UEF Brain Research Unit 2.0

This WP aims to conceptualise collaboration-based (UEF – KUH/ Wellbeing Services County of North Savo – companies) scalable services linked to clinical trials at BRU and to identify international competitiveness factors and new opportunities for operations.

Measures:

• Clarifying the operating model and service offering and identifying and strengthening the role of operators, e.g., development of the UEF-KUH/ Wellbeing Services County collaboration and preparation of process descriptions incl. contracts and general administration
• Identifying current and new competitiveness factors internationally and preparing a related development plan (e.g., digital clinical trials, distributed clinical trials and remote monitoring)
• Updating and expanding the service concept to meet identified business and science-oriented needs, e.g., development of patient recruitment and cooperation with patient organisations.

Collaboration: UEF – internal actors, companies, and stakeholders widely through the new forum for co-development and the Kuopio Health ecosystem.

Contact persons: Jenni Niinimäki, Mari Tikkanen, Eino Solje, Reetta Kälviäinen and Maria Pikkarainen (see People for contact information)

WP2 aims to further develop the cooperation related to imaging data between the UEF and the KUH/Wellbeing Services County of North Savo.

Measures:

• Mapping of the current state and identification of development needs to transfer diverse image data to UEF’s efficient computing environment (UEF Bioinformatics center), e.g.,
  • Open-source solutions for image data analysis integrated into the UEF environment
  • Intensifying collaboration between UEF – KUH/ Wellbeing Services County (e.g., KUH Imaging Center)
• Developing collaboration related to usage of health data as a part of the BRU service concept.

Collaboration: Pilot 3, UEF – internal actors, KUH/ Wellbeing Services County of North Savo (KUH Research Services, KUH Imaging Center, KUH data lake), Biobank of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Health

Contact persons: Jussi Tohka and Maria Pikkarainen (see People for contact information)

WP 3 aims to build the framework and concept of Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) as a part of BRU’s services and to identify further exploitation opportunities for PPI in both academic and commissioned research activities.

Measures:

• Preparing a plan for the PPI operating model incl. investigating commercialisation opportunities, e.g., situation surveys by means of interviews (e.g., patient organisations) and surveys aimed at companies
• Describing the legal clinic operating model, preliminary experiences from piloting the model and a plan for implementing the concept as part of the PPI concept in the operating environment of the BRU

Collaboration: UEF Neuro Research Community (Neuro-RC), companies, patient organisations, and Kuopio Brain & Mind

Contact persons: Piritta Parkkari, Päivi Eriksson, Anna Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen and Maria Pikkarainen (see People for contact information)

WP4 aims to create an operating model to identify individuals with underlying functional genetic variants associated with neurodegenerative diseases from biobanks for commissioned studies and academic studies.

Measures:

• Methodological piloting of genetic testing – evaluating the identification and accuracy of known gene alterations associated with brain diseases
• Intensifying collaboration between UEF and the Biobank of Eastern Finland and further developing the re-calling process
  • Utilising genetic information (genotype, phenotype) of biobank data for the development of personalised treatments for brain diseases
• Creating the genetic operating model and procedures for brain diseases in the BRU and testing them

Collaboration: Biobank of Eastern Finland, UEF Genome Center, FinnGen project, KUH/ Wellbeing Services County of North Savo and pilot company Blueprint Genetics Oy

Contact persons: Seppo Helisalmi, Mikko Hiltunen and Maria Pikkarainen (see People for contact information)

WP5 aims to further investigate the added value of biomarker analytics and to identify new competitiveness factors.

Measures:

• Developing need-based biomarker analyses and validating existing commercial tests, incl. new biomarker candidates emerging from research.
• Developing and validating the RT-QuIC method
• Preparing a business development roadmap and further developing the service process for the Biomarker laboratory

Collaboration: pilot companies Roche Diagnostics Oy and Orion Oyj

Contact persons: Sari Kärkkäinen, Sanna-Kaisa Herukka and Maria Pikkarainen (see People for contact information)

See also:

Brain Biomarker Analysis: https://sites.uef.fi/aivobiomarkkeritutkimukset/?lang=en; https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/group/biomarkers-for-neurological-disorders/

WP6 aims to improve the UEF-KUH’s/ Wellbeing Services County of North Savo’s knowhow and resources to support and further develop the cooperation processes related to commercialisation, case neuroimaging cooperation in academic and commission studies.

