Professor, Chief Physician Hasse Karlsson has been appointed as the new chair of Neurocenter Finland’s National Steering Board, effective from 1 January 2023. Karlsson works as Professor of Integrative Neuroscience and Psychiatry at the University of Turku, having previously served as Director of Turku Brain and Mind Center, and as Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Helsinki.

Neurocenter Finland is a cooperation network between seven universities and five university hospitals operating in different wellbeing services counties, established under the auspices of several Finnish ministries in 2021. Formed by the member organisations, the regional Brain & Mind networks in Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Oulu, Tampere and Turku bring together more than 1,000 Finnish neuroscientists and key regional stakeholders, including patient organisations.

“Neurocenter Finland’s regional activities are currently visible in the form of ERDF projects promoting research and business collaboration, thematic events, other actions in line with regional priorities, and inter-regional cooperation,” Hasse Karlsson says.

Neurocenter Finland seeks to promote national and international research collaboration in order to contribute to innovations related to the promotion of brain health, diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation.

“The aim is to improve brain health and to significantly reduce the costs caused by brain diseases in Finland, as well as to raise the level and impact of scientific research,” Karlsson says.

At the time of its establishment and during the first two-year term, Neurocenter Finland’s National Steering Board was chaired by Professor Reetta Kälviäinen of the University of Eastern Finland, and the university will continue to coordinate the centre’s activities under the lead of Director Eero Rissanen. Kälviäinen says she is pleased to pass the torch on at a time when the activities have become established and there is new kind of momentum in highlighting the significant added value stemming from national collaboration.

Hasse Karlsson’s research focuses on brain development. He is in charge of the extensive FinnBrain birth cohort examining children’s brain development and factors affecting it. The aim is to identify early changes and risk factors in different brain diseases.

Karlsson sees great potential in deepening Neurocenter Finland’s national synergies in neuroscience research, in conducting research that benefits patient care, and in enriching international collaboration.

“The challenge is to create an atmosphere where researchers and stakeholders can feel that they are working for a common cause. This will enable neuroscience to better respond to the complex challenges brain health is facing.”

For further information, please contact:

Hasse Karlsson, Chair of Neurocenter Finland’s National Steering Board, hasse.karlsson (a) utu.fi

Eero Rissanen, Director of Neurocenter Finland, eero.rissanen (a) uef.fi

– Neurocenter Finland
– Helsinki Brain & Mind
– Jyväskylä Brain & Mind
– Kuopio Brain & Mind
– Oulu Brain & Mind
– Tampere Brain & Mind
– Turku Brain & Mind