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Laura Elo serves as Professor of Computational Medicine and Head of the Medical Bioinformatics Centre at the University of Turku, Finland. She concurrently holds the position of Research Director at Turku Bioscience Centre and acts as InFLAMES Flagship Contact, driving interdisciplinary biomedical research initiatives. Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Applied Mathematics (2007) and Adjunct Professorship in Biomathematics (2011), establishing her quantitative expertise before transitioning into biomedical applications. Her research program focuses on transforming molecular and clinical datasets through statistical modeling and advanced machine learning . Key thrusts include robust computational tools for proteome/epigenome analysis, AI-driven digital health diagnostics, and computational systems immunology for immune-mediated diseases. This work directly addresses challenges in reproducibility and scalability of high-throughput biotechnology data. Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant themes in type 1 diabetes biomarker discovery , multi-omics integration , and immune system modeling , with strong emphasis on clinical translation through collaborations with experimental and medical teams. Her scientific recognition includes: JDRF Career Development Award Professor Elo actively trains MSc/PhD students and postdoctoral fellows while leading major research initiatives including ERC grants. Her teaching portfolio spans Bioinformatics Journal Club, AI in Diagnostics, and Systems Biology courses. The Elo Lab (https://elolab.utu.fi) operates as a hub for computational biomedicine, developing open-source tools like CellRomeR while maintaining close ties with Turku Bioscience Centre's experimental facilities for validating computational predictions in immunology and metabolic disease contexts.

• Computational Biomedicine
• Medical Bioinformatics
• Data Science
• +7 more

Teemu Roos is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science , University of Helsinki , and a Principal Investigator for the Complex Systems Computation Group under the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology. He serves as a Supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Computer Science and leads multiple research initiatives, including Distributed AI in Supercomputing , AI & Kids , and Generation AI . Dr. Roos also holds a Docent title in Computer Science. His research spans Artificial Intelligence , Machine Learning , and Data Science , with a focus on AI education , graph neural networks , Bayesian modeling , and health informatics . He has pioneered tools like Elements of AI , a free online course now translated into 22 EU languages, and explores the ethical implications of AI-generated content in authorship and inventorship. The 15 most recent publications highlight applications in environmental forecasting (e.g., Mediterranean Sea via graph-based deep learning), healthcare (e.g., skin cancer detection with transfer learning), and social media analysis (e.g., explainable AI platforms for K-12 education). Methodologically, his work advances clustering algorithms , dimensionality reduction , and approximate nearest neighbor search . Scientific Awards: Cor Baayen Award (2009) Nokia Foundation Recognition Award (2019) Best Paper Honorable Mention Award (2013) ICT Influencer of the Year 2019 (Vuoden TiVi-vaikuttaja 2019) World Summit AI's Top-50 Innovators in 2020 Dr. Roos has supervised 2 doctoral students and contributed to 163 academic activities , including invited talks at MIT, University of Cambridge, and the Finnish Institute in Rome. He has secured funding from the Academy of Finland and the Strategic Research Council, focusing on projects like Fast AI-assisted Space Environment Prediction and Urban Exerciser .

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Data Science
• +6 more

Tommi Mäklin is a researcher affiliated with the University of Helsinki, conducting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of bioinformatics, microbiology, and genomic epidemiology. His work focuses on bacterial pathogen analysis, metagenomics, and the application of computational methods to study infectious diseases. Mäklin has contributed to high-impact studies on topics such as colibactin-producing Escherichia coli's link to cancer incidence, hospital-acquired infections during the pandemic, and enhanced metagenomic analysis tools like TRACS and Themisto. Key affiliations include visiting research positions at the University of Oslo (2024) and EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute (2023–2023), where he received the Theory@EMBL Visitor fellowship. His research has been featured in prominent journals like Nature Communications and The Lancet Microbe , with findings highlighted in media such as Yle and HS. Education: Not explicitly stated in provided materials. Research Interests: Genomic epidemiology, bacterial pathogen transmission, metagenomics, antibiotic resistance, and computational methods for microbial analysis. His recent work explores geographical cancer incidence correlations with bacterial exposure, hospital pathogen surveillance, and scalable genomic tools for outbreak analysis. Awards include recognition for methodological advancements in bioinformatics and microbial genomics.

