate the variability in analysis strategies and results in EEG research. In this uniquely decentralised and community-based project, we have recruited 168 independent research teams that have analysed an EEG dataset in the way they found most appropriate. The project is funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond.

Systematic evaluation of clinical trial reporting

is an investigation of Nordic registered clinical trials. We are following up all trials registered in the EU clinical trials register (EUCTR) and on clinicaltrials.gov, which ended 2016-2019 and were sponsored by a Nordic university or university hospital.

improving Reproducibility In Science (iRISE)

brings together a European consortium to deepen understanding of reproducibility drivers, evaluate their effectiveness and provide concrete solutions to enhance scientific evidence. I co-lead a work package for interventions to improve reproducibility and am also responsible for the project Stakeholder Forum.

Other

In addition, I am involved in numerous collaborations including the EEGManyLabs project, and the ENIGMA-Sleep working group.

Contact

Gustav Nilsonne

gustav.nilsonne@ki.se
@GustavNilsonne on Twitter

Please contact me about collaborations, speaking and writing opportunities, or anything else you think may be of mutual interest.

For postdoc opportunities in the metascience team at Karolinska Institutet, please see here.

For more information
Publications (Google Scholar)
ORCID
GitHub
Open Science Framework
Long-form CV and list of publications
Slides from talks and presentations I have given

Press photos are available here.

Declaration of Competing Interests

I am an unpaid board member of limited companies Itsumo Nando Demo AB and Åsa Nilsonne AB. I am an unpaid advisory board member for the DeSci Foundation and an unpaid advisor to Neko Health. I am chairperson of the IGDORE Sweden Foundation. I receive or have received occasional payment for reviewing grant proposals, scientific study protocols etc, as well as external teaching/lecturing. All research grants and all non-financial interests, including external roles, are declared in my CV. Except where noted in specific publications, I declare no financial or non-financial conflicts of interest in any publications. Where no funding sources are stated in my publications, my contribution to the work was supported by no specific external funding. This declaration is accurate as of 2026-03-28 and will be updated periodically.