Grants 2025

This year we received 76 grant applications, which is 14 applications less than the previous year. There were fewer applicants especially for personal working grants concerning i.e. dissertation research. The total amount of grant funds being sought was in excess of 2,2 million Euros.

A fourth of the applications were received from researchers working at the University of Helsinki. Nearly 70 percent of the applications were focused on type 2 diabetes research and nearly 30 percent on type 1 diabetes research. One application may focus on several types of diabetes.
Based on the proposal of our scientific committee, our administration awarded grants to 29 diabetes researchers. The amount of awarded grant funding was the largest in our history, totaling 600 000 Euros.

Our two-year venture grant of 120 000 Euros was awarded M.D. and docent Sini Heinonen from the University of Helsinki and HUS. She and her team will apply the awarded grant to the development of novel type 2 diabetes and obesity treatment by studying the activation of adipose tissue mitochondrial metabolism.

The two-year venture grant of 120 000 Euros

Heinonen Sini, M.D:, docent, the University of Helsinki, HUS

Novel targets for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes through activation of adipose
tissue mitochondrial metabolism

The grant awarded Heinonen and her research group also contains the following personal grants: Heinonen Sini, 3 months, 9 000 Euros, Jänis Matti, 3 months, 5 400 Euros, Ketola Jaakko, 3 months, 5 400 Euros, Kontro Rosales Ana, 3 months, 5 400 Euros, Vuorela Laura, 3 months, 5 400 Euros

The one-year venture grants

Adeshara Krishna, Ph.D., the University of Helsinki, Folkhälsan Research Center, 26 724 Euros

Investigating the molecular and genetic links between glycation, oxidative stress, and
cardiovascular risk in type 1 diabetes

Aitta-Aho Teemu, Ph.D., docent, the University of Helsinki, 27 000 Euros

Rescue from T2D leptin resistance with novel gut hormone drugs in human brain
hypothalamus-immune cell neural network

Chandra Vikash, Ph.D., docent, the University of Helsinki, 27 000 Euros

Understanding the molecular mechanism of a major type 2 diabetes risk genotype
TCF7L2-rs7903146 through pluripotent stem cells

Hagan Brown Erika, Ph.D., the University of Helsinki, 27 000 Euros

Stemness, organotypic models and omics – towards a better understanding of Proliferative
Diabetic Retinopathy

Harjutsalo Valma, Ph.D:, docent, the University of Helsinki, Folkhälsan Research Center, 27 000 Euros

Osteoporosis and bone fracture risk in individuals with type 1 diabetes and associated risk
factors

Hentilä Jaakko, DScMvt, the University of Turku, PET Centre, 16 800 Euros

The effects of obesity and exercise training on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle
epigenetics and brain inflammation

The grant awarded Hentilä and his research group also contains the following personal grant: Hentilä Jaakko, 6 months, 16 800 Euros

Lehto Markku, Ph.D., docent, the University of Helsinki, Folkhälsan Research Center, 27 000 Euros

Epidemiology and diagnostics of gut related disorders in adults with type 1 diabetes

Matilainen Johanna, M.Sc. (dissertation), the University of Helsinki, FIMM, 27 000 Euros

Determining specificity of urinary extracellular vesicles as non-invasive indicators of
diabetic kidney disease

The grant awarded Matilainen and her research group also contains the following personal grant: Matilainen Johanna, 3 months, 7 800 Euros

Raza Ghulam Shere, Ph.D., the University of Oulu, 25 960 Euros

Role of circadian clock factor Rev-Erb in type-2 diabetes and obesity

The grant awarded Raza and his research group also contains the following personal grant: Raza Gulam Shere, 7 months, 19 600 Euros

Sliz Eeva, Ph.D., the University of Oulu, 14 400 Euros

Elucidating human leukocyte antigen system epistasis to understand and prevent diabetes
and its microvascular complications

The grant awarded Sliz and her research group also contains the following personal grant: NN, 6 months, 14 400 Euros

Thorn Lena, M.D., assistant professor, the University of Helsinki, Folkhälsan Research Center, 27 000 Euros

Sudden cardiac death in individuals with type 1 diabetes: clinical and molecular risk factors

The grant awarded Thorn and her research group also contains the following personal grant: Smidtslund Patrik, 3 months, 7 800 Euros

Viiri Keijo, Ph.D., docent, the University of Tampere, 27 000 Euros

The role of F-actin severing proteins in the gut and pancreas regulating blood sugar
homeostasis – applicability for diabetes treatment

The grant awarded Viiri and his research group also contains the following personal grant: Martin Diaz Laura, 4 months, 9 600 Euros

The Personal working grants

Aatsinki Milla, MHS, the University of Turku, 6 months, 14 400 Euros

Maternal nutritional and metabolic determinants of child neurodevelopment and factors
influencing child’s eating behavior

Bergdal Rebecka, Lic.Med., the University of Helsinki, Folkhälsan Research Center, 3 months, 6 600 Euros

Coronary artery disease and heart failure in type 1 diabetes: association with cumulative
exposure to glycaemia, lipids and hypertension

Haapakangas Suvi, MHS, cand.med., the University of Oulu, 2 months, 4 400 Euros

Metabolic health of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – Assessment of
prevalence, metabolic abnormalities and clinical tests

Kartiosuo Noora, M.Sc., the University of Turku, 4 months, 9 600 Euros

Paternal effects on cardiometabolic health – the mediating role of epigenetic markers

Lohi Petrus, cand.med., the University of Tampere, 3 months, 5 400 Euros

The Association Between Diabetes and Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Large National
Register-Based Study

Monola Julia, pharmacist, the University of Helsinki, 6 months, 14 400 Euros

Therapeutic Extracellular Vesicles for Diabetic Wound Treatment

Muralidharan Sachin, M.Sc., the University of Helsinki, 3 months, 6 600 Euros

Role of transcription factor MEIS2 in human pancreatic development

Mustonen Iiris, M.Sc., the University of Tampere, 6 months, 14 400 Euros

Intranasally administrated vaccine preventing virus-induced Type 1 Diabetes

Ouri Pyry, cand.med., the University of Helsinki, 6 months, 12 000 Euros

Developing a Personalized Diabetes Risk Management App Using Repeated Risk Factor
and Intervention Data

Pahkuri Sirpa, M.Sc., the University of Turku, 6 months, 14 400 Euros

DNA methylation as a mediator of genetic and environmental factors in type 1 diabetes
pathogenesis

Purola Petri, Ph.D., the University of Tampere, 6 months, 16 800 Euros

The impact of diabetic retinopathy and its treatment on vision and well-being in Finland

Putula Elena, Lic.Med., the University of Tampere, 3 months, 6 600 Euros

Prognosis of type 1 diabetes and factors affecting it in Finland

Pöllänen Petra, M.D., the University of Helsinki, 6 months, 16 800 Euros

Immunomodulatory effects of early enterovirus, norovirus, and rhinovirus infections on
regulatory T cells in young children

Riekki Hanna, cand.med., the University of Tampere, 6 months, 14 400 Euros

Metabolic complications of overweight in children and adolescents

Tuomola Nelli, Lic.Med., the University of Turku, PET Centre, 3 months, 6 600 Euros

Effects of fatty liver and obesity on metabolism

Örling Johanna, M.Sc., the University of Turku, PET Centre, 6 months, 14 400 Euros

The Immunological Profile of Brown Adipose Tissue and Its Role in Human Metabolic
Health