Measures:

• Describing the expertise and key infrastructure needed for imaging studies tailored to customer needs to support communication and contracts.
• Deepening the cooperation between BRU and KUH imaging services.
• Developing procedures and processes for imaging studies related to clinical academic and commissioned studies to be smooth and repeatable both from an internal point of view and from a customer company point of view.

Collaboration: KUH/ Wellbeing Services County of North Savo (KUH Research Services, KUH Imaging Centre) and the pilot company Orion Oyj

Contact persons: Jenni Niinimäki, Mari Tikkanen, Eino Solje, Reetta Kälviäinen, Jussi Tohka and Maria Pikkarainen (see People for contact information)

A new thematic forum for co-development will be created where project team members, target groups and stakeholders evaluate and develop the cooperation model together. The forum will be integrated into the operations of the Kuopio Health ecosystem.

The forum consists of several thematic events that involve target/stakeholder groups in joint development (workshops, discussions, seminars or working in working groups).

The forum offers numerous meeting opportunities for identifying the R&D development needs of new services and products, finding new business opportunities, and creating new cooperation openings and partnerships.

Collaboration: UEF – internal actors (incl. Development Services, Clinical Research Centre, BRU, BRU Biomarker laboratory, Neuro-RC), Kuopio Brain & Mind, Neurocenter Finland, KUH / Wellbeing Services County of North Savo, Kuopio Health, companies, VTT, the city of Kuopio

The main target group consists of the actors of the Kuopio Health ecosystem, especially startups, micro enterprises and SMEs operating in the field of health technology and health data in the Kuopio area and the Northern Savo region. The measures are aimed specifically at the experts and company management carrying out RDI work in the health sector.

The main stakeholders are (brain) health researchers, clinical experts and health professionals, special experts conducting applied research and product development, as well as other personnel and management responsible for operational development at UEF and at the Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) / Wellbeing Services County of North Savo.

In addition, many other experts and personnel of ongoing development projects belong to the stakeholder group (including personnel from the KUH, Biobank of Eastern Finland, UEF Genome Center, Kuopio Health, Neurocenter Finland, Savonia UAS, VTT, patient organisations, the city of Kuopio, and Kuopio Region Chamber of Commerce).

• Kuopio Health (https://kuopiohealth.fi/en/front-page/)
• Neuro-RC (https://www.uef.fi/en/research-community/neuroscience-neuro)
• UEF Clinical Research Centre (https://sites.uef.fi/crc/)
• UEF Institute of Clinical Medicine (https://www.uef.fi/en/unit/institute-of-clinical-medicine)
• Genome Center of Eastern Finland (https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/group/genome-center-of-eastern-finland/)
• Kuopio Brain & Mind (https://kuopio.neurocenterfinland.fi/en/)
• Kansallinen Neurokeskus (https://neurocenterfinland.fi/en/)
• Pohjois-Savon hyvinvointialue (https://pshyvinvointialue.fi/
• Biobank of Eastern Finland (https://ita-suomenbiopankki.fi/en/)
• Savonia UAS (https://www.savonia.fi/en/homepage/)
• ISLAB (https://www.islab.fi/en/we-are-islab-a-local-and-safe-laboratory-centre/)
• VTT (Health data analytics, https://cris.vtt.fi/en/organisations/ba6308-health-data-analytics)
• City of Kuopio (https://www.kuopio.fi/en/city-of-kuopio/strategy-and-development/development/)
• Pohjois-Savon Muisti ry (https://www.psmuisti.fi/)
• Finnish Movement Disorders Association (https://www.liikehairio.fi/en)
• Finnish Epilepsy Association (https://www.epilepsia.fi/en/home/)
• Finnish Brain Association (https://www.aivoliitto.fi/english/)
• Finnish Neuro Society (https://neuroliitto.fi/neuroliitto/briefly-in-english/)

Upcoming events

Past events

Workshop on Biomarkers for Epilepsies and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Event Details

Date and Time: March 13, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Location: Kuopio City Theatre, Maria-stage, Niiralankatu 2, 70600 Kuopio

Participation: Free

Registration Deadline: March 1st, 2024

To register for the event, please click HERE.

During this workshop we will discuss shared and distinctive characteristics of changes in neuronal markers in various neurological disorders and consider the emerging opportunities and challenges for their future research and diagnostic use. Lessons learned from other therapeutic areas as well as diversity of perspectives are expected to result in the generation of fresh ideas and innovative solutions. Our guest speaker, professor Johan Zelano, introduces us to the topic with his remote talk on “Blood based biomarkers in epilepsies and neurodegenerative diseases“. Johan Zelano is a professor of neurology at Sahlgrenska academy and a consultant neurologist at Sahlgrenska university hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. https://www.gu.se/en/research/johan-zelano

The event is intended for companies from start-ups and health tech to pharma, investors, researchers, and clinicians. The purpose of the event is to stimulate creativity and promote future collaboration.

