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Henri Korkalainen ([email protected])

Research focused on the applications of machine learning to sleep medicine. Interests in biosignal analysis, neural networks, data analysis, sleep apnea diagnostics, and health technology.

Jing Zhou ([email protected])

My research examines how youth well-being is shaped across different social contexts and conditions of vulnerability. I focus in particular on adolescent and young people’s mental health, social inclusion, and everyday life experiences in contemporary welfare societies, with attention to how individual resources interact with family environments, educational settings, and broader institutional and policy frameworks.

A central feature of my work is the use of diverse empirical contexts to address a shared set of theoretical questions. I have conducted and am currently conducting research on urban youth populations in Shanghai, exploring youth development, social participation, and mental well-being in rapidly changing metropolitan environments. In parallel, I am engaged in research on family resilience among families of children and adolescents with special needs, with a focus on caregiving practices, family resources, and the role of institutional support. Building on these research lines, I am currently developing work on immigrant adolescents, examining social inclusion, psychosocial adjustment, and inequalities in well-being.

Methodologically, my research is grounded in quantitative and mixed-methods approaches. I work extensively with large-scale survey data and apply advanced statistical techniques, including structural equation modeling, latent profile analysis, and multi-group and alignment-based measurement invariance testing. Across my work, I place strong emphasis on rigorous measurement, cross-context comparability, and the translation of empirical findings into insights relevant for both academic research and policy development.

I am currently involved in several nationally and internationally funded research projects. Among these, I serve as principal investigator of a project supported by the Juho Vainio Foundation, which focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles and mental well-being among school-aged populations, with particular attention to digital well-being, physical activity, and sleep. My research is embedded in international research networks and aims to contribute to high-quality scientific publications as well as evidence-informed youth, family, and health policies.

Purbanka Pahari ([email protected])

Department of Applied Physics

Present research interests: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Intermittent Hypoxemia, Daytime Somnolence, Desaturation Severity

Saara Sillanmäki ([email protected])

I am a physician and Academy Research Fellow based in Kuopio, Finland. My research focuses on cardiac imaging and physiology, aortic dilation, and the impact of sleep apnea on the cardiovascular system. I graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Eastern Finland in 2012, obtained my Doctor of Medicine degree in 2019, and specialized in Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine in 2022. I hold the title of Adjunct Professor (Docent) in Experimental Cardiac Imaging.

I lead the MOMESY research group, which focuses on developing novel cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. Our work includes advanced tissue characterization techniques (such as RAFFn), 4D flow imaging, MRI strain analysis, and diffusion tensor imaging. My particular research interests include cardiomyopathies and pulmonary hypertension.

In addition, I serve as a co–principal investigator in the DILAO research group studying aortic dilation, and I work as a physician in the STAR sleep research group. I also have experience collaborating with the pharmaceutical industry.

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Sami Myllymaa ([email protected])

Adjunct professor Sami Myllymaa received his Ph.D. degree in 2010 and the title of docent in the field of Medical Physics, especially biomaterials and bioelectrode technology in 2014 from the University of Eastern Finland. He is currently acting as a Senior Researcher and Co-head of the Sleep Technology and Analytics Group (STAG) at the Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland.

His current research is focused on development of novel wearable sensors and machine learning solutions for personalized diagnostics and prognostics of sleep disorders (obstructive sleep apnoea, sleep bruxism). Furthermore, he has been very active in the field of salivary metabolomics and development of new coatings and electrochemical biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics. In addition to scientific publications, his work has led to commercialization of the scientific innovations. He involved to the development of an EEG electrode set for emergency medicine. This BrainStatus EEG-electrode set (Bittium Corp.) is patented, CE-approved and currently marketed globally (https://www.bittium.com/products_services/medical/bittium_brainstatus).

Taru Kesävuori ([email protected])

Taru Kesävuori is a Doctoral Researcher in the University of Eastern Finland, Business School. She works in the Neuro-innovation and impact (NOVA) research team that produces knowledge on collaborative research and innovation strategies in the field of neuroscience. Taru works in the DATASLEEP research project that enhances understanding of how social and institutional factors influence the shaping of medical innovations in the field of sleep.

Taru obtained a BSc in Mathematics from Helsinki University in 2010 and a MSc in International Design Business Management from Aalto University in 2013. Her primary research interest lies in the datafication of society and its impacts on health R&I practices and infrastructure.

Timo Leppänen ([email protected])

I started my studies in the University of Eastern Finland in 2011 after two years in the service for the Finnish Defense Forces. I got my bachelor, master and doctoral degrees in five years in 2016 at the age of 26 years and my thesis earned a grade of approved with distinction (which is awarded only if dissertation falls in the category of top 5% of its field). Since then, I have been a co-head and principal investigator in the STAG, a research team focusing on sleep-related disorders and development of novel methods and computational tools for sleep data analysis. Furthermore, I have established a wide international collaboration network with world’s top-level scientists and research infrastructures as well as companies operating at business sector. My research is mainly funded by the the Academy of Finland (Postdoctoral Researcher), Business Finland (NordicPerMed project NordSleep) and private foundations.

My research is focused on development of novel diagnostic parameters, mathematical solutions, and paradigms for severity estimation of obstructive sleep apnea. Therefore, it is very closely related to medical physics but it has also strong interface with clinical medicine. Thus, my research is a great example of interdisciplinary research in University of Eastern Finland but also of active research collaboration between University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital.