Emma Sparr

Research projects

• Lipid-protein co-assembly
• Amyloid formation
• Self-assembly at drying interfaces
• The skin as a barrier to molecular diffusion
• Interactions between colloidal soft particles and lipid membranes

Academic background

• 2011: Professor in Physical Chemistry-Colloidal Biology, Lund University
• 2009: Docent in Physical Chemistry, Lund University
• 2004- 2011: Assistant Professor, Physical Chemistry. Financed by VR
• 2002-2004: Postdoc, Dept. Biochemistry of Membranes, Utrecht University.
• 2001-2002: Postdoc at the Dept Pharmacy, Uppsala University
• 2001: PhD in Physical Chemistry, Lund University
• 1996: MSc in Chemistry, Lund university & University of Cambridge

Programs and Research Centers

• Director of the Excellence Center: COMMONS (funded by the Swedish Research Council) (2024-2028)
• Member of LINXS theme SMILE (Soft matter in Life)
• PI of the Research Environment CASCADE- Cause or consequence of Alzheimer disease  (funded by the Swedish Research Council) (2020-2025)
• Member of the LU Profile area "Proactive Ageing" (2022-)
• Member of Multipark - a strategic research area at Lund university (2009-)

Awards and Elected Membership

• 2026: Edlund's Award (Royal Swedish Academies of Sciences, KVA)
• 2026: Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
• 2020: Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
• 2019: Arrhenius medal (Swedish Chemical Society)
• 2017-:Member of the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund, Academy for the Natural Sciences, Medicine and Technology
• 2014: Hagberg Foundation Prize (Royal Swedish Academies of Sciences, KVA)
• 2011-2016: Member of the Young Academy of Sweden
• 2011: WEF 2011 Young Scientist. World Economic Forum. Nominated by KVA
• 2008: Future Research Leader Award (Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF)
• 2006: Per-Eric and Ulla Schyberg's Award (Royal Physiographic Society)
• 2003:Akzo Nobel Nordic Research Prize

Commissions of Trust

• Member of the Board of the Swedish Research Council (2026-2027)
• Chair of the Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences at the Swedish research council, VR (2022-2024)
• Editorial Board, Biophysical Journal (2024-)
• Member of the Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences at the Swedish research council, VR (2019-2021)
• Member of the Faculty board, Science Faculty, Lund University (2018-2023)
• Deputy head of the Division of Physical Chemistry, Lund University (2016-2020)
• Chair of the review panel in analytical, physical and theoretical chemistry at the Swedish research council, VR (2016-2018)
• Member in steering group Multipark strategic research area at Lund University (2015-2017)

Selected Publications

Lipid-protein interactions and co-assembly

•  N. Ferrante Carrante, M. Dubackic, K. Makasewicz, S. Wennmalm, T. Hermodsson, K. Bernfur, S. Linse, E. Sparr: α-Synuclein cooperative binding to lipid membranes is a robust property over a wide range of conditions. Cell Reports Physical Science (2025) 6, 103024
• K. Makasewicz, G. Carlström, O. Stenström, K. Bernfur, S. Fridolf, M. Akke, S. Linse, E. Sparr: Tipping point in α-synuclein–membrane interactions: stable protein-covered vesicles or amyloid aggregation. Cell Reports Physical Science  (2024) 5, 102309. Spotlighted in Trends in Biochemical Sciences/Cell Press: Balancing act: lipid-to-protein ratios steer the aggregation fate of α-synuclein
• K. Makasewicz, S. Linse, E. Sparr: The interplay of α-synuclein with lipid membranes - cooperative adsorption, membrane remodeling and co-aggregation. JACS Au (2024) 4, 1250
• K. Makasewicz, S. Wennmalm, B. Stenqvist, M. Fornasier, A. Andersson, P. Jönsson, S. Linse, E. Sparr: Cooperativity of a-synuclein binding to lipid membranes. ACS Chem Neuroscience. (2021) 12, 2099-2109
• C. Galvagnion, D. Topgaard, K. Makasewicz, A.K. Buell, S. Linse, E. Sparr, C. Dobson: Lipid dynamics and phase transition within a-synuclein amyloid fibrils. J. Phys. Chem. Lett (2019) 10, 7872
• E. Sparr, M.F.M. Engel, D.V: Sakharov, M. Sprong, J. Jacobs, B. de Kruijff, J.W.M. Höppener, J. A. Killian. Islet amyloid polypeptide-induced membrane leakage involves the uptake of lipids by the forming amyloid fibers. FEBS Lett (2004) 577, 117-120

