FINBB Board Members
Chairman of the Board
Kati Kristiansson
Director of Research and Development, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa
Kati (Ph.D., Associate Professor in Medical Molecular Genetics) leads the RDI division in the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa. The division is responsible for research, development, innovation, as well as education and training services within the Wellbeing Services County. Before moving to Pirkanmaa, Kati worked for over 20 years in various research roles related to genomics, common diseases, and biobank research at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. In her free time, Kati enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and taking her two Havanese dogs for walks in the forest.
Antti Hakanen
Chief physician, Director
Tyks Laboratories, Turku University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland
Antti (MD, PhD, adjunct professor, EMBA) is a specialist in clinical microbiology. He works as the director of Tyks Laboratories. Auria Biobank is a part of Tyks Laboratories in terms of financial administration. In addition, he is the director of the University of Turku’s and Varha’s Centre of Excellence in Infections and Microbes. Antti’s own research is mainly related to the antimicrobial resistance of bacteria and the health effects of human microbiota. In his free time, Antti spends time at his summer cottage in the Turunmaa archipelago and plays the drums.
Arto Mannermaa
Professor, University of Eastern Finland
Director, Biobank of Eastern Finland
Professor Arto Mannermaa has 30 years of experience in the research field of molecular pathology of cancer and the components of breast cancer risk. He is head of the Multidisciplinary Cancer Research Community at UEF and director of the Biobank of Eastern Finland.
Mannermaa has expertise in cancer genomics and methodologies to study tumor-specific circulating molecules. He has also implemented deep machine learning and Big Data analysis to reveal the interaction of features affecting cancer risk and outcome. Mannermaa has over 300 peer-reviewed publications with over 16,000 citations.
While out of office, Mannermaa enjoys outdoor activities, such as sailing and trekking.
Taneli Raivio
Taneli Raivio received his MD and PhD degrees from the University of Helsinki, Finland. He completed his postdoctoral training in the USA at the Harvard Reproductive Endocrine Sciences Center, MA. He is a pediatric endocrinologist and holds the Niilo Hallman Professorship of Translational Pediatrics at the University of Helsinki and serves as the Chief of Research at the Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
Sirpa Soini
Doctor of Law, Master of Laws with court training
Director, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
Sirpa is the director of a THL department that is responsible for a broad spectrum of tasks within the social and healthcare information activities. These include, e.g., national guidance, comprehensive social and welfare database, statistics, registers, information architecture, data collection, reporting, and analytics, as well as biobanking.
Previously, Sirpa was the director of THL Biobank for four years. She has worked in various roles that support medical research for over 20 years.
She is one of the chairmen of HUS' medical research ethics committee. In the summer, Sirpa enjoys spending time in the Finnish archipelago, and in snowy landscapes with family and friends during the winter.
Miia Turpeinen
Professor, Hospital Director
Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia, Oulu University Hospital
Mia (MD, PhD, Adjunct Professor) is a Medical Specialist in Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy as well as Healthcare. Currently she is Senior Medical Officer at Oulu University Hospital and Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy at University of Oulu. In addition, Miia is a Registered Toxicologist of Federation of European Toxicologists (EUROTOX) and she has Special Competences certified by the Finnish Medical Association in Medical Education and Pharmaceutical Medicine. Her spare time interests include forest management, Welsh Cardigan Corgis, reading as well as activities in scientific and professional societies.