UEF researchers are part of several Finnish Research Flagships and Centres of Excellence. In addition, many have been awarded highly competed ERC grants by the European Research Council.
Learn more about our high-quality, socially impactful and science-transforming projects below.
The Research Council of Finland’s Centre of Excellence Programmes are a success story in Finnish research. Centres of Excellence (CoE) are at the very cutting edge of science in their fields, carving out new avenues for research, developing creative research environments and innovations, and training new talented researchers for the Finnish research and business sectors. The University of Eastern Finland is part of three Centres of Excellence and leads two of them.
The Centre of Excellence in Anthropocenic Chemical Ecology of Forests (2026–2033)
The Centre of Excellence in Anthropocenic Chemical Ecology of Forests is led by Professor James Blande. Other researchers involved from the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the Department of Technical Physics are Liqing Hao, Jorma Joutsensaari, and Delia Milagros Pinto Zevallos. The CoE partners are the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Åbo Akademi University, the Natural Resources Institute of Finland and the University of Turku.
The Centre of Excellence in Peatlands, Climate Change and Ecological Restoration (2026–2033)
The Centre of Excellence in Peatlands, Climate Change and Ecological Restoration is led by Professor Eeva-Stiina Tuittila at the School of Forest Sciences of the University of Eastern Finland. The CoE partners are the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Aalto University and the University of Helsinki.
Virtual Laboratory for Molecular Level Atmospheric Transformations (2022–2029)
The Centre of Excellence combines atmospheric and computer science to construct a virtual laboratory for atmospheric aerosol formation, interactively integrating experimental and theoretical state-of-the art methods from the fields of chemistry, physics and artificial intelligence. The Centre is led by Professor Hanna Vehkamäki at the University of Helsinki. Professor Kari Lehtinen and Associate Professor Siegfried Schobesberger from the Aerosol Physics Research Group at the University of Eastern Finland are members of the Centre of Excellence.
The Research Council of Finland’s Flagship Programme is an instrument that supports high-quality research and increases the societal impact emerging from the research. The University of Eastern Finland is part of six Flagships and coordinates three of them.
FAME – Flagship of Advanced Mathematics for Sensing, Imaging and Modelling
(2024–2028)
The FAME Flagship is a multidisciplinary consortium that develops methods of applied mathematics and physics for the benefit of society, including medical imaging, industrial process monitoring, non-destructive structural testing and satellite data analysis. The FAME Flagship is built on cutting-edge research in inverse problems, and it works in close collaboration with industrial and societal partners. The Flagship is led by Professor Tanja Tarvainen at the University of Eastern Finland.
GeneCellNano – The Gene, Cell and Nano Therapy Competence Cluster for the Treatment of Chronic Diseases
(2020–2028)
GeneCellNano Flagship develops new biological drugs, so-called ATMP products, biomarkers and diagnostics for diseases with unmet clinical need. New treatments are developed for cardiovascular diseases and age-related macular degeneration, as well as for brain, ovarian and bladder cancer. The Flagship is led by Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala at the University of Eastern Finland.
UNITE – Forest-Human-Machine Interplay - Building Resilience, Redefining Value Networks and Enabling Meaningful Experiences
(2020–2028)
The aim of the UNITE flagship is to diversify forest-related livelihoods, promote the health and well-being effects of forests, safeguard biodiversity and increase the efficiency of forest use management and operations. The Flagship is led by Professor Heli Peltola at the University of Eastern Finland. The Flagship was earlier led by Professor Jyrki Kangas (years 2020-2022).
ACCC – The Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center
(2020–2028)
The ACCC Flagship focuses on research addressing climate change and deteriorating air quality. The mission is to contribute toward achieving carbon neutrality in Finland, EU and global societies, as well contribute to mitigate air pollution to sustain a healthy atmosphere. The Flagship is led by Professor Markku Kulmala at the University of Helsinki. Professor Annele Virtanen from UEF is the consortium’s deputy director.
iCAN – Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship
(2019–2026)
iCAN flagship is dedicated to improving cancer diagnostics and care by integrating tumour profiling with comprehensive digital health data. The Flagship is led by Professor Satu Mustjoki at the University of Helsinki. Professor Arto Mannermaa is the contact person at the University of Eastern Finland.
PREIN – The Photonics Research and Innovation flagship
(2019–2026)
PREIN is a Photonics Research and Innovation platform focusing on light-based solutions from scientific excellence to industrial and societal impact. Photonics and light-based technologies play a central role in all areas of modern life, such as telecommunications, energy and environment. The flagship is led by Professor Goëry Genty at the University of Tampere. Professor Jyrki Saarinen from the University of Eastern Finland is the flagship's deputy director.
