Faculty

Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology

Tampere University

+358 (0) 294 52 11

Tampere University, Kalevantie 4, 33100 Tampere

Kauppi Campus, Arvo Building Arvo Ylpön katu 34 33520 Tampere Hervanta Campus, Sähkötalo Building Korkeakoulunkatu 3 33720 Tampere

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET) is dedicated to pursuing world-class research and delivering high-quality education in the fields of biomedical engineering, biotechnology, medicine and health technology. We conduct internationally acclaimed basic and applied research.

News

News Article

Research

Tampere University

TAU gets new Academy of Finland-funded projects in biosciences, health and environmental research

Published on 30.5.2023

Vastasyntyneen vauvan käsi pitelee aikuisen sormesta.

News Article

Research

Tampere University

Every fourth baby in the world is born too small or born too soon – researchers present methods for improving the situation

Published on 9.5.2023

News Article

Research

Tampere University

Researchers discovered that various species share a similar mechanism of molecular response to nanoparticles

Published on 9.5.2023

News Article

Research

Tampere University

Hankaniemi and Nevala receive funding from the Academy of Finland’s Research Council for Biosciences, Health and the Environment

Published on 3.5.2023

News Article

Press release

Tampere University

Annual Review wraps up Tampere University’s year 2022

Published on 17.4.2023

News Article

Collaboration

Tampere University

Two ECIU-partners built collaboration in a joint research event

Published on 11.4.2023

Doctoral defences

Event

Public defence

Tampere University

Mikko Lehtimäki: New computational techniques for accelerating brain simulations and very deep artificial neural networks

16.6.2023 13.00–17.00

Korkeakoulunkatu 8, Tampere • Hervanta campus, auditorium FA032 of the Festia building and via remote connection.

Event

Public defence

Tampere University

Christine Gering: Towards better understanding of hydrogel material properties for cell culture purposes

16.6.2023 12.00–16.00

Korkeakoulunkatu 1, Tampere • Hervanta campus, Tietotalo in auditorium TB109 and via remote connection.

Event

Public defence

Tampere University

Linda Nieminen: AI helps to recognise individual factors guiding rehabilitation in back pain patients

9.6.2023 12.00–16.00

Kalevantie 4., Tampere • City centre campus, main building, auditorium A1

Past doctoral defences of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology

MET International Seminar Serie

The MET International Seminar Serie is organized by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and the Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering.

In the serie, high-level international and national speakers give presentations of their own research field. This seminar series brings together the scientific community of MET and others interested and aims to provide the current state of research in the fields of clinical medicine, biomedicine, translational research, molecular biology, bioinformatics and systems biology, cell & tissue technology, biomaterials, biomedical equipment and technology, biophysics and health technology.

MET International Seminar Serie website

The Tampere university community’s areas of priority are technology, health and society. Our Faculty brings together research expertise in medicine, biosciences and technology and is committed to generating new knowledge and solutions that promote health and wellbeing and benefit both individuals and the broader society. Our research interests focus on biomaterials, biosensors, immunology, clinical medicine, tissue engineering, computational systems, imaging, and cell and molecular biology.

MET hosts extensive research infrastructure: MET Core-facilities and Services

Our multidisciplinary Faculty provides a state-of-the-art environment for research that encompasses biotechnology, medicine and technology. Our high-quality basic research paves the way for applied research with commercial potential.

Our close collaboration with the healthcare sector enables us to utilise our research findings, such as new diagnostic methods and treatment options, in clinical practice. Our Faculty is also a member of SPARK Finland, a programme that offers commercialisation support for academic researchers and research-based startups and promotes the growth of internationally competitive healthtech business in Finland.

Our Faculty is home to two Centres of Excellence selected by the Academy of Finland:

The Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research

Prof. Minna Kellomäki, Prof. Katriina Aalto-Setälä, Prof. Jari Hyttinen, Prof. Pasi Kallio, Prof. Susanna Miettinen and Docent Susanna Narkilahti:
Home page CoEBoC

The Centre of Excellence in Tumour Genetics Research

Prof. Matti Nykter:
Home page Computational Biology

Our Faculty houses six research centres:

Celiac Disease Research Center, led by Prof. Katri Lindfors and Prof. Katri Kaukinen
Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center Tampere, led by Research Director Reijo Laaksonen
Prostate Cancer Research Center, led by Prof. Anssi Auvinen and Prof. Steve Bova
Science Mimicking Life – Tissue engineering with integrated technologies and clinical translation, led by Prof. Minna Kellomäki and Docent Susanna Narkilahti
Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, led by Prof. Per Ahorn and Associate Prof. (tenure track) Hannele Laivuori
Research Center for Vaccine Development and Immunology - VACCIM, led by Prof. Eeva Moilanen ja Prof. Heikki Hyöty

In addition, Regea Cell and Tissue Center and the Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE) are located in our Faculty.

