Katarina Le Blanc is a professor of Clinical Stem Cell Research at Karolinska Institutet, where she is one of the most cited professors. Dr Le Blanc’s main research interest is mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and she is one of the world’s foremost experts on the subject. Her sought-after expertise has made her a member in several international and national committees including notably the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet and The Royal Swedish Academy of Science. She has also been appointed by the pope as an ordinary member in the Pontifical Academy for Life, in the Vatican City State.