ERC grants are one of Europe’s most respected research funding schemes. Starting Grants are awarded to researchers who are in the early stages of their careers, Consolidator Grants are awarded to those in the middle stages of their careers and Advanced Grants are awarded to well-established researchers. In addition to a high scientific standard, applicants need to display perspectives that reshape our scientific understanding.
Proof of Concept funding is available to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.
Below are the University of Eastern Finland's ongoing and completed ERC projects.
ERC Advanced Grants
Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, HeartGenes (2021–2026)
The grant was awarded for research addressing severe coronary artery disease and heart failure. The HeartGenes project seeks to develop novel vascular growth factor molecules. These molecules enable what is known as biological bypass, which seeks to improve circulation in an ischemic heart and to enhance its metabolism and energy supply. The project uses advanced catheter methods by which gene delivery to the heart muscle is performed locally both from the inner lining of heart ventricles and through retrograde delivery, i.e., by cleverly using of the heart’s own venous system as a delivery route.
Completed ERC Advanced Grant projects:
- Professori Helmi Järviluoma-Mäkelä: Sensory Transformations and Transgenerational Environmental Relationships in Europe, 1950–2020 (SENSOTRA), 2016–2021
- Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala: Novel Gene Therapy Based on the Activation of Endogenous Genes for the Treatment of Ischemia - Concepts of endogenetherapy, release of promoter pausing, promoter-targeted ncRNAs and nuclear RNAi (CleverGenes), 2015–2021
- Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala: Gene Transfer Techniques in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases and Malignant Glioma (FutureGenes), 2010–2015
ERC Consolidator Grants
Professor Minna Kaikkonen-Määttä, SECRET (2024–2028)
The SECRET project aims for more accurate prediction of the risks associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and heart attack. Current health care risk assessment tools do not account for genetic risk factors, which can significantly contribute to an individual's overall risk. The research team aims to revolutionise risk assessment using advanced methods based on single-cell sequencing and CRISPR technology. The team's goal is to develop next-generation tools for determining a patient's individual polygenic risk score. These tools will consider the effects of various genetic factors, including those regulating gene function at the cellular level. The project will produce the largest single cell sequencing dataset of human atherosclerotic plaques to date. Furthermore, the project will explore the function of genes involved in disease development within the vascular wall with unprecedented precision.
Professor Tarja Malm, HUMANE (2022–2027)
Neuroinflammatory reactions geared by malfunctional microglia play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The HUMANE project combines state-of-the-art techniques to answer how and which glial cell subpopulations are associated with altered neuronal network activities at subcellular and spatial resolution in the human brain in early AD. These events also contribute to a detectable vesicle-based biomarker profile in cerebrospinal fluid and blood prior to the clinical disease. The researchers will utilise brain biopsies obtained from normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients. As some of these patients manifest early AD pathology, their brains offer a unique window to evaluate cellular and molecular events occurring during early AD. The project will provide a holistic view on early AD pathology and pinpoint novel molecular targets for further validation and new fluid biomarkers.
Professor Tanja Tarvainen, QUANTOM (2021–2026)
The QUANTOM project delelops novel quantitative imaging modalities based on coupled physics. Coupled physics imaging combines the benefits of two physical phenomena, such as light and ultrasound through the photoacoustic effect. The research aims at the development of quantitative tomographic techniques utilising methods of Bayesian inverse problems. The aim is to provide new imaging modalities for biomedical imaging and research.
ERC Starting Grants
Professor Sonja Kosunen, SegrEd (2025-2030)
SegrEd project examines teachers’ social class backgrounds and their socio-spatial segregation in education markets. Focus in the project is on theoretical and conceptual development across fields of science. The conceptual framework to be built in the project will be tested and compared empirically in Finland, Sweden and France using both quantitative and qualitative methods and developed on the basis of the comparison.
The research project will produce research knowledge in the junction of educational sociology, human geography and pedagogy with multimethodological approaches.
Associate Professor Kaisa Huhta, INTEL (2024–2029)
The INTEL project focuses on developing the general doctrine of energy law. The project will identify and analyse the concepts and principles of energy law, developing the general doctrine for the discipline. A general doctrine consolidates the foundations of a legal discipline and guides legislators, courts and lawyers in identifying, valuing and interpreting legal norms.
The project will combine jurisprudence, interviews, co-creation and machine learning to generate new knowledge on the interpretation of sources of energy law, and on how legislators, judges and lawyers perceive energy law.
