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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

Kimmo Vehkalahti is a Senior University Lecturer and docent at the University of Helsinki, specifically affiliated with the Centre for Social Data Science within the Faculty of Social Sciences. He serves as a Teachers' Academy Supervisor in the doctoral program and maintains an active research profile with numerous publications and projects. His research interests focus on social data science, social statistics, multivariate methods, open data science, and statistical data processing using R programming. Vehkalahti has developed expertise in applying statistical methods to social science research questions and data visualization. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on multivariate analysis applications in behavioral sciences, social data visualization, and student well-being research. The publications span diverse areas including statistical methodology, data visualization techniques, and educational interventions. Fellow of the Teachers' Academy (2013) Best Teacher of the City: Kaupungin Paras Opettaja (2010) Good Teacher: Hyvä Opettaja (2009) Magister Bonus - Good Teacher (2003) One of the best teachers of Open University (2017) Vehkalahti actively supervises academic work with 40 thesis supervisions and 10 PhD supervisions documented. He participates in significant research projects including SASE Stress as strength in education (since 2022) and WELLS - Promoting university students' well-being and life-long learning (since 2019). His academic service includes conference participation, peer review, and organizational roles in international statistical organizations.

• Social Data Science
• Social Statistics
• Multivariate Methods
• +3 more

Kristina Heinonen is a Professor of Service and Relationship Marketing at the Department of Marketing, Hanken School of Economics, and holds a Professor II appointment at the Norwegian School of Economics. She has led key roles such as Head of Subject (Marketing) and Director of the Centre for Relationship Marketing and Service Management (CERS) at Hanken (2010–2023). Her research focuses on service innovation, customer experience, and value creation, leveraging technologies to drive strategic service initiatives. She is a Fulbright Scholar from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and has held visiting roles at institutions across Europe. Her academic leadership extends to co-chairing the American Marketing Association’s Service Special Interest Group (AMA SERVSIG) and serving on the board of Karlstad University’s CTF Center for Service Research. She also contributes to global initiatives like ServCollab, a nonprofit fostering human-centered service collaboration. Her pedagogical expertise spans undergraduate, graduate, and MBA programs, alongside mentoring doctoral researchers. Kristina’s awards include the Evert Gummesson Outstanding Research Award and multiple Emerald Literati Awards. She actively advises companies in service, food, retail, and financial sectors, and leads the Finnish Innovation Index, an annual assessment of corporate innovation capabilities. Her interdisciplinary research bridges academic rigor with practical applications, emphasizing customer-centric frameworks and sustainability in service systems.

• Service Marketing
• Customer Experience
• Service Innovation
• +5 more

Professor Otto Toivanen is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Aalto University's School of Business, specializing in industrial organization with expertise in competition, innovation, and regulation. His research focuses on: Pharmaceutical market regulation R&D and innovation policy Patent systems Cartel behavior and competition policy He employs rigorous empirical methods to analyze real-world market dynamics and policy impacts. Recent publications reveal a consistent emphasis on welfare implications of regulatory interventions, particularly in pharmaceutical markets and innovation ecosystems. His work leverages micro-level data to examine R&D team dynamics, price regulation effects, and patent system reforms, bridging theoretical economics with practical policy design. Professor Toivanen teaches Introduction to econometrics and PhD-level Industrial Organization courses, training the next generation of economists in empirical methodology and industrial organization theory.

• Industrial organization
• Competition
• Innovation
• +1 more

Timo Tammi is a Visiting Researcher at the Business School, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, University of Eastern Finland. He actively contributes to the Applied Business, Law and Economics Research Group (ABLE) and has been involved in research projects since 2018, focusing on public procurement of innovations and SME competitiveness. Role: Researcher Affiliation: Business School, University of Eastern Finland Research Interests: Tammi’s scholarly work spans public procurement, innovation management, wellness tourism, and behavioral economics. His studies explore SMEs' strategic procurement capabilities, trust dynamics in cooperative memberships, and cross-cultural motivations in wellness tourism. His research often integrates quantitative analysis with policy evaluation, addressing how e-procurement platforms and training programs can mitigate barriers for SMEs in public sector contracts. Recent Publications: His 15 most recent articles (2016–2024) cover topics such as SME market orientation in public procurement, contractual preferences in innovation projects, and wellness tourism preferences across Finland, Russia, and Lithuania. These works employ empirical methods to analyze how network partners, incentives, and cultural factors influence procurement success and tourist behavior. Grants and Projects: Tammi has participated in funded initiatives like the Karelian Wellness project (Karelia CBC programme) and research supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation. His collaborations extend to institutions in Sweden, France, and Lithuania, reflecting his international research engagement.