Membrane remodelleling and particle wrapping 

• X. Liu, S. Tan, L.K. Månsson, L. Gunnarsson, J.A. Andersson, H. Wacklin-Knecht, J. J. Crassous, E. Sparr:Encapsulation of Single Vesicles and Single Cells in a Crosslinked Microgel Cage. JCIS (2025) In press
• X. Liu, T. Auth, N. Hazra, M. Frendø Ebbesen, J Brewer, G. Gompper, J.J. Crassous, E. Sparr: Wrapping anisotropic microgel particles in lipid membranes - effects of particle shape and membrane rigidity. PNAS (2023) 120, e2217534120
• X. Liu, J. Stenhammar, H. Wennerström, E. Sparr: Vesicles balance osmotic stress with bending energy that can be released to form daughter vesicles. J. Phys. Chem Lett. (2022) 13, 498

Protein aggregation

• J. Hu, T. Scheidt, D. Thacker, E. Axell, E. Stemme, U. Kapinska, S. Wennmalm, G. Miesl, S. Curk, M. Andreasen, M. Vendruscolo, O. Arosio, A. Saric, J.D. Schmit, T.P.H. Knolwles, E. Sparr, S. Linse, T.C.T. Michaels, A.J. Dear: Structural defects in amyloid-β fibrils drive secondary nucleation. Nature Comm (2026) 17, 1933
• E. Axell, J. Hu, M. Lindberg, A.J. Dear, L. Ortigosa-Pascual, E. A. Andrzejewskac, G. Sneideriene, D. Thacker, T.P.J. Knowles, E. Sparr, S. Linse. The role of shear forces in primary and secondary nucleation of amyloid fibrils. PNAS (2024) 121, e2322572121
• Gaspar, R. Lund, M., Sparr, E., Linse, S: Anamalous salt dependence reveals an interplay of attractive and repulsive electrostatic interactions in a-synuclein fibril formation. QRB-D (2020)  1, e2: 1-11
• A.K. Buell, C. Galvagnion, R. Gaspar, E. Sparr, M. Vendruscolo, T.P.J. Knowles S. Linse, C.M. Dobson: Solution conditions determine the relative importance of nucleation and growth processes in alpha-synuclein aggregation. PNAS(2014) 111. 7671-7677 

Lipid self-assembly in non-equilibrium conditions

• N. Labecka, J.M. Andersson, E. Sparr*, K. Roger: Hydration gradients drive lipid self-segregation. PNAS (2026) 123, e2518553123
• J. Andersson, K. Roger, M. Larsson, E. Sparr: The impact of non-equilibrium conditions in lung surfactant: structure and composition gradients in multilamellar films. ACS Central Science (2018) 4, 1315
• K. Roger, M. Liebi, J. Heimdal, Q.D. Pham, E. Sparr: Controlling evaporation through self-assembly. PNAS (2016) 113, 10275
• E. Sparr, H. Wennerström: Responding Binary Phospholipid Membranes - Interplay between Hydration and Permeability. Biophys. J. (2001) 81, 1014

Molecular strategies to protect membranes against osmotic stress

• J.M. Andersson, Q.D. Pham, H. Mateos, S. Eriksson, P. Harryson., E. Sparr: The plant dehydrin Lti30 stabilizes lipid lamellar structures in varying hydration conditions. J. Lip Research (2020) 61: 1014–1024
• Q.D. Pham, A. Wolde-Kidan, A. Gupta, E. Schneck, R. Netz, E. Sparr: Effects of Urea and TMAO on Lipid Self-Assembly under Osmotic Stress Conditions J. Phys Chem B (2018) 1255, 6471 (selected for journal cover)

Physical chemistry of the skin

• E.H. Mojumdar, A. Sonesson, Q.D. Pham, D. Topgaard, E. Sparr: Molecular dynamics in the stratum corneum of plantar heels in atopic dermatitis patients. Biophys J (2026) 125, P745
• E, Sparr,* S. Björklund, Q. D. Pham. E. H. Mojumdar, B. Stenqvist, M. Gunnarsson, D. Topgaard: The stratum corneum barrier - from molecular scale to macroscopic properties. Current opinion in Colloidal and Interface Science. (2023) In press
• Q. D. Pham, B. Biatry, S. Grégoire, D. Topgaard, E. Sparr: Solubility of Foreign Molecules in Stratum Corneum Brick and Mortar Structure: J. Coll Interface Sci (2023) 39, 2347
• B. Stenqvist, M. Ericson, S. Gregoire, B. Biatry, G. Cassin, M. Jankunec, J. Engblom, E. Sparr: Membrane permeability based on Mesh analysis. J. Coll Interface Sci (2022) 644, 526-535
• M. Gunnarsson, E.H. Mojumbar, D. Topgaard, E. Sparr. Extraction of natural moisterizing factor from the stratum corneum and its implications in skin molecular mobility. J Coll Interf Sci (2021) in press
• Q.D. Pham, D. Topgaard, E. Sparr. Tracking solvents in the skin- Molecular mobility of solvents, lipids and protein in intact stratum corneum. PNAS (2017) 114, E112-E121
• S. Björklund, J.M. Andersson, Q.D. Pham, A. Nowacka, D. Topgaard, E. Sparr. Stratum corneum molecular mobility in the presence of natural moisturizers. Soft Matter (2014) 10, 4535-4546