We are also part of the Regional Cancer Centre FICAN Mid (Sisä-Suomen syöpäkeskus in Finnish), which coordinates and develops cancer prevention, treatment, diagnostics, and rehabilitation as well as related cancer research in its region.

Research groups

Biomedical Measurements, Actuators and Systems

Mark van Gils - Decision Support for Health
Pasi Kallio - Micro- and Nanosystems
Michiel Postema - ULTRASOUND
Veikko Sariola - Bioinspired Materials and Robotics
Sampo Tuukkanen - Nanoscale Phenomena and Measurements
Leena Ukkonen - Wireless Indentification and Sensing Systems
Antti Vehkaoja - Sensor Technology and Biomeasurements
Jari Viik - Physiological Measurement Systems and Methods

Biotechnology

Vesa Hytönen - Protein Dynamics CMP
Seppo Parkkila - Anatomy CMP
Minni Änkö - Functional RNAomics CMP

Immunology and Virology

Vesna Blazevic - Vaccine Development and Immunology Unit
Teemu Haikarainen - Structural Immunology CMP
Minna Hankaniemi - Virology and Vaccine Immunology
Heikki Hyöty - Virology
Ilkka Junttila - Cytokine biology
Eeva Moilanen - Immunopharmacology
Mataleena Parikka - Infection Biology
Mika Rämet - Experimental Immunology
Olli Silvennoinen - Molecular Immunology

Surgery

Juhana Frösen - Hemorrhagic Brain Pathology
Johanna Laukkarinen - Tampere Pancreas Group
Jari Laurikka - Surgery (Cardiac Surgery)
Ville Mattila - Orthopaedics
Ari Mennander - Cardiovascular Surgery
Niku Oksala - Surgery (especially Vascular Surgery)
Teuvo Tammela - Surgery

Bioimaging and Computational Biology

Jari Hyttinen - Computational Biophysics and Imaging Group
Hannu Eskola - Quantitative Medical Image Analysis
Soile Nymark - Biophysics of the Eye CMP
Jussi Hirvonen - Radiology
Teemu Ihalainen - Cellular Biophysics CMP
Matti Nykter - Computational biology
Pekka Ruusuvuori - Bioimage Informatics
Marja-Leena Linne - Computational Neuroscience Group
Olli Yli-Harja - Computational Systems Biology
Andre S. Ribeiro - Laboratory of Biosystem Dynamics CMP
Dario Greco - Toxicology and Pharmacology CMP

Child Health Research

Per Ashorn - Global Health Group
Keijo Viiri – Intestinal Signalling and Epigenetics CMP
Olli Lohi - Hematology and oncology
Kai Eriksson - Pediatric neurology
Kaija Puura - Child Psychiatry
Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino - Adolescent Psychiatry

Other Fields of Medicine

Anna Maria Heikkinen - Oral health care
Katri Kaukinen - Celires
Markku Sumanen, Tuomas Koskela - General Practice
Lauri Lehtimäki, Hannu Kankaanranta (Seinäjoki) - Pulmonary Medicine
Onni Niemelä - Laboratory Medicine (Especially Addiction Medicine)
Timo Paavonen - Pathology
Tommi Vasankari - Military medicine
Sami Oikarinen - Environmental Health
Timo Peltomäki - Dentistry
Markus Rautiainen - Otorhinolaryngology
Riitta Sauni - Occupational Health
Hanna Kerminen (contact person) - Geriatrics
Johanna Hästbacka - Anaesthesiology
Juho Lehto - Palliative Medicine
Emma Raitoharju - Molecular Epidemiology

Mitochondrial research

Eric Dufour: Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolism CMP
Howy Jacobs - Mitochondrial Biology CMP
Tiina S. Salminen - Mitochondrial Immunometabolism CMP

Women’s health

Annika Auranen - CHEMOVA - Molecular mechanisms leading to chemoresistance in ovarian cancer, Epidemiology of gynecological cancer
Hannele Laivuori - Obstetrics and Clinical Genetics
Karolina Louvanto - Infection and Cancer

Neurology

Jukka Peltola - Neurologia
Sari-Leena Himanen - Clinical Neurophysiology

Psychiatry

Riittakerttu Kaltiala - Adolescent Psychiatry
Jukka Hintikka - Psychiatry
Kaija Puura - Child Psychiatry
Suoma Saarni - Psychiatry

Cell and Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials

Katriina Aalto-Setälä - Physiology, Heart Group
Sanna Hagman - Neuroimmunology
Tero Järvinen - Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine
Susanna Miettinen - Adult Stem Cell Group
Susanna Narkilahti - Neuro Group
Heli Skottman - Eye Group
Hannu Uusitalo - Eye and Vision Research
Timo Ylikomi - Cell Biology
Minna Kellomäki - Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Group
Jonathan Massera - Bioceramics, -glasses and –composites
Oommen P. Oommen - Bioengineering and Nanomedicine Group

