Dr. Danny Leksell, son of Professor Lars Leksell, founded the Leksell Gamma Knife Society in 1989, as a forum for Gamma Knife practitioners to share experiences and to openly discuss new research areas to be explored. This led to a unique collaboration between the ever-growing number of Gamma Knife users from all over the world and to the Society’s undisputed leadership in the field of intracranial radiosurgery. Danny was the Chairman of the Leksell Gamma Knife Society during 30 years, until his retirement in 2019.

Alongside working with his father in the development of the Leksell Stereotactic System and the Gamma Knife, Danny pursued his own medical career as an otolaryngologist. He received his medical degree from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden in 1974 and remained clinically active at the Karolinska until 1989.

Danny’s early foresight and vision of encouraging the global Gamma Knife community to build the published peer reviewed science which today totally dominates the radiosurgery literature, has been recognized in many ways over the years. In 2020 the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation (IRRF) established the Dan Leksell Lecture in recognition of his great contributions to the field of radiosurgery. The inaugural lecture was given by Dr. Dade Lunsford, a close friend of Danny’s since 1980.

Life: March 1950 - October 2023

Per Nylund was appointed Chairman of the Leksell Gamma Knife Society in December 2022.

Per has over 35 years of experience with Gamma Knife and has been part of developing products such as the first GammaPlan in 1992, Leksell Gamma Knife model C in 1999, Perfexion in 2006 and icon in 2015. Using his background as a medical physicist and Gamma Knife user, he has been working with many members in collaborations, education and Gamma Knife start-ups. He believes the role of the Society is to protect the history and integrity while advancing and adopting to the needs of today.

Together we will assure Gamma Knife radiosurgery stays relevant for the decades to come.