• Public Procurement
• Innovation Management
• SME Competitiveness
• +4 more

Dr. Wei Li is an Adjunct Professor and Principal Investigator at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki. He serves as a HiLIFE Fellow and supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Drug Research, while being affiliated with the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS). Education: PhD (2015) under Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini, followed by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (supervised by Prof. Hélder A. Santos and Prof. Mart Saarma) His research focuses on drug delivery , nanomedicine , and biomaterials , with particular emphasis on pharmaceutical nanotechnology and microfluidics . His group has pioneered advanced formulations like dual-growth-factor electrospun constructs and high-drug-load microspheres for central nervous system regeneration. Publications in Nature Communications , Advanced Functional Materials , and Acta Biomaterialia demonstrate his expertise in nanoparticle engineering and biomaterials . His work bridges materials science (216) and pharmacy (317) with sustainability science. Scientific Awards: HiLIFE Fellow (2022) Young Researcher's Award (2020) Most Outstanding Pharmaceutical Research Article Award (2019) Most Cited Articles award (2018) Cancer Foundation Travel Grant (2020) Outstanding Reviewer award (2016) Dr. Li has secured >10 grants since 2017, acting as a grant-funded researcher while mentoring doctoral students through the Drug Research Program. His peer-review activities span journals like Nature Communications and Materials Today Bio .

• Drug Delivery
• Nanomedicine
• Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology
• +2 more

Ricardo A. Correia is a Grant-Aided Researcher at the Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, with a Docentship in Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science. His work bridges biodiversity conservation, digital data science, and human-nature relationships. PhD in Environmental Sciences (2015) from University of East Anglia MSc in Conservation Biology (2008) from University of Lisbon BSc in Environmental Biology (2007) from University of Lisbon His research focuses on biocultural conservation , invasive species dynamics , and digital data applications (social media, Google Trends) for ecological monitoring. He explores the intersection of mental health and biodiversity through One Health frameworks and advocates for equitable conservation policies using culturomics and AI. Notable scientific outputs include 2025 publications on conservation flagships, biophobias, and AI applications. His 2024 work analyzed charisma in conservation, political vulnerability of parks, and social media sentiment mapping. Best Poster Award (2009) Editorial Board, Journal of Biogeography (2020–) Editor, Conservation Biology Journal (2020) Correia leads projects like the 2022–2022 Biocultural Approach for Neglected Biodiversity (Finnish Academy) and contributes to global biodiversity frameworks through social media analysis and digital monitoring tools like gtrendsAPI .

• Biodiversity Conservation
• Conservation Biology
• Environmental Science
• +5 more

Per-Henrik Groop serves as Research Director at the Department of Medicine Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, holding the title of Docent at Clinicum. He is actively involved as Supervisor for multiple doctoral programs including the Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine, Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research, and Doctoral Programme in Population Health. Affiliated with the HUS Abdominal Center, Dr. Groop has established himself as a leading international researcher in diabetes and its complications with an impressive publication record of 529 research outputs. Dr. Groop's research program focuses on understanding why only a subset of patients with diabetes develop serious complications, with particular emphasis on diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular complications in type 1 diabetes, and the genetic determinants of these conditions. His work bridges clinical medicine with advanced genetic and molecular research approaches, often utilizing large cohort studies to identify risk factors and potential therapeutic targets. A significant portion of his research examines the interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors in the development of diabetic complications. Analysis of Dr. Groop's recent publication trend reveals a continued strong focus on the mechanisms behind diabetic kidney disease and cardiovascular complications. His work spans from basic science investigations using animal models to large-scale clinical studies examining multiple organ systems affected by diabetes. A notable emphasis in his recent work is the examination of cumulative exposures to hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia and their long-term effects on organ damage in type 1 diabetes patients, with implications for clinical management strategies. Cunningham Lecture in Integrative Physiology: Diabetic complications – are they acquired or inherited? (2008) EASD Castelli Pedroli Prize – 24th Camillo Golgi Lecture: Diabetic nephropathy – means, motive and opportunity (2009) Kimmelstiel-Wilson Lecture: Baker IDI & George Institute Symposium, Diabetic nephropathy – an acquired or inherited diabetic complication? (2010) Novo Nordisk Foundation Lecture Award: Why does a subset of patients with diabetes develop kidney disease? (2012) Emil R. Rosenqvist's Prize (2013) Dr. Groop has supervised numerous doctoral students across multiple programs at the University of Helsinki, with a focus on type 1 diabetes complications, genetic factors in diabetes, and obesity-related complications. His supervision includes serving as primary supervisor or co-supervisor for doctoral theses on topics such as cerebral small vessel disease in type 1 diabetes, genetic and metabolomic factors of diabetic kidney disease, and obesity complications in type 1 diabetes. He is actively involved in significant research projects including the IMI2 Beat DKD project, which focuses on advancing understanding and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. Dr. Groop leads research activities at the HUS Abdominal Center in Helsinki and maintains extensive collaborations with researchers across Finland and internationally. His research group focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind diabetic complications, particularly nephropathy and cardiovascular disease, with the ultimate goal of developing better prevention strategies and personalized treatment approaches for patients with diabetes.