Cardiovascular Diseases

Jussi Hernesniemi - Clinical Cardiology
Mika Kähönen - Clinical Physiology
Terho Lehtimäki - Clinical Chemistry
Seppo Nikkari - Medical Biochemistry

Cancer Research

G Steven Bova - PELICAN Personalized Cancer Medicine
Kirsi Rautajoki - Cancer Regulation and Immunology
Arja Jukkola - Oncology and Radiotherapy
Meenakshisundaram Kandhavelu - Molecular Signaling Lab
Olli Lohi - Hematology and oncology
Karolina Louvanto - Infection and Cancer
Teemu Murtola - Urology
Alfonso Urbanucci - Genomic Regulation for Precision Cancer Medicine
Toni Seppälä - Precision Medicine in Abdominal Cancers
Tapio Visakorpi - Molecular Biology of Prostate Cancer
Annika Auranen - CHEMOVA - Molecular mechanisms leading to chemoresistance in ovarian cancer, Epidemiology of gynecological cancer
Jorma Isola - Cancer Biology

Ideal learning environment

Our Faculty produces graduates with broad-based knowledge and skills to meet the future demand for both medical and health technology professionals. Our teaching draws on the latest research conducted worldwide, and we work to ensure that our students are closely integrated into our research community. We maintain diverse learning environments, such as modern simulation and laboratory facilities, and invest in their continuous development. We are committed to creating a positive and supportive atmosphere for our students. Our degree programmes are described below.

Licentiate Degree Programme in Medicine

The Licentiate Degree Programme in Medicine aims to train students to become medical doctors with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to acquire, evaluate and use new knowledge. We place a high priority on the ability to build close and harmonious relationships with patients and having strong team working skills. Our state-of-the-art Tampere Centre for Skills Training and Simulation enables students to practice their clinical skills in a safe environment through simulations. The programme prepares graduates for a broad range of careers not only in primary health care but also in hospitals. The teaching language of the degree programme is Finnish. The applicant must submit evidence of their good command of the Finnish language for academic purposes upon application.

Licentiate Degree Programme in Medicine (only in Finnish)

Medical and dental specialty training

Our Faculty is the second largest provider of medical specialist training in Finland. We offer extensive training in 50 medical specialties and 5 dental specialties. We also offer specialist training in general practice, which confers the right to practice medicine in EU Member States to graduates who have completed a licentiate degree in medicine in Finland. In addition, we provide continuing medical education in 30 medical specialties. The teaching language is Finnish.

Degree Programme in Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering

Our future society will have a growing demand for professionals who are capable of addressing challenges relating to the health and well-being of people and our living environments. The Degree Programme in Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering aims to respond to this demand. We provide students with a unique, cross-disciplinary environment for learning that brings together biosciences, biomedicine and biomedical engineering to improve people’s well-being and promote the adoption of new health technology applications. Our teaching is based on the most recent research evidence, and our students become part of our research community. The programme provides students with broad knowledge and skills for a variety of careers that require the ability to collaborate effectively with professionals from different fields. The teaching is provided in Finnish at bachelor level and in English at master level.

Students who complete the programme are awarded the degree of Master of Science (MSc) or Master of Science in Technology (MSc Tech). Our students can choose their specialisation from a range of options based on their personal interests and career goals.

International master's degree programmes

We offer international students two English-taught master’s programmes: the Master’s Degree Programme in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering and the Master´s Degree Programme in Biomedical Technology. These programmes offer students the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the high-quality international research conducted in our Faculty. Although the language of instruction in these programmes is English, most of the courses bring together international and Finnish students, which will help our international students integrate into the campus community and adjust to life in Finland. Both programmes offers students multiple specialisation options.

Master's Degree Programme in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering

Master's Degree Programme in Biomedical Technology

Master´s Degree Programme in Biomedical Technology

Doctoral programme

We offer a doctoral programme that aims to provide innovative and internationally recognised doctoral education and generate research evidence that improves human well-being and delivers wider benefits to society. Graduates from the Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering receive either the degree of Doctor of Science in Technology (DTech), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Medical Science (MD) or Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc). The studies towards a doctoral degree consist of theoretical courses and a research project that students typically conduct as part of one of our research groups. We place great emphasis on the quality of academic mentoring; all our doctoral students are assigned to a personal follow-up group that supports and monitors their progress towards the degree.

Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering

Other training

We arrange licensing examinations for foreign-trained doctors (information in Finnish) who have graduated outside the EU/EEA and are looking to obtain a license to practice medicine in Finland.

