ALGOA PROGRESS is a “New Business from Research Ideas” (TUTLI) project funded by Business Finland and the European Regional Development Fund. The project aims to explore the commercial potential of an algorithm that can predict the progression of osteoarthritis. The project seeks to lay both technological and commercial foundations for a novel technology that allows individualized treatment planning for people with, e.g. osteoarthritis. The objective of this type of treatment planning would be to prevent osteoarthritis or to slow down its progression.
The project is based on long-term basic and applied research carried out by the Biophysics of Bone and Cartilage research group (http://luotain.uef.fi/) at the Department of Applied Physics, UEF, as well as on utilising these research findings in computational modelling.
Currently interested in contrast media and biolubricants in the early diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis. What is the potential of new contrast media in imaging of articular cartilage? How do you best use radiographic imaging to monitor the progression of osteoarthritis over time, and how does a synthetic biopolymer, that lubricates and reinforces the tissue, slow down the disease progression?
Group website
In my current research, I utilize nanoparticles as contrast media for computed tomography imaging of cartilage. Unique diffusion characteristics of nanoparticles offer a novel approach for cartilage injury diagnostics.
Group website
Biophysics of Bone and Cartilage research group, founder (1998); Research is focused on developement of biophysical methods for diagnostics, prediction and therapy of musculoskeletal diseases.
I currently work as a Senior Researcher at the Department of Technical Physics. I am a sport scientist by education with a specialization in biomechanics. My research is related to the structure and function of the human musculoskeletal system with applications in musculoskeletal diseases and human performance throughout the lifespan. I use various experimental techniques including motion capture, electromyography, medical imaging, and tissue-level mechanical testing in combination with computational modelling and simulation to address the research questions. My current research focus areas are knee osteoarthritis, mobility in old age and tendon disorders.
I am part of the Biophysics research group and I actively work also with the Biosignal Analysis and Medical Imaging research group utilizing HUMEA Laboratory in my research. I hold the title of docent from the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, at which I actively collaborate with the Sports and Exercise Medicine discipline.
Currently working on contrast-enhanced computed tomography and articular cartilage imaging. The aim of the project is to combine photon-counting detectors and multi-contrast agents to detect early osteoarthritis.
https://sites.uef.fi/biophysics/
2000: MSc in medical physics, University of Kuopio, Finland
2004: PhD in physics, University of Kuopio, Finland
2005-2007: Post doc, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2008-2013: Academy Research Fellow, University of Eastern Finland
2013-2016. Associate Professor of biomechanics, University of Eastern Finland
2016-current: Professor of biomechanics
Dr. Korhonen has vast experience in musculoskeletal biomechanics, imaging and modelling at cellular, molecular, tissue and joint levels. Currently his research aims primarily at 1) revealing new biomechanically and biochemically driven mechanisms leading to osteoarthritis and 2) developing novel imaging and in silico modelling methods for osteoarthritis prognosis and treatment planning. Dr. Korhonen has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and supervised 28 PhD theses, and his research has been funded by EU (e.g. ERC), Academy of Finland, Business Finland, and other national and international foundations and organizations.
Links to the BBC research group and MSKD research community:
https://sites.uef.fi/biophysics/
https://www.uef.fi/en/research-community/musculoskeletal-diseases-msd
I began my academic career in theoretical condensed matter physics, where I predicted new phases of matter in superconducting junctions. Then I moved towards biophysics to study phagocytosis and bacterial chemotaxis in Robert Endres’ laboratory (Imperial College London) .During this experience, I improved my knowledge of biological systems and developed a strong interest for the self-organized molecular choreography that gives rise to the cell division cycle. I started studying the cell cycle in yeast with Derek McCusker in Bordeaux. There, I demonstrated that mother cells prepare the emergence of their daughters via the spatial coordination of opposing membrane trafficking activities, endocytosis and exocytosis. I was then fortunate to find an additional training opportunity in experimental molecular and cell biology, genetics, and advanced microscopy with Mike Tyers, a world leader in eukaryotic cell cycle research in Montreal. There, I positioned my research in the broader context of biological systems scaling. My main current interests are in advanced fluorescence microscopy, mathematical modeling, and quantitative cell biology. In particular, I am fascinated by the outstanding questions of how a cell takes the decision to divide into two cells, this so peculiar trait of living things. How did evolution shape cell division cycle pathways to adjust the biophysical features of each cell type to its particular functions or environment?
