Kirsi Pietiläinen

Kirsi Pietiläinen is a Professor of Clinical Metabolism at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, and Director of the Clinical and Molecular Metabolism Research Program (2019-2024). She holds a docentship in Clinicum and serves as a supervisor in three doctoral programs: Biomedicine, Clinical Research, and Population Health. She is affiliated with the HUS Abdominal Center and has an ORCID profile.

Research Interests:

• Obesity and metabolic syndrome
• Mitochondrial dysfunction in adipose tissue
• Epigenetic and genetic mechanisms
• Twin studies for gene-environment interactions
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Public health implications of obesity

Scientific Contributions: With over 305 publications since 1995, her work focuses on adipose biology, mitochondrial regulation, and obesity interventions. She leads major funded projects including:

• Novo Nordisk Foundation (2025-2028; 2025-2030)
• Sydäntutkimussäätiö (2025-2027)
• Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (2024-2026)
• Diabetestutkimussäätiö (2024-2026)

Scientific Awards:

• Suomen Lihavuustutkijat Ry Painonhallintapalkinto (2017)
• Terveysalan Vuoden Vaikuttaja 3rd Place (2017)
• Vuoden Vaikuttavin ARVO-teko (2017)

Academic Leadership: Active in organizing international conferences and serving on scientific committees, including:

• Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Congress (2017-2018 keynote)
• Nordic/Baltic Diabetes Science Forum (2017-2018 keynote)
• Scientific Committee, Folkhälsan Research Center (2017)
• Organizing Committee, Folkhälsan Symposium (2017)