• Bioinformatics
• Genomic Epidemiology
• Metagenomics
• +3 more

Miia Lindström is a Professor at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, specializing in Food Hygiene and Environmental Health. She serves as a Supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Veterinary Medicine and the Doctoral Programme in Food Chain and Health, and is a key member of Helsinki One Health (HOH), which aims to make the University of Helsinki one of the world's most recognized institutions in One Health research by 2025. Her research primarily focuses on veterinary science, particularly Clostridium botulinum and botulinum neurotoxins, food safety, microbiology, and food hygiene. Her work spans fundamental research on bacterial pathogenesis, sporulation mechanisms, and neurotoxin production, as well as practical applications in food safety and public health. She has contributed significantly to understanding how bacterial pathogens contaminate food sources and how they can be controlled. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward molecular and genomic approaches to understanding bacterial pathogenesis, particularly focusing on Clostridium botulinum. Her research increasingly integrates structural biology, genomics, and microbiome analysis to understand bacterial adaptation, toxin mechanisms, and host-pathogen interactions. She has also expanded her research to include insect vectors of bacterial pathogens and the role of mobile genetic elements in bacterial adaptation. As an active member of Helsinki One Health, Professor Lindström has contributed to profiling One Health research at the University of Helsinki, focusing on food safety, antimicrobial resistance, and risk management. Her research has substantial societal impact, particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic where HOH researchers were frequently featured in Finnish and international media. Professor Lindström has supervised numerous Master's and doctoral students, including Sirja Koskensalo, Anna Mertaoja, Tinja Toikka, and Hanna Castro. She has been involved in multiple significant research projects, including 'Understanding the Clostridium Spore' (CLOSPORE) and 'A Clostridal Biology Network' (CLOSTNET), which have received substantial funding and involved international collaborations. Her professional activities include extensive conference participation, peer reviewing for journals like Food Control and Research in Microbiology, and numerous public engagements. She has been particularly active in the Annual Finnish Veterinary Congress and various international conferences on botulism research and food microbiology.

• Veterinary Science
• Food Safety
• Clostridium botulinum
• +4 more

Ville-Petri Friman serves as Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Helsinki, with cross-affiliations at the Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Helsinki One Health (HOH), and Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS). He supervises doctoral candidates in the Microbiology and Biotechnology programme and maintains an active research profile through his laboratory group. His research centers on microbial ecology and experimental evolution , particularly examining phage-bacteria interactions in agricultural ecosystems. Key interests include phage-mediated biocontrol of plant pathogens like Ralstonia solanacearum , soil microbiome engineering to combat antibiotic resistance, and evolutionary dynamics of microbial communities in the rhizosphere. His work integrates metagenomics, experimental evolution, and ecological modeling to develop sustainable plant health solutions. Analysis of Friman's 119 publications (2008-2025) reveals a pronounced shift toward phage-based interventions since 2020, with 78% of recent work focusing on phage therapy applications. Dominant themes include soil resistome mitigation (32% of 2023-2025 articles), pathogen-phage coevolution (28%), and rhizosphere microbiome engineering (24%), reflecting strategic alignment with global antimicrobial resistance challenges. Friman currently leads five major research initiatives funded by competitive grants: NEXTGENPHAGE (Academy of Finland, 2025-2027): Developing machine learning-driven phage biocontrol systems Phage biocontrol for bacterial wilt (Novo Nordisk Fonden, 2024-2027) EU Horizon project on pathogen resistance evolution (2024-2026) Peat microbiome harnessing for crop production (2023-2025) Phage-plant pathogen coevolution in food webs (Academy of Finland, 2023-2027) His laboratory, the Friman Group, operates as an interdisciplinary hub combining wet-lab experimental evolution with computational modeling to translate fundamental microbial ecology into agricultural applications, emphasizing field-validated biocontrol strategies.

• Microbial Ecology
• Experimental Evolution
• Phage Therapy
• +3 more

Reetta Satokari is a University researcher and Researcher at the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Helsinki. She serves as a supervisor in multiple doctoral programmes including Human Microbiome Research, Drug Research, Biomedicine, Clinical Research, Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Food Chain and Health, and Microbiology and Biotechnology. Her research focuses on microbiota dynamics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), antibiotic resistance, probiotics, and gastrointestinal health. She leads the EU Horizon Europe project ENDOTARGET (2023-2026) and has contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed articles. Notable work includes studies on FMT efficacy in Parkinson's disease and chronic pouchitis, and the prolonged effects of antibiotics on gut microbiota. Her scientific accolades include the Nutrients 2020 Best Paper Award. She actively participates in conferences, media interviews, and thesis supervision. Projects include investigating fetal intestinal microbiota's role in immune development and advancing FMT safety protocols. Her work bridges microbiology, immunology, and clinical applications, with a focus on translational therapies for gastrointestinal and neurodegenerative disorders.

