May Day Rantalaiho

May Day Rantalaiho is an Associate Professor (tenure track) in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku. Their research focuses on rheumatology, pharmacology, and epidemiology, with a particular emphasis on autoimmune diseases and clinical research methodologies. They contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through work addressing health equity and disease management. Recent studies include investigations into treatment responses for inflammatory arthritis, epidemiological trends in Finland, and methodological advancements in observational studies.

Key research interests include disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), systemic lupus erythematosus, register-based studies, and pharmacological interventions for rheumatoid arthritis. Collaborations span European registries, emphasizing multinational data sharing. Professional activities include consultancy roles in infection control campaigns (e.g., hand hygiene and influenza vaccination) and leadership in academic societies like the Finnish Rheumatology Society.

Publications highlight innovations in missing data analysis, joint-specific treatment responses, and opioid use patterns in psoriatic arthritis. Ongoing work focuses on optimizing biologic therapies and understanding population-level disease incidence changes.