Anna-Maija Tolppanen

Anna-Maija Tolppanen is a tenured Professor at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), affiliated with the School of Pharmacy within the Faculty of Health Sciences. Her research focuses on pharmacoepidemiology, clinical epidemiology, and real-world evidence generation for healthcare effectiveness. She holds a MSc in bioinformatics and PhD in genetic epidemiology, with over 15 years of experience in epidemiological research.

Education:
- MSc in Bioinformatics
- PhD in Genetic Epidemiology

Research Interests: Her work emphasizes evaluating treatment effectiveness and safety using real-world data (e.g., national registers, electronic health records). Key areas include drug safety, neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), and health inequalities. She leads projects like the MEDALZ Real-world Evidence Team and the EU-funded Real4Reg initiative, which integrate AI-driven approaches to enhance regulatory science and healthcare outcomes.

Publications: Over 150 peer-reviewed articles focus on topics such as drug exposure risks, disease comorbidities, and environmental factors. Recent studies highlight associations between sensory impairments and Alzheimer’s risk, opioid use patterns in neurodegenerative patients, and PM2.5 pollution’s role in Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Awards/Grants:
- Academy of Finland Research Fellowship
- Michael J. Fox Foundation Grants (3×)
- EU Horizon Project Real4Reg (Work Package Leader)

Grants/Advising: Funded by national and international bodies, her work bridges epidemiology and clinical practice. She advises on drug safety, public health policy, and interdisciplinary data collaboration.

Labs/Teams: Leads the MEDALZ and House of Effectiveness teams, collaborating globally on projects like the Neurological and Mental Health Global Epidemiology Network (NeuroGEN).