Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM)

06/08/2025

🧬 Twin Study: Is Humor Production in Our Genes?

New paper co-authored by FIMM researchers Dr. Stephanie Zellers and Professor Jaakko Kaprio is the first twin study to explore the genetic and environmental contributions to humor production: the skill of creating humor that makes others laugh.

By analyzing responses from over 600 twin pairs in the UK, the researchers found that while other aspects of humor may have some heritable component, the capacity to produce humor appears to be primarily shaped by environmental factors.

The study was done in collaboration with Dr. Gil Greengross, Dr. Paul Silvia and Professor Nancy Segal, who recently wrote a blog post about the study findings for the Psychology Today.

Read more:

Link to the blog post:
🔗 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/twofold/202507/is-humor-in-our-genes

Link to the original publication:
https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2025.10010

31/07/2025

Relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains difficult to treat.

Combination therapies can improve patient outcomes, but the massive number of possible drug combinations vastly exceeds what could be tested in clinical trials or patient cells.

In a recent article published in Cancer Research, a team led by Professor Tero Aittokallio developed an experimental-computational approach that leverages single-cell transcriptomics and single-agent response profiles from primary patient samples.

The method pinpoints targeted drug combinations that selectively co-inhibit treatment-resistant cancer cells in each AML patient sample to propose personalised, safe and effective therapies.

"We observed that cell type compositions evolve dynamically between the diagnostic and relapsed/refractory stages uniquely in each patient, hence requiring personalized drug combination strategies to target therapy-resistant cancer cells”, says the first author of the study, Doctoral Researcher Yingjia Chen from FIMM.

The study was done in collaboration with researchers from Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki (FIMM, HiLIFE and Faculty of Medicine), iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship project, and Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) of the University of Copenhagen.

Researchers developed a systematic combinatorial design strategy that uses machine learning to prioritize the most promising drug combinations for relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia. It integrates single-cell transcriptomics and single-agent response data to propose personalized, safe and ef...

16/07/2025

Mac4Me project has kicked off with a meeting in Rotterdam and the first doctoral training session!

Mac4Me is a 48-month Horizon Europe MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) Doctoral Network initiative that tackles both scientific and societal challenges associated with cancer metastasis.

The project focuses on three cancer types — neuroblastoma, breast cancer, and prostate cancer — known for their limited response to current immunotherapies and their tendency to metastasize.

By examining how tumour cells invade healthy tissues, Mac4Me aims to develop new strategies for understanding and treating metastatic disease.

Among the 18 fellows who are sarting their career as scientists with Mac4Me, we at FIMM are happy to host Sidney van der Zande. Her project "Spatial multiplexed immunofluorescence profiling of patient tumour tissue samples collected from brain/bone/liver metastases of the different cancer types" is supervised by Dr. Teijo Pellinen.

Read more about the Mac4Me project here:

https://mac4me.eu/

10/07/2025

Exciting opportunity to work at the interface of cutting-edge research and high-quality bioinformatics service!

We are looking for an experienced and collaborative bioinformatician to join the newly established HiLIFE Biodata unit.

This is a service-driven position in a core facility environment, as part of the Biodata Meilahti team, located at FIMM on the Meilahti biomedical campus.

Your primary role will be to provide high-quality data analysis services to life scientists, with a focus on single-cell, spatial and multiomics data. You will work closely with researchers, provide support through consultation and training, and contribute to the development of reproducible analysis workflows and pipelines.

Expectations:

✔️ A PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, data science, computer science, genetics or other relevant field.
✔️Demonstrated experience in analysing high-throughput life science data.
✔️ Knowledge in the relevant bioinformatics methods and tools.

Read more and apply by 15 August!

https://jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki-Bioinformatician/823615802/

07/07/2025

Join us online or on-site for an interactive event on 4th of September 2025 to explore the future of the Finnish health data ecosystem, current opportunities in research collaboration and the potential to accelerate R&D between the public and private sectors!

Organised in collaboration between the FIMM-coordinated FinnGen research project, Sitra, FINBB and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, this event brings together key actors in the Finnish health data ecosystem and representatives from pharmaceutical and biotech companies to discuss how Finland’s health data infrastructure can best serve the evolving research, innovation and product development needs.

This is a hybrid event:
ONLINE: 12:45-16:15 (EET) • 11:45-15:15 (CET) • 5:45 am – 9:15 am (ET, US)
ON-SITE: 12:45-16:15 (EET) at Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa

At the event, Sitra will present a preliminary vision for the future of Finnish health data use and access, with a particular focus on public-private partnerships. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback and contribute to shaping this vision.

Join a diverse lineup of speakers, including Olli Kallioniemi, Kimmo Porkka, Aarno Palotie, Mark McCarthy among many others, exploring the future of health data.

