Neurocenter Finland Event 2026

Building Bridges: Academia, Industry and Brain Health Innovation 

13:00-14:00 Registration, networking and coffee

14:00–14:15 Opening remarks and introduction to the event; Satu Palva and Eero Rissanen (Neurocenter Finland) 

14:15–14:40 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Keynote: Outi Forsström 

14:40-15:05 Trailblazer talk from laboratory to company “The only way to bring an invention into practice is to set up a company” – pioneering career paths and venture creation; Samu Lehtonen (Marginum) 

15:05-15:30 Mini Break and Coffee

15:30–16:00 Stakeholder discussion: Building Patient-Centered Collaboration Across Healthcare, Industry and Innovation (invited representatives from companies and organizations). Q&A Moderating by Susanna Flaherty (IQVIA), Panelists: Tiina Paunio (HUS), Markku Aittokallio (StellarQ), Minna Korolainen (Eli Lilly), Katariina Suomu (Muistiliitto), Rosa Juuti (Patient representative)

16:00-16.45 Stakeholder perspectives:
16:00-16:10 Finnish Drug Discovery Center – Bridging scientific discoveries into innovative therapies, Maarit Merla, CEO of the Finnish Drug Discovery Centre
16:10-16:20 From Samples to Solutions: Advancing Brain Health Through Biobank Research, FINBB, Johanna Mäkelä
16:20-16:30 Fundraising for brain research: Case of Aivosäätiö / Finnish Brain Foundation, Aivosäätiö (Finnish Brain Foundation sr), Jenni Pajunen
16:30-16:40 Supporting Excellence in Brain Research: Perspectives from the Brain Research Society of Finland, Professor Katja Kanninen (UEF)

16:45–17:15 Networking and event partners’ stands   

17:15–18:00 Brief history of Neurocenter Finland, toast to celebrate 5th anniversary; Professor Reetta Kälviäinen, Professor Mikael Fraunberg 

18:00–21:00 Networking dinner 

From Discovery to Clinical Impact: Advancing Brain Health Across Finland 

8:30-9:00 Registration

9:00–9:05 Opening Remarks, Patient and Third Sector Perspectives in Brain Health Innnovations, Riaz Zabihian

9:05-9:40 Chair Riaz Zabihian, Industry Perspectives on Brain Health Innovations, health care and economic impact; Saara Hassinen (Healthtech Finland), Nadia Tamminen (Pharma Industry Finland), Taru Blom (Blomira Oy) 

9:40-10:00 Coffee and networking

10:00–10:20 Helsinki Brain & Mind, The future of multi-locus transcranial magnetic stimulation: Observation–Control Neuroscience, Emeritus Professor Risto Ilmoniemi, Aalto University 

10:20–10:50 Jyväskylä Brain & Mind: Bridging academia and Wellbeing services county through shared data infrastructure (video): Elina Sillanpää, Associate Professor, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä. Academia-Industry Collaboration in Practice: Sustainable careers in elite contact sports: Mihály Szeróvay, Professor of Practice, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä Academia-Industry Collaboration in Practice: Psychophysiological recordings and AI for future mental health research and innovation: Tiina Parviainen, Professor, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä

10:50-11:30 Stakeholder perspectives
10:50-11:00 Drug Discovery in Neuronal Degeneration, BioArctic, Susanne Fabre, Senior Director, Translational Biomarkers & Bioanalysis
11:00-11:20 Neuro Event Labs, Professor Jukka Peltola (Tampere Brain&Mind)
11:20-11:25 Cognuse, Andres Mellik
11:25-11:30 Bruker

11:30–12:30 Lunch, exhibition, and networking 

12:30-12:50 Turku Brain & Mind, From the PET Centre to the Memory Clinic and back: Building Better Brain Health Through Collaboration; Laura Ekblad, Adjunct Professor, MD, PhD, University of Turku 

12:50–13:20 Tampere Brain & Mind, From Experimental Models to Translational Insight: The Importance of Integrating Data Across Modalities; Adj. Prof Emre Kapucu
Building translation from wet lab inventions; Adj. Prof Susanna Narkilahti

13:20-13:30 Mini break

13:30-13:40 Take care of your brain, Anna-Helena Saariaho, Helsinki Brain&Mind

13:40–14:00 Oulu Brain & Mind, Clinical and translational research on early-onset neurological diseases identifies shared molecular mechanisms between rare and common diseases: a journey towards new treatments. Johanna Uusimaa, Professor of Pediatric Neurology, Chief Physician, University of Oulu, Oulu University Hospital/POHDE Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia

14:00–14:30 Kuopio Brain & Mind, From Neurosamples to Clinical Impact – Co-developing a Human-Informed Translational Pipeline; Professor Ville Leinonen, University of Eastern Finland / Wellbeing Services County of North Savo; Professor Mikko Hiltunen, University of Eastern Finland / Wellbeing Services County of North Savo; Professor Tarja Malm, University of Eastern Finland 

14:30–15:00 TBD and Closing remarks