UEF Brain Research Unit 2.0 ERDF project organizes this group discussion as a free pre-symposium event in connection with Kuopio Epilepsy Symposium 2024. Sanna-Kaisa Herukka, PhD, leader of the UEF Biomarker laboratory, hosts and moderates the event.

Come to share your ideas and perspectives with others. Register for the group discussion event!

Need more information? Contact:
Maria Pikkarainen, Project Manager, UEF ATY 2.0 ERDF project
maria.pikkarainen@uef.fi

***

NEUROCENTER FINLAND ANNUAL EVENT 2023 – Translational Research in Neuroscience – From cellular signaling to new treatments, 29-30 November 2023

This event brings together various actors involved in neurosciences: researchers, clinicians, companies from start-ups and health tech to pharma, investors, patient organisations and stakeholders at large. The purpose of the event is to increase interdisciplinary and translational dialogue and facilitate future collaborations.

The event kicks off on Wednesday, 29th of November with a networking evening in King’s Crown.

Thursday, 30th of November offers a full day program with various hot topics related to translational neuroscience research, development and innovations, and time for networking and dialogue during the breaks.

The UEF Brain Research Unit 2.0 project also participates in this event. Come and meet us at our stand!

Please, find the detailed program and registration link from the event website.

Participation: For free! Sign up before November 23rd 2023! 

Insights from the Workshop on Biomarkers for Epilepsies and Neurodegenerative Diseases held on 13^th March in Kuopio

Workshop on Biomarkers for Epilepsies and Neurodegenerative Diseases was held as a pre-symposium event alongside the 10^th Kuopio Epilepsy Symposium 2024 on March 13th in Kuopio.

See LinkedIn

The workshop brought together over 50 researchers, clinicians, experts, and industry representatives with the aim of driving collaborative research on biomarkers. Key discussions revolved around the shared and distinctive characteristics of neuronal marker changes across neurological disorders, highlighting emerging opportunities and challenges for future research and diagnostic use.

Johan Zelano, a professor of neurology at Sahlgrenska academy and a consultant neurologist at Sahlgrenska university hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden gave an introduction talk emphasizing the role of Tau protein in both epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases and underlining the clinical need for biomarkers in epileptic seizures and status epilepticus. Dr. Sanna-Kaisa Herukka, leader of the UEF Brain Research Unit’s Biomarker Laboratory, gave insights on the Biomarker Laboratory’s capabilities, emphasizing biomarkers like BAm42, Tau, and FosTau in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders and the diagnostic potential of serum neurofilament analysis.

Other highlights included insights from Dr. Susanne Bäck, Senior Manager, Charles River Discovery Research Services, Kuopio, on importance of biomarker discovery in preclinical research. Utilization of biomarkers already in preclinical phase increases the success rate of clinical phase. Integration of biomarkers in preclinical drug discovery increases the probability of success in clinical trials. Dr. Joana Amorim Freire, Associate Scientific Communications Manager, Roche Diagnostics, presented the Neuro Toolkit. Dr. Valtteri Julkunen, UEF, presented the FinnGen and the TWINGEN studies and emphasized the benefits of selective patient recruitment in clinical biobank-based studies. From a future perspective the next step is building framework for imaging biomarkers by obtaining neuroimaging data from biobanks.

In addition to the speeches, the workshop consisted of audience-participating questions and a panel discussion. The panel discussion underscored the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing the workshop’s key insight: biomarker similarities exist across neurological diseases, necessitating collective efforts. The panel included Valtteri Julkunen, professor Reetta Kälviäinen, UEF, professor Mikko Hiltunen, UEF, and Susanne Bäck.

Participants found the event valuable, expressing a desire for more such gatherings to foster collaboration, share visions, and tackle complex issues together. These events serve as platforms for diverse perspectives, fresh ideas, and innovative solutions, facilitating collaborations between universities, hospitals, and companies.

As part of our mission, the UEF Brain Research Unit 2.0 project will continue organizing thematic workshops to foster multidisciplinary collaborations and research partnerships. Upcoming events will be announced on the project’s website.