• Microbiology
• Biomedical Sciences
• Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)
• +3 more

Melina Markkanen is a doctoral researcher at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki. Her work focuses on microbiology, virology, and antibiotic resistance, particularly through projects like the Multidisciplinary Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance Research (AMR-CoE). She is actively involved in analyzing metagenomic data related to environmental and clinical microbiology. Research interests: Microbiology, Virology, Antibiotic Resistance, Gut Microbiota, Metagenomics, Environmental Microbiology Supervision: Co-supervised multiple MSc and Bachelor's theses Activities: Participation in conferences like the Symposium on Bacterial Genetics and Ecology and EDAR6

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Antibiotic Resistance
• +4 more

Veikko Jousmäki is a Senior Scientist at Aalto University's Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering. He holds honorary visiting roles at institutions like the Cognitive Neuroimaging Centre (Nanyang Technological University) and the Karolinska Institutet. His research focuses on magnetoencephalography (MEG), motor and sensory systems, and brain networks involved in movement and perception. He was awarded the Grant Runar Bäckström Foundation Prize in 2003. Education: Doctoral degree in Natural Sciences, University of Kuopio (2000) Master's degree in Natural Sciences, University of Kuopio (1993) Bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences, University of Kuopio (1986) Research Interests: Jousmäki's work explores MEG applications in studying brain dynamics during motor actions, sensory processing, and clinical conditions like essential tremor and alcohol use disorder. His studies often integrate multimodal neuroimaging techniques to map cortical and subcortical networks. Awards and Grants: Grant Runar Bäckström Foundation Prize (2003) Principal investigator for projects including MEG infrastructure upgrades (2022–2040) and sensorimotor mapping studies. Collaborations and Activities: Jousmäki has collaborated internationally, including with the Karolinska Institutet and Nanyang Technological University. He actively participates in conferences, workshops, and public lectures on neuroimaging and neuroscience. His work contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Labs and Facilities: Leads MEG research at Aalto University, focusing on developing advanced neuroimaging tools and protocols. Collaborates on projects involving TMS, fMRI, and haptic stimulation technologies.

• Magnetoencephalography
• Neuroscience
• Motor Cortex Mapping
• +3 more

Katri Korpela is an Assistant Professor at the University of Helsinki's Department of Bacteriology and Immunology within the Faculty of Medicine. Her research focuses on gut microbiota development across lifespans, with emphasis on pediatric health, environmental influences, and microbial interactions. She leads the Doctoral Programmes in Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Biomedicine, supervising research on microbiota dynamics. Korpela is also involved in EU-funded projects like the ERC StG MICROECO (€1.48M), investigating microbial ecology in infant gut health. Her work integrates longitudinal cohort studies, meta-analyses, and intervention strategies to address allergy risks, cardiometabolic health, and microbiota modulation. Awards include prestigious grants, though no explicit personal honors are listed. Korpela collaborates internationally, with interests spanning microbiome-host interactions, antibiotic impacts, and public health applications. Education: Not explicitly stated in text; inferred via academic position. Grants: ERC StG MICROECO (2023-2027), Finnish Academy grants (e.g., Yliopiston profilointirahoitus 7 InterEarth RESET). Labs/Teams: Leads microbial ecology research teams, including projects on infant microbiota restoration and pandemic effects on gut health. Key research areas include microbiota development, antibiotic resistance dynamics, and translational health interventions. Recent studies analyze pandemic-era microbiota shifts, probiotic efficacy, and predictive health indices for infants.

• Biomedical Sciences
• Microbiology
• Immunology
• +3 more

Minna Huotilainen is a Professor of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki , affiliated with the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Department of Education . She leads the team at the Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body, and Brain and serves as the vice director of the Master's programme in Changing Education . Research Interests: Educational neuroscience, music-brain interactions, cognitive development, stress physiology in learning, early childhood language acquisition, and digital pedagogy. Projects: Active in long-term initiatives like the Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain (2022–2029), NATUREACH (2023–2028), and WLIIP (2021–2025), focusing on preterm infant development, AI-enhanced learning, and nature-based stress recovery. Publications: Recent works examine neural mechanisms in music-trained adolescents, generative AI in VR education, and music’s role in language development for preterm infants. Activities: Regular speaker on topics like brain wellbeing, hybrid work neuroplasticity, and stress management through music. Supervises PhD/Master’s students including Anni-Lotta Hiirsalmi and Efthymios Papatzikis.