Register here to secure your seat:
https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/FinnishHealthDataEcosystem

More information:
https://www.finngen.fi/en/finnish-health-data-ecosystem-future-perspectives-applications-global-rd

04/07/2025

Career opportunity!

The Machine Learning in Biomedicine (MLBioMed) research group at FIMM is currently seeking a highly-motivated postdoctoral researcher to join their interdisciplinary team.

Led by Esa Pitkänen, the project aims to develop machine learning models for large-scale pan-cancer multiomics data. The position is for a fixed term of three years.

If you have a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in computer science, data science, statistics, bioinformatics, or a related discipline, a strong publication record, proficiency in Python and experience working in Linux-based HPC environments or cloud computing platforms, this might be your chance to revolutionise cancer care through the power of massive data and machine learning!

Read more and apply by Aug 31 here:
https://jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki-Postdoctoral-Researcher-in-Multimodal-Machine-Learning-for-Precision-Cancer-Medicine/823769502/

02/07/2025

New publication from FIMM and collaborators in Scientific Reports!

In this study, the research team demonstrates how AI-assisted digital microscopy using portable whole-slide scanners can significantly improve the detection of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in stool samples collected from Kenyan schoolchildren.

The expert-verified AI method showed higher sensitivity than both manual microscopy and autonomous AI, particularly for light-intensity infections that are often missed in traditional diagnostics. Specificity remained above 97% for all parasite species.

This study highlights the potential of AI to support more accurate and scalable diagnostics in resource-limited settings – crucial as global STH prevalence declines and more sensitive tools are needed for monitoring and control.

At FIMM, the study was led by Dr. Johan Lundin and Dr. Nina Linder. Congratulations!

The work was carried out in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet, Uppsala University, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), and Kinondo Kwetu Hospital.

A new study shows that expert-verified AI outperforms both manual microscopy and autonomous AI in detecting intestinal parasite infections - especially in light intensity infections that are often missed.

19/06/2025

Our warmest congratulations to all FIMM-affiliated researchers who have received funding from the winter call of the Research Council of Finland!

Academy Projects:
Olli Kallioniemi, Rafa Najumudeen & Esa Pitkänen

Academy Research Fellowship:
Tuomo Hartonen

Clinical Researcher:
Pauli Pöyhönen

17/06/2025

The Young Investigator of the Month honor at FIMM highlights a FIMM doctoral or postdoctoral researcher each month for a recent significant accomplishment.

🎉 The Young Investigator for May 2025 is Yingjia Chen. Warm congratulations to her for her recent first-author publication, “A Machine Learning-Based Strategy Predicts Selective and Synergistic Drug Combinations for Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia”, in Cancer Research.

Yingjia is a doctoral researcher in Tero Aittokallio’s group at FIMM. Her PhD research focuses on leveraging data-driven approaches to identify effective personalised therapies for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

In her recent publication, she combined machine learning strategies and single-cell transcriptomic profiles to reveal cellular heterogeneity of AML and identify personalized drug combinations selectively and synergistically targeting leukemia cells, particularly in patients with relapsed/refractory disease.

11/06/2025

In this interview, Technology Networks sat down with FIMM Research Director Caroline Heckman to learn more about how precision medicine can be used to help guide clinical decisions for cancer patients and how she envisions the role of precision medicine in cancer therapy evolving over the next few years.

Read the full interview 👇

Explore the future of precision medicine cancer therapy. Understand personalized treatment strategies and innovations shaping oncology care.

09/06/2025

Upcoming FIMM dissertation! 🏛️

MSc Feiyi Wang will defend her doctoral dissertation "Familial and genetic risk factors for autoimmune diseases" in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, on 16 June 2025 at 13:00.

Professor Ingrid Kockum, Karolinska Institutet, will serve as the opponent and Associate Professor Andrea Ganna, University of Helsinki, as the custos. The thesis has been supervised by Andrea Ganna and Tiinamaija Tuomi

The public examination will take place in the lecture hall 2 of Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, and can also be followed online. Welcome!

Event 🔗: https://tapahtumat.helsinki.fi/en-FI/page/682fb011fafad1b3a68d0fdc/feiyi-wang-familial-and-genetic-risk-factors-for-autoimmune-diseases

06/06/2025

Research Director Olli Kallioniemi discusses the opportunities the Brain Gain grant brings to his work in Finland in this new article by the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation.

Kallioniemi wants to explore possibilities to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and Nordic health data optimally to study health and to treat patients.

"With the five-year grant I will be able to define a role that does not need to fit in any predetermined mould", says Kallioniemi.

"My objective is to create thinking that is completely new in the field, and to reform the whole health care system in the long run."

With the help of a five-year Brain Gain grant, Olli Kallioniemi studies targeted therapy for cancer and the possibilities of utilizing artificial intelligence in medicine. The grant jointly awarded by three foundations brought him back to Finland after years spent abroad.