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Elisabeth Fernell

About our reseacher Elisabeth Fernell

About Elisabeth Fernell

Elisabeth Fernell is a paediatrician specialising in paediatric neurology and paediatric habilitation. She worked clinically in this field at the paediatric neurology department in Gothenburg in the 1980s, and later at the paediatric neurology departments of Huddinge Hospital and Karolinska/Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital.

Her dissertation project in Gothenburg focused on children with hydrocephalus, and the dissertation took place in 1987 at the University of Gothenburg. Part of the dissertation project addressed various forms of disabilities in these children, including cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Following a suggestion from Professor Christopher Gillberg, the extent to which these children had autism and behavioural difficulties was also analysed.

Her continued clinical work in pediatric neurology then intersected with child neuropsychiatry, an area we now refer to as ESSENCE. She became an associate professor at the Karolinska Institute in 1996.

In 2011, she was appointed an adjunct professor affiliated with the Gillberg Neurospychiatry Centre at the University of Gothenburg, with clinical ties to the Child Neuropsychiatric Clinic in Gothenburg.

Research interests

The research has focused on developmental neurological/neuropsychiatric disabilities; intellectual disabilities, autism, language disorders, visual impairment, ADHD, and on some etiologically defined patient groups. Studies have addressed epidemiology/prevalence, clinical presentation, causes, interventions/treatment, and prognosis. Have been main or co-supervisor for doctoral students in these areas.

An interest has also been directed towards school issues, educational policy, the question of whether we have a school/curriculum for all.

She has participated in a working group together with school doctors and neuropsychologists and developed a document providing guidance for the important collaboration within student health services for students who have difficulties suggestive of mild intellectual disabilities.