• Educational Neuroscience
• Music and Brain Research
• Cognitive Science
• +7 more

Terho Heikkinen serves as Professor of Paediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland, specializing in Paediatric Infectious Diseases with primary focus on childhood respiratory infections. He leads international research consortia including the EU/IMI-funded RESCEU project and co-founded global networks ReSViNET and NORDPID. His academic journey began with medical graduation from University of Turku in 1984, followed by specialization in Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases. He defended his doctoral thesis on Development and prevention of acute otitis media in children in 1994. His postdoctoral training included a European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship at University of Texas Medical Branch (1996-1998). Professor Heikkinen's research program, established in 2000, comprehensively investigates respiratory virus infections in children spanning etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and societal impact. His work prominently features influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), driving advancements in understanding disease burden and prevention strategies. He organizes the biannual International Course of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine for Erasmus students and has delivered 188 international academic lectures. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals concentrated efforts in modeling RSV hospitalization dynamics across European populations, evaluating post-pandemic viral resurgence patterns, and assessing new preventive interventions. His collaborative studies consistently address critical gaps in pediatric respiratory disease epidemiology with implications for vaccine development and public health policy. His scientific recognition includes: European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Award Professor Heikkinen directs significant grant-funded initiatives including RESCEU (EU/IMI 2017-2021) and coordinates the Nordic Research Network for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. His leadership extends to presidency of the World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and advisory roles in ESWI and ReSViNET, shaping global research agendas in pediatric virology. His laboratory research within Turku's Department of Paediatrics operates through the Respiratory Virus Global Epidemiology Network, maintaining active collaborations across six European countries to monitor viral epidemiology and evaluate clinical interventions for respiratory pathogens affecting children.

• Paediatric Infectious Diseases
• Respiratory Infections in Children
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• +3 more

Leo Lahti is a Professor in Data Science at the University of Turku, Finland. His research focuses on computational analysis and modeling of complex natural and social systems, with applications in microbiome science, ecological modeling, and computational humanities. He is actively involved in open science initiatives and leads a dynamic research team. University: University of Turku Role: Professor, Data Science Contact: leo.lahti@utu.fi Lahti holds a Doctor of Science (DSc) from Aalto University (2010), where he developed probabilistic machine learning methods for life science data. He conducted postdoctoral research at EBI/Hinxton (UK), Wageningen University (NL), and VIB/KU Leuven (BE), establishing a strong international research profile. His research interests span Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Applied Statistics, Probabilistic Models, Microbial Ecology, Computational Humanities, and Open Science . He applies computational and statistical methods to understand complex systems, particularly in microbiome dynamics, ecological resilience, and historical data analysis. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining data analytics with domain-specific knowledge in biology, medicine, and humanities. The recent publications (2021–2025) reflect a strong focus on gut microbiome analysis , including maternal-infant health, dietary impacts, disease risk (CKD), and methodological advances in differential abundance and phylogenetic diversity. Other themes include ecological modeling (resilience, early warning signals), infectious disease modeling (COVID-19), and open science education (Bioconductor). The keyword trends show deep engagement with microbiology, bioinformatics, and mathematical modeling, with subfields emphasizing reproducibility, host-microbe interactions, and computational methods. Lahti plays a significant role in open science and academic leadership: Vice Chair, Open Science Finland Member, International Science Council Committee on Data (2023–2025) Member, Bioconductor Community Advisory Board Founder, Open Science Working Group, Open Knowledge Finland He is also active in teaching computational and data science, statistical programming, AI, and open science. His research homepage is available at iki.fi/Leo.Lahti, and his full publication list is accessible via ORCID and bibtex.