• Diabetes Research
• Endocrinology
• Nephrology
• +5 more

Ricardo Henriques Correia is an Assistant Professor at the Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku, PhD. His research focuses on biodiversity conservation, human-nature interactions, ecosystem services, and digital methods in ecological studies. He actively develops computational tools like gtrendsAPI (an R package for Google Trends integration) and contributes to conservation culturomics, which leverages online data to assess public engagement with environmental issues. His work spans multiple continents, including analyses of conservation priorities in sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, and Europe. He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to explore topics such as species charisma in academic literature, political vulnerability of protected areas, and invasive species detection using machine learning. Correia also investigates the cultural and psychological dimensions of human-nature relationships, linking biodiversity awareness to societal well-being. Ricardo’s research emphasizes leveraging digital platforms (e.g., social media, citizen science) to address conservation challenges. He has published extensively in high-impact journals like Proceedings of the Royal Society B , PLoS Biology , and Biological Conservation , often focusing on data-driven approaches to biodiversity monitoring and policy evaluation. His contributions include pioneering the use of culturomics to quantify species salience and public interest in conservation efforts. He is affiliated with the BISONS Lab , an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Turku. While no personal scientific awards are explicitly listed, his work has been recognized in innovation awards from the Journal of Biogeography (2022) for advancing methodological approaches in conservation geography. Ricardo’s grants and advising activities are not detailed in the provided texts, but his research portfolio indicates sustained support for projects involving open-access publishing, stakeholder collaboration, and digital data integration. His work bridges ecology, technology, and social sciences to create actionable insights for global conservation strategies.

• Biodiversity Conservation
• Human-Nature Interactions
• Ecosystem Services
• +3 more

Vuokko Kohtamäki is a University Lecturer at Tampere University's Faculty of Management and Business, specializing in Higher Education Governance. She is a full-time member of the Higher Education Group (HEG) within the Administrative Studies department. Her research focuses on university autonomy, governance, leadership, and funding, with a particular emphasis on Finnish and international higher education systems. Dr. Kohtamäki coordinates the KOHA program, an innovative expert education for higher education administrators, recognized for excellence in teaching (2022). She teaches courses such as 'Higher Education Systems - Steering and Coordination' and 'Finance and Financial Administration in Higher Education.' Her research interests span qualitative and quantitative studies on higher education policies, institutional governance, and leadership. Recent work examines autonomy ecology in Finnish universities, hybrid governance models in universities of applied sciences, and gender disparities in academic leadership across Bangladesh, China, and Finland. Key funding sources include the Finnish Work Environment Fund, the Finnish Ministry of Education, and state councils. She has held roles such as Vice Member of the Board of the Finnish Institute for Educational Research and Member of Tampere University's Health and Safety Team. Her publications highlight strategic funding dependencies, performance agreements, and institutional resilience, contributing to global discussions on higher education's role in innovation and societal impact.

• Higher Education Governance
• University Autonomy
• Educational Management
• +3 more

Heikki Karjaluoto is a Professor and Vice Dean of Research at the Faculty of Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä. He teaches in the Technology Management program and focuses on the intersection of technology and business. His research emphasizes customer behavior in digital contexts, including social media, influencer marketing, and IT-driven business strategies. Karjaluoto has published extensively in leading journals and authored multiple books, collaborating with researchers globally and industry partners. Research interests include digital consumer behavior, value co-creation in supply chains, and the impact of emerging technologies like blockchain and quantum computing. He leads research groups in Empirical Software Engineering, Quantum Information & Computation, and Cyber-Physical Systems & Services (CPSS). Notable awards include Best Teacher and Best Paper awards. His work spans topics such as social media overload, influencer credibility, and sustainable digital practices. He actively engages in joint R&D projects with companies, emphasizing practical applications of academic research.

