Postdoctoral Researcher Baraa Abuasaker is researching novel ways to treat melanoma patients. Abuasaker’s research focuses on studying TAK-981, an inhibitor that targets a cellular process known as SUMOylation.
Read more on the University of Turku website.
Postdoctoral Researcher Anna Scheer is studying sex-specific risk factors that affect heart health. Her research focuses on the effects that health conditions, such as pre‑eclampsia and gestational diabetes, have on the hearts of the women affected by them.
Read more on the University of Turku website.
Postdoctoral Researcher Usevalad Ustsinau is working at the Turku PET Centre to explore the interplay between ageing, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, and how they affect metabolism in the liver, heart, and adipose tissues. His findings could lead to a better understanding of metabolic health and how it can be maintained in different circumstances.
Read more on the University of Turku website.
Senior Researcher Jiawei Yang is working on an exercise-aware wearable that uses AI to detect worsening heart failure. He wants to create a device that could save lives and money by detecting worsening heart failure at an early stage, making it possible for the wearer to seek medical help early. Read more on the University of Turku website.
SYS-LIFE Postdoctoral Researcher Julian Brandmeier wants to improve Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diagnostics and facilitate earlier detection of these diseases. The goal of his research is to enable wide screening for these diseases by creating ultrasensitive immunoassays, which make it possible to detect neurodegenerative biomarkers in blood samples. Read more on the University of Turku website.
The Marie Curie Alumni Association Finland Chapter held its first in-person meeting on March 14 in Turku co-organized by SYS-LIFE at the University of Turku and the alumni association. The inaugural event aimed to strengthen the MCAA community in Finland, encourage collaboration between Finnish institutions and highlight the research, experiences and career journeys of the Marie Curie fellows and alumni.
The event was opened by Chair of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Finland Chapter Cristina Florea from the University of Eastern Finland. SYS-LIFE’s project manager, Eeva Rainio spoke briefly about University of Turku and presented the SYS-LIFE programme.
Later during the day, the alumni had lightning talks and presentations about their own projects. The event concluded with networking and future MCAA Finland chapter activities planning.
More about the alumni association at: ABOUT.
SYS-LIFE researchers practised media interview skills and discussed equality and multicultural workplaces during a training session on Monday, 23 February. Read more on the University of Turku website.
More than 60 MSCA COFUND fellows, programme staff and network partners gathered on 23 October 2025 for the Turku City Welcome Event for MSCA COFUND Fellows. The celebration took place at Restaurant Brunndeli at Aboa Vetus Ars Nova and highlighted the growing international research community in Turku.
Celebration of Talent and Collaboration
The evening began with a toast of sparkling wine, followed by a welcome address from Sinikka Valtonen, Director of Human Resources at the City of Turku.
She emphasised the City’s strong commitment to supporting international researchers and fostering a truly global research environment in Turku.
The University of Turku’s Vice Rector Piia Seppänen then introduced the University’s MSCA COFUND programmes and highlighted how many professionals across the University contribute to their administration and success.
Presentation of COFUND Programmes
Programme Directors from all six MSCA COFUND programmes introduced their initiatives and shared highlights from their activities:
Reflections from SYS-LIFE
In his remarks, Vice Director Georges Kazan summarised key achievements from the SYS-LIFE programme. He highlighted that SYS-LIFE had completed its second and final selection round, welcoming eleven new fellows and forming a vibrant international research community in medicine, biomedicine and behavioural sciences.
He noted that the University of Turku now hosts six active MSCA COFUND programmes, which together have recruited approximately 120 outstanding researchers worldwide through rigorous international peer review. These programmes advance the shared goal of the University and the City of Turku to attract and nurture top-level global talent.
Kazan also underlined the University’s Research Collegia model—based on the tradition of the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study—as a foundation for excellence, interdisciplinary exchange and societal impact.
He thanked the University, the City of Turku, Business Turku and the Turku University Foundation for their support, and acknowledged the dedicated work of the project teams behind the COFUND programmes.
Networking and Community Building
The evening concluded with networking over drinks and light snacks, giving fellows the opportunity to connect across disciplines, share experiences and strengthen collaboration within the growing Turku research community.
This article was prepared with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot.
After a busy autumn, SYS-LIFE would like to wish everyone happy holidays! We want to kindly thank our community for the inspiring collaboration throughout the year and wish everybody a joyful and restful season, as well as, a bright start to the year 2026.
SYS-LIFE Training, 26 September 2025
SYS-LIFE fellows, together with researchers from the TCSMT Collegium, gathered for a full-day training session focused on the intersections of science policy and research impact. The event welcomed doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and featured contributions from leading experts to inspire dialogue on science policy and impact.
Programme Highlights
Photograph courtesy of Maiju Kannisto