• Data Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• +11 more

Juulia Paavonen is a Docent (Associate Professor) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, and serves as a supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research. She is actively affiliated with HUS Children and Adolescents and holds a leadership role as Chief Physician at Helsinki University and Polytechnic Hospital District (HUS). Her academic and clinical work is centered on child and adolescent psychiatry, particularly in developmental neuropsychiatric epidemiology. Licentiate of Medicine, University of Helsinki Doctor of Medicine, University of Helsinki Docent in Developmental Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology, University of Helsinki Specialist in Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki Bachelor of Political Science (Statistics), University of Helsinki Her research focuses on child psychiatry, sleep medicine, psychosocial development, and maternal mental health . She investigates how sleep patterns, screen time, parental bonding, and pandemic stressors affect children's emotional and behavioral outcomes. Her work bridges clinical practice and population-level epidemiology, emphasizing preventive strategies and digital mental health interventions. Her recent publications highlight trends in infant and child sleep, maternal-infant bonding, and the impact of digital media. She has contributed to defining normative sleep criteria in infants and evaluating self-care and online therapies for youth mental health. Her research is highly collaborative, involving multidisciplinary teams and national institutions like THL. Vuoden artikkeli Lääkärilehdessä (Article of the Year in Lääkärilehti), 2009 Vuoden artikkeli Lääkärilehdessä (Article of the Year in Lääkärilehti), 2012 Juulia Paavonen has supervised doctoral students and leads major research projects such as Lapsen uni ja terveys (Child Sleep and Health) and studies on prenatal attachment. She has secured long-term research funding and collaborates internationally, including an academic visit to the University of Birmingham. Her work integrates clinical insights with epidemiological rigor to improve child mental health outcomes. She is involved in public health communication, frequently contributing to media on child sleep and mental health. Her leadership in both clinical and academic domains underscores her role as a key figure in Finnish child psychiatry.

• Child Psychiatry
• Developmental Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology
• Pediatric Sleep Medicine
• +7 more

Ilkka Nissilä, Ph.D., is a Staff Scientist at the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering , Aalto University. With a career spanning over two decades, his work focuses on diffuse optical tomography , near-infrared spectroscopy , and neonatal brain imaging . He served as a Principal Investigator for the Academy of Finland-funded project Multimodal neuroimaging of children (2016–2018) and has collaborated internationally through visiting researcher appointments. Education : Doctoral Degree in Engineering, Helsinki University of Technology (2004) Master's Degree in Engineering, Helsinki University of Technology (1998) Research Themes : Biomedical optics and optical tomography for brain imaging Neurovascular coupling and hemodynamic responses Developmental neuroscience in infants/children Emotional and sensory processing in early life Algorithm development for image reconstruction Integration of NIRS with TMS/MEG/EEG Article Trends : Recent work combines deep learning with diffuse optical tomography for improved brain imaging Studies maternal mental health impacts on child brain development Advances frequency-domain data utilization and 3D anatomical modeling in neonatal studies Activities : Visiting Researcher (2001–2008) at multiple foreign institutions Conference Presentations Media Impact : 2023: AI-Mind General Assembly participation 2022: Co-developed a skin-stroking device for alcohol cravings 2019: Maternal anxiety effects on infant brain covered in Finnish media Collaborations : International partnerships in biomedical optics Interdisciplinary work with pediatric and psychiatric researchers

• Biomedical Optics
• Neuroimaging
• Optical Tomography
• +7 more

Ching Jian serves as a visiting researcher at the University of Helsinki's Research Program Unit, actively contributing to the Microbes Inside research group (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/microbes-inside). Affiliated with interdisciplinary projects spanning biomedical sciences and food technology, Jian's work bridges academic and corporate research environments through Finnish Academy and industry partnerships. Research focuses on microbiome-host interactions, particularly how dietary interventions (berry polyphenols, plant-based foods) and environmental factors (tropical travel) modulate gut ecology. Key interests include antibiotic resistance dynamics in infant development, oxidative stress in meat science, and microbial metabolite impacts on cancer pathways, reflecting integration of molecular biology, nutritional biochemistry, and clinical applications. Recent 2025 publications reveal concentrated activity in gut microbiota modulation, with 5 high-impact papers addressing fecal water cytotoxicity, resistome mobilization, plant-based cheese rheology, poultry meat disorders, and travel-associated dysbiosis. This output demonstrates methodological diversity spanning randomized trials, meta-analyses, and food engineering approaches. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. Current grant involvement includes the Finnish Academy-funded Vauvojen suolistomikrobiston ennallistaminen (2023-2027) on infant microbiome restoration, plus corporate projects with Alba Health ApS (2023-2025) and NutriLeads BV (2023-2024) targeting nutritional health solutions. Previous work encompassed the 2020-2022 Pig intestinal health project examining gastrointestinal physiology. Research operations center on the University of Helsinki's Microbes Inside ecosystem, which investigates host-microbe symbiosis across human, animal, and environmental contexts using multi-omics and clinical validation approaches.

• Microbiology
• Gut Microbiota
• Biochemistry
• +3 more