Associate Professor Miina Porkka, AQUAGUARD (2024–2028)
Freshwater plays a central role in regulating many life-supporting processes on Earth. Human actions, such as global warming, irrigation, land use and water infrastructure, threaten these processes by modifying the water cycle at an unprecedented rate and scale. The AQUAGUARD project aims to quantify human-driven water cycle changes and their impacts. The goal is to identify ways to safeguard freshwater’s life-supporting functions in the future. The researchers will integrate knowledge and data from various fields of study and use data analysis and modeling techniques to generate new insights that enable a better consideration of the global perspective in water management and governance.
Completed ERC Starting Grant projects:
- Senior researcher Samuli Junttila, DRYTREE (2024-2028), transferred to University of Helsinki in 2025
- Professor Alina Solomon, Brain Health Toolbox (2019–2024)
- Professor Minna Kaikkonen-Määttä, Enhancers Decoding the Mechanisms Underlying CAD Risk (EnDeCAD), 2019–2023
- Professor Kati Kulovesi, Slowing Down Climate Change: Combining Climate Law and Climate Science to Identify the Best Options to Reduce Emissions of Short-lived Climate Forcers in Developing Countries (CLIMASLOW), 2017–2022
- Professor Annele Virtanen, Quantifying the atmospheric implications of the solid phase and phase transitions of secondary organic aerosols (QAPPA), 2014–2019
- Professor Rami Korhonen, Evaluation of Osteoarthritis Progression in a Patient-Spesific Manner using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computational Modeling (OAPROGRESS), 2011–2016
ERC Proof of Concept Grants
Professor Tarja Malm, WAVEAD (2026-2027)
The WAVEAD project seeks to develop novel signal analysis methods to analyse waveforms measured using transcranial magnetic stimulations and to evaluate whether these signals could be used to predict the patient disease-related pathologies in the brain.
Completed ERC Proof of Concept projects:
- Professor Rami Korhonen, Novel algorithm for treatment planning of patients with osteoarthritis (ALGOA), 2018-2019
The Strategic Research Council (SRC) is an independent body established within the Research Council of Finland. The Strategic Research Council (SRC) funds high-quality research with great societal relevance and impact. SRC-funded research seeks concrete solutions to grand challenges that require multidisciplinary approaches.
SRC projects led by the University of Eastern Finland
Sustainability, Agency and Urgency of Mining transitions in the Arctic (SAUMA)
(2026–2029)
The consortium evaluates the multidimensional landscape of Arctic mining in Finland by advancing understanding of its geological, geopolitical, environmental, social and economic drivers and impacts. It examines how the interplay of urgency and multi-actor agency shapes sustainable development as well as legal and governance trajectories in the Arctic. The consortium is led by professor Rauno Sairinen of the University of Eastern Finland, and Professor Seita Vesa is a partner in the consortium. Other partners in the project are Demos Helsinki, the University of Jyväskylä, the Geological Survey of Finland and the Finnish Environment Institute.
Sufficiency solutions for a resilient, green, and just Finland (SISU)
(2023–2026, 2026–2029)
The project aims to identify widely acceptable sufficiency solutions that will ensure that green transition and basic welfare state promises can be realized even in conditions where the economy does not grow or where growth is minimal. The multidisciplinary research team models the macroeconomic impacts of new solutions to help people recognise different future scenarios, and the effects and experiences related to them. The consortium is led by professor Arto O. Salonen of the University of Eastern Finland. The partners are LUT University, the University of Turku and South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK).
Resilience of complex legal systems in sustainability transformation (RELIEF)
(2023–2026, 2026–2029)
The project focuses on the interdisciplinary analysis of the role and impact of legal systems on sustainability transformation. The project focuses on developing a legal transformation toolkit aiming to bring legal solutions and remove legal barriers to mitigate climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, meeting the European Green Deal agenda. The consortium is led by Professor Niko Soininen of the University of Eastern Finland. The partners are the Finnish Environment Institute, Aalto University and the University of Vaasa.
Generation AI (GenAI)
(2025–2028)
The consortium aims to strengthen children’s and young people’s ability to understand technologies based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as their impacts. The project develops pedagogical models and educational technologies that support the acquisition of knowledge and skills related to artificial intelligence and, more broadly, digitalisation and datafication. In addition, the project generates new knowledge about children’s rights as users and developers of artificial intelligence systems. The consortium is led by Professor Matti Tedre of the University of Eastern Finland, and partners are the University of Helsinki, the University of Oulu, Joensuu Science Society, Heureka Science Center, and Code School Finland.
Reliable knowledge for health care: process and practice of shared decision making (PROSHADE)
(2020–2023, 2023–2026)
The consortium improves the use of economical and effectiveness information, and information produced by the patient in decision-making. The project studies and evaluates the conventions of decision-making in health care organisations and patients care decisions. The consortium is led by Research Director Eila Kankaanpää of the University of Eastern Finland, and partners are the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, the University of Oulu and Tampere University.