She graduated in Russian State Medical University in 1982 and received PhD in 1989. Irina completed postdoctoral studies at Umeå University, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, London, UK. Since 1998 she conducts studies on identification of genetic causes and underlying molecular mechanisms in hereditary forms of retinal and corneal dystrophies in northern Sweden. She is a co-author of more than 70 papers published in peer-reviewed journals.