• Business and Management
• Computer and Information Sciences
• Digital Marketing
• +3 more

Nea Vänskä is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, focusing on participatory research partnerships in pediatric rehabilitation. Her work emphasizes co-creation with children, youth, and families to improve health care transitions, meaningful participation, and equitable rehabilitation practices. She leads the Co-creating child & youth wellbeing R&D program, integrating collaborative methodologies across disciplines. Her research interests include participatory action research, disability inclusion, and child-centered approaches in health care. Notable projects involve developing tools like the CMAP Book to enhance children's participation in rehabilitation decisions, and the KIDMOVE project addressing athlete-centered coaching in youth sports. Publications highlight themes such as transition to adult healthcare for cerebral palsy patients, best practices in pediatric rehabilitation, and participatory research models. She has collaborated extensively with institutions like Kela (Finnish Social Insurance Institution) and Jyväskylä Polytechnic on strategic research frameworks and knowledge translation initiatives. Her work bridges academic research and practical application, emphasizing justice, joy, and shared mission in RDI partnerships. Ongoing efforts focus on co-curiosity frameworks and digital health innovations in participatory healthcare.

• Participatory Research Partnership
• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Children's Health and Functioning
• +4 more

Ye Hong is a Project Researcher at Åbo Akademi University's Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, affiliated with the Turku Life Sciences Centre and the InFLAMES flagship program focused on immune system innovation ecosystems. Their research bridges computational biology and neurodegenerative disease studies. Key research interests include: Phosphoproteomic analysis of signaling pathways Proteostasis regulation in Parkinson's disease Zebrafish larvae as model organisms for anxiety studies Development of automated bioinformatics pipelines Identification of Parkinson's disease diagnostic biomarkers Functional analysis of LRRK2-G2019S mutations Recent work demonstrates expertise in combining mass spectrometry with computational workflows to analyze protein phosphorylation patterns and translational repression in neurodegenerative contexts. Award highlights: Nordic Life Sciences Days prize (2019)

• Phosphoproteomics
• Proteostasis
• Parkinson's Disease
• +5 more

Heta Mulari is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Unit of Social Research, Tampere University, Finland , specializing in interdisciplinary studies at the intersection of youth culture, gender, urban sociology, and arts-based methodologies. Her work spans: Co-editing Nordic Girlhoods (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017) PhD on neoliberalism and girl films (University of Turku, 2015) Collaborative research with institutions like University of Galway Research interests include: Soft Rebellion in urban spaces Social circus pedagogy for wellbeing Feminist ethnography in public transport Media representations of youth and gender Recent publications focus on social circus methodology , urban emotional encounters , and critical play , often co-authored with Ilaria Bessone and Ian R. Walsh . Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to gender equality and urban sustainability.

• Youth and Subculture Studies
• Film Studies
• Circus Studies
• +3 more

Ashwin Rao is an Adjunct Professor and Docent in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki, serving as Supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Computer Science and Research Coordinator. His work bridges theoretical research with practical implementations in next-generation networked systems. Research Interests: Networking Distributed Systems Mobile Computing Privacy Edge Computing Serverless Computing His research focuses on 5G/6G architectures, edge intelligence, and privacy-preserving mobile systems, with emphasis on real-world applicability and performance optimization in resource-constrained environments. Publication Trends: Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2020-2024) reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) serverless/database co-design for cloud-native systems, (2) AI-driven network operations and traffic classification, and (3) privacy/security in mobile ecosystems. His work increasingly integrates machine learning with network protocols while addressing critical industry challenges in 6G and edge computing. Scientific Awards: No major scientific awards mentioned in source materials Advising and Grants: Supervised 16 Master's theses including AUTOPS (2025) and Open RAN pipeline analysis (2024) Project lead: 6G Data-driven Distributed Cloud System (Business Finland, 2023-2025) Key participant: NordForsk Tarkoma project (2024-2028) Organizing committee member for ACM Mobisys 2023 Research Ecosystem: Rao operates within Helsinki's networking research group, collaborating with S. Tarkoma and R. Morabito on 6G initiatives. His team focuses on practical implementations of programmable networks, edge intelligence, and privacy-preserving mobile systems through industry-academia partnerships.

• Networking
• Distributed Systems
• Mobile Computing
• +3 more