We also provide theoretical education in radiation safety for hospital physicists.

We work in close collaboration with research institutions and industrial partners in Finland and abroad. In the field of medicine, we have active teaching and research partnerships with Tampere University Hospital and other hospitals included in our region’s specific catchment area (Seinäjoki Central Hospital and Kanta-Häme Central Hospital). We actively participate in Tays Cancer Centre and FICAN Mid as well as in Tampere Biobank and FinBioBank. Collaboration has begun with the Neurocenter Finland.

MET host extensive research infrastructure welcoming industrial and research partners for collaboration: MET Core-facilities and Services

Our Faculty is one of the biocenters that make up Biocenter Finland, which is a national research infrastructure in life sciences. We maintain close ties with companies to ensure that our education and research activities respond to their rapidly changing needs. We are committed to developing solutions that benefit society and stimulate economic growth.

Faculty contacts

Management

Dean
Seppo Parkkila
p. +358 401 901 825
seppo.parkkila [at] tuni.fi

Vice Dean for Education
Nina Hutri-Kähönen
p. +358 503 186 288
nina.hutri-kahonen [at] tuni.fi

Vice Dean for Research
Pasi Kallio
p. +358 500 525546
pasi.kallio [at] tuni.fi

Head of Unit, BioMediTech Unit
Jari Hyttinen
p. +358 408 490 020
jari.hyttinen [at] tuni.fi

Head of Unit, Clinical Medicine Unit
Katri Kaukinen
p. +358 503 186 343
katri.kaukinen [at] tuni.fi

Head of Degree Programme in Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering (engineering)
Minna Kellomäki
p. +358 407 066 312
minna.kellomaki [at] tuni.fi

Head of Degree Programme in Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering (natural sciences)
Vesa Hytönen
p. +358 401 901 517
vesa.hytonen [at] tuni.fi

Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering
Mika Kähönen
p. +358 50 318 6297
mika.kahonen [at] tuni.fi

Head of Licentiate Degree Programme in Medicine
Seppo Nikkari
p. +358 50 396 9639
seppo.nikkari [at] tuni.fi

Management support

Special Adviser
Sara Lamminmäki
p. +358 505 234 957
sara.lamminmaki [at] tuni.fi

Executive Assistant
Katriina Viljakka
p. +358 50 4343 223
katriina.viljakka [at] tuni.fi

Executive Assistant
Annika Vastamäki
tel. +358 50 578 0849
annika.vastamaki [at] tuni.fi

Research Specialist
Mariaana Savia
p. +358 40 849 0017
mariaana.savia[at]tuni.fi

HR Matters

HR Partner
Emmi Mustaniemi
p. +358 29 452 5042
emmi.e.mustaniemi [at] tuni.fi

Financial matters

Financial Specialist, Financial Services
Satu Palonen
+358504478517
satu.palonen [at] tuni.fi

Financial Specialist
Marko Liiro (Kauppi campus)
+358 50 300 9080
marko.liiro [at] tuni.fi

Financial Specialist
Heli Ahlfors (Hervanta campus)
p. +358 50 301 0023
heli.ahlfors [at] tuni.fi

Education

Head of Study Affairs
Nina Pietilä
p. +358 50 303 4276
nina.pietila [at] tuni.fi

Education Manager (scientific postgraduate degrees)
Henna Mattila
p. +358 40 190 9756
henna.mattila [at] tuni.fi

Education Manager (specialist training)
Sari Orhanen
p. +358 50 437 2657
sari.orhanen [at] tuni.fi

Composition of the Faculty Council (MET)

Members and deputy members between 1.1.2023–31.12.2026

Professors:

Laivuori Hannele (Kaukinen Katri)
Nykter Matti (Skottman Heli)
Pörsti Ilkka (Murtola Teemu)
Sumanen Markku (Sauni Riitta)
Ukkonen Leena (van Gils Mark)

Teachers, researchers and other staff:

Juuti-Uusitalo Kati (Kesseli Juha)
Nymark Soile (Ihalainen Teemu)
Valtonen Petra (Markkanen Paula)
Vehkaoja Antti (Ryynänen Tomi)
Vuorinen Riikka-Liisa (Oksanen Pia)

Students:

(term 2023–2024)

Hänninen Peetu (Kemppinen Ilkka)
Pietilä Essi (Mäkinen Hilla)
Saarimaa Sini (Kovanen Nina)
Tapio Emilia (Huusko Saara)
Öljymäki Elina (Eriksson Tuusa)

Guidelines for Applying for the Title of Docent

The University may, upon application, award the title of docent to individuals who have a comprehensive knowledge of their field, a capacity for independent research or artistic work demonstrated through publications or some other manner, and good teaching skills.

Criteria, application procedure and faculty-speficic instructions