World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Isleifur Olafsson

Isleifur Olafsson

D-Index & Metrics

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
73
Citations
21238
World Ranking
5886
National Ranking
5

Overview

Isleifur Olafsson is affiliated with the University of Iceland in Iceland. Their research spans across medicine as a primary field, with a substantial focus on biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. They have contributed extensively to subfields including hematology, genetics, molecular biology, oncology, and surgery.

The scientist's work predominantly covers multiple myeloma research and treatments, genetic associations and epidemiology, amyloidosis diagnosis and treatment, chronic lymphocytic leukemia research, myeloproliferative neoplasms diagnosis and treatment, cancer treatment and pharmacology, and lipoproteins and cardiovascular health.

Isleifur Olafsson has published frequently in several scientific venues. These include Blood, Blood Cancer Journal, Communications Biology, Nature Genetics, and bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory).

Their recent papers include:

  • The sequences of 150,119 genomes in the UK Biobank (2022, Nature)
  • Long-read sequencing of 3,622 Icelanders provides insight into the role of structural variants in human diseases and other traits (2021, Nature Genetics)
  • Multiomics study of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (2022, Nature Genetics)
  • A genome-wide meta-analysis yields 46 new loci associating with biomarkers of iron homeostasis (2021, Communications Biology)
  • Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies 93 risk loci and enables risk prediction equivalent to monogenic forms of venous thromboembolism (2023, Nature Genetics)

Frequent coauthors in their collaborative work include:

  • Páll T. Önundarson
  • Brynjar Viðarsson
  • Sigurður Y. Kristinsson
  • Þorvarður Jón Löve
  • Sæmundur Rögnvaldsson

The scientist's publication record indicates a strong concentration in hematology with 51 publications, genetics with 47, and molecular biology with 31. Oncology and surgery are also represented with 13 and 10 publications respectively.

The array of topics covered involves 84 publications on multiple myeloma research and treatments, 32 in genetic associations and epidemiology, 30 works on amyloidosis diagnosis and treatment outcomes, 28 on chronic lymphocytic leukemia research, 16 focusing on myeloproliferative neoplasms diagnosis and treatment, 12 concerning cancer treatment and pharmacology, and 10 on lipoproteins and cardiovascular health.

Best Publications

  • Discovery and refinement of loci associated with lipid levels

    Cristen J. Willer;Ellen M. Schmidt;Sebanti Sengupta;Gina M. Peloso;Gina M. Peloso;Gina M. Peloso

  • Variants in ELL2 influencing immunoglobulin levels associate with multiple myeloma

    Bhairavi Swaminathan;Guðmar Thorleifsson;Magnus Jöud;Mina Ali

  • Common variants associated with plasma triglycerides and risk for coronary artery disease

    Ron Do;Cristen J. Willer;Ellen M. Schmidt;Sebanti Sengupta

  • Structure and expression of the human cystatin C gene.

    Magnus Abrahamson;Isleifur Olafsson;Astridur Palsdottir;Magnus Ulvsbäck

  • Large-scale whole-genome sequencing of the Icelandic population

    Daniel F Gudbjartsson;Hannes Helgason;Sigurjon A Gudjonsson;Florian Zink

  • Seventy-five genetic loci influencing the human red blood cell

    Pim Van Der Harst;Weihua Zhang;Irene Mateo Leach;Augusto Rendon

  • Target genes, variants, tissues and transcriptional pathways influencing human serum urate levels

    Adrienne Tin;Jonathan Marten;Victoria L. Halperin Kuhns;Yong Li

  • Nonsense mutation in the LGR4 gene is associated with several human diseases and other traits

    Unnur Styrkarsdottir;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Patrick Sulem;Daniel F Gudbjartsson

  • MUTATION IN CYSTATIN C GENE CAUSES HEREDITARY BRAIN HAEMORRHAGE

    A Palsdottir;Magnus Abrahamson;L Thorsteinsson;A Arnason

  • Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA coding for the precursor of the human cysteine proteinase inhibitor cystatin C

    Magnus Abrahamson;Anders Grubb;Isleifur Olafsson;Åke Lundwall

  • Variants with large effects on blood lipids and the role of cholesterol and triglycerides in coronary disease

    Anna Helgadottir;Anna Helgadottir;Solveig Gretarsdottir;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Eirikur Hjartarson

  • Bacterial growth blocked by a synthetic peptide based on the structure of a human proteinase inhibitor.

    Lars Björck;Per Åkesson;Martin Bohus;Jerzy Trojnar

  • Discovery of common variants associated with low TSH levels and thyroid cancer risk

    Julius Gudmundsson;Patrick Sulem;Daniel F Gudbjartsson;Jon G Jonasson

  • Genome-wide association study identifies loci influencing concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma

    John C. Chambers;Weihua Zhang;Joban Sehmi;Xinzhong Li

  • Efficient production of native, biologically active human cystatin C by Escherichia coli

    Magnus Abrahamson;Henrik Dalbøge;Isleifur Olafsson;Søren Carlsen

  • Genome-wide association study identifies a sequence variant within the DAB2IP gene conferring susceptibility to abdominal aortic aneurysm

    Solveig Gretarsdottir;Annette F. Baas;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Hilma Holm

  • Long-read sequencing of 3,622 Icelanders provides insight into the role of structural variants in human diseases and other traits.

    Doruk Beyter;Helga Ingimundardottir;Asmundur Oddsson;Hannes P Eggertsson;Hannes P Eggertsson

  • Apolipoprotein(a) Genetic Sequence Variants Associated With Systemic Atherosclerosis and Coronary Atherosclerotic Burden But Not With Venous Thromboembolism.

    Anna Helgadottir;Solveig Gretarsdottir;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Hilma Holm

  • C reactive protein levels are increased in non-allergic but not allergic asthma: a multicentre epidemiological study

    I S Ólafsdottir;T Gislason;B Thjodleifsson;Í Olafsson

  • Seventy-five genetic loci influencing the human red blood cell

    Pim van der Harst;Weihua Zhang;Irene Mateo Leach;Augusto Rendon

Frequent Co-Authors

Kari Stefansson
Kari Stefansson deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Unnur Thorsteinsdottir
Unnur Thorsteinsdottir deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Daniel F. Gudbjartsson
Daniel F. Gudbjartsson deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Patrick Sulem
Patrick Sulem deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Ingileif Jonsdottir
Ingileif Jonsdottir deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Gisli Masson
Gisli Masson deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Gudmar Thorleifsson
Gudmar Thorleifsson deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Bjarni V. Halldorsson
Bjarni V. Halldorsson Reykjavík University
Thorunn Rafnar
Thorunn Rafnar deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Thorarinn Gislason
Thorarinn Gislason University of Iceland

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Pursuing a degree in Biology or Biochemistry opens doors to a number of impactful careers in healthcare and research. For those interested in the administrative side of health, medical billing and coding job outlook is strong, with increasing demand for professionals who can efficiently process healthcare data.

Online education now makes many related programs more accessible and affordable. Those considering the field of health records can explore health information management online programs, which prepare graduates for roles that combine healthcare, technology, and information management.

If you are interested in diet and wellness, pursuing further studies through the cheapest online master's in nutrition can offer specialized knowledge in human health and open up opportunities in clinical or community settings.

For a more hands-on clinical role, look into ultrasound tech programs online, which prepare students for careers in medical imaging and diagnostics. Each of these pathways offers flexibility and job prospects, making them practical options for students with a background in biology or biochemistry.

Best Scientists Citing Isleifur Olafsson

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles