Tero Ylisaukko-oja built a successful career first as a scientist and then through various medical and marketing positions within the pharmaceutical industry. In 2010 Tero realized a long-held dream of combining entrepreneurial drive with insider knowledge by forming the first Finnish personalized medicine company, Genecodebook Oy. In 2011 he founded medical science agency Idea Engine, upon which MedEngine was built. Known for his creative thinking and passion for complex projects, Tero seeks out clients who are willing to innovate and challenge both him and themselves.
Outside of MedEngine Tero enjoys everything Italian, be it food, wine, soccer, the Mediterranean sea, or small cars with character. His family includes his wife Niina, two sons, and dachshunds Gunnar and Bruno.

tero@medengine.fi
+358 40 9012 975

Saku Torvinen has extensive experience in demanding market access positions, both internationally and within Finland. He joined MedEngine from Takeda, where he was the Head of Patient Value and Access & Public Policy, a unit known for groundbreaking data-driven access projects. Prior to that, he was European Director of Pricing and Market Access at Teva Europe, where he was responsible for innovative respiratory products at the European level.

saku.torvinen@medengine.fi
+358 40 5511 119

Tiia has an extensive background in genetics with years of experience in academic research, as well as commercial experience in genetic diagnostics. Her core competencies are medical and molecular genetics as well as content creation and marketing.
As a dedicated crossfitter, Tiia will most likely be found at the gym outside of working hours. She loves spending time at her summer cottage enjoying the outdoor sports opportunities and peace while surrounded by nature.

tiia.luukkonen@medengine.fi
+358 50 3686 138

Emmi holds a PhD in Medical and Clinical Genetics, and has several years of postdoctoral research experience in translational cancer biology and individualized drug therapy.
In her work, Emmi is eager to contribute to the intersecting fields of scientific data analysis, communication and digital marketing. She is determined to upgrade her skills, and is currently studying programming, software development and digital service design.

Outside of the office, Emmi enjoys different sports and is passionate about aerial acrobatics. At home, she relaxes with her children by building robots, playing PlayStation or by parkouring around nearby neighborhoods.

emmi.joensuu@medengine.fi
+358 40 0240 858

Maaria's interest in life sciences led her to acquire an MSc in biotechnology from the Tampere University, where she is currently finalizing her PhD in molecular immunology. Maaria is inspired by learning and transforming ideas into action. At MedEngine, she enjoys the possibility to utilize her scientific know-how in a whole new way.

maaria.palmroth@medengine.fi

Laila is a medical doctor (MD) with a master’s degree in public health (MPH), with specialization in health economics and project management from Umeå University, Sweden. As a clinician, she has experience from her work at Dr. Ruth Pfau Hospital, Pakistan and medical internship training experience in child rheumatology from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (Keck School of Medicine).

In research, she has experience in working with Synergus RWE as a research analyst in data science, and with Parexel for her master’s thesis in health economics, both in the field of oncology and based in Stockholm. She has worked with ApHER since May 2020 and mainly manages projects within the field of RWE and health economics.

Laila has an interest in, and experience with, organizing and managing clinic based social support groups and seminars. Her ambition is to mainstream access to quality and affordable healthcare solutions globally through public health.

When not at work, Laila spends time relaxing at home with her family and caring for her pet Persian cat, Barbie. She enjoys social issue dramas, relaxing travels, trying new foods and mouth watering desserts.

laila.mehkri@medengine.dk
+45 42 30 9622

Maria loves people. She gets joy out of helping others and is ready to do everything for the people she cares about. Maria says she’s been interested in the world of medicine since childhood and somehow always knew that she wanted to be involved in helping others live their best life.

Maria studied Biomedicine in the University of Turku, majoring in Drug Discovery and Development. After graduating, she started PhD studies in the Turku positron emission tomography (PET) Centre and defended her dissertation on imaging myocardial injury and angiogenesis.

maria.gronman@medengine.fi
+358504316731

Mirkka Koivusalo, is a biochemist with over 18 years of experience in scientific research and communication. After receiving her PhD from the University of Helsinki, Mirkka completed two post-doctoral research periods in Helsinki and in Toronto, Canada. She also has a significant experience in the Finnish Biobank ecosystem. Outside of research, Mirkka has gained experience as an entrepreneur — she ran a company offering dog training services in Toronto.
As an analytical problem-solver, Mirkka enjoys developing systematic approaches which benefit the customer and, at the end of the day, promote human health. In her free time she can mostly be found in the woods hiking with her two energetic Australian Shepherds or riding a horse.

mirkka.koivusalo@medengine.fi
+358 44 5225 146

Ulrika is a team player. She feels like the type of person who can always see the positive side of things. Resourceful and patient, she says she just enjoys listening to and helping others.

Ulrika has studied Medicine at the University of Helsinki. After graduating as an MD, she received her PhD from the University of Helsinki, Department of Medical Genetics. She has worked in various research projects studying small bowel and colorectal cancer genetics, the topic of her dissertation.

ulrika.hanninen@medengine.fi
+358447768100

Klaus is a versatile communications professional. He has a master’s degree in Social Sciences majoring in Communications. He’s also studied history, musicology, and the arts and worked in various positions in the media industry: as a broadcast journalist, photographer, freelance writer, and videographer.

klaus.elfving@medengine.fi
+358 44 493 6708

Sami is finishing a PhD in neurosciences, studying the underlying molecular mechanisms between Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. He has ongoing business studies in innovation management and has worked with Health Technology Assessment and marketing authorizations at the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea.

sami.gabbouj@medengine.fi
+ 358 44 717 0658

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Jari ended up in the biomedical industry almost by accident: he studied statistics during summer courses, and the following summer he found himself working as statistician at the department of psychiatry. Since then he has worked in the field of biostatistics, and currently works at Oulu University health Science Institute, for the University Hospital, for his own company that offers statistic science services, and as statistician for MedEngine.

In the evenings you can spot him in Oulu at the Cultural Centre VALVE, escorting his daughters to and from their ballet class. His hobbies are very “northern-Finnish” — hunting in the fall, downhill skiing in the winter and disc golf in the summer.

As a young graduate, Niina made the tough decision to leave her promising studies in genetics to pursue a career in business. This proved to be the right decision, however, as Niina now has more than ten years of executive experience in the pharmaceutical, health tech, and healthcare industries. Niina has more than 100 pharmaceutical marketing campaigns under her belt, and as a CEO has lead companies ranging from an innovative health-tech start-up to a health- and social-care company with more than two thousand employees.

When not working on the development of MedEngine’s business in Finland and abroad, Niina enjoys relaxing travels in warmer climates like southern Italy, and spending time with her husband Tero and dogs Gunnar and Bruno.

niina@medengine.fi
+358 40 3500 065

Anna received her PhD in immunology from the University of Tampere in 2015. During her doctoral studies, she worked on a wide range of projects varying from basic immunology to diagnostic biomarkers, both in Finland and in the US. In addition to her biomedical training, Anna has a few extra feathers in her cap, having also studied communication, data journalism, and marketing.

Anna is passionate about learning new things—whether they are related to new treatments for inflammatory diseases or innovative ways to utilize data. Apart from science, she enjoys mountain hikes, traveling and photography, or relaxing at home with her family and some good books. Anna is an honorary member of MedEngine’s rabbit owner division, although she currently doesn’t have rabbits of her own.

anna.gronholm@medengine.fi
+358 40 3524 911

Kristian has a PhD in economics from Lund University and holds a chair in health economics at Gothenburg University. Kristian has more than 25 years of experience in applied health economics and has, during that time, collaborated with both public-sector organisations and the pharmaceutical industry.

Juha holds a PhD in statistics and has extensive experience in observational register studies. Prior to MedEngine, Juha worked for several years as a Senior Statistician and Team Lead in a contract research organization and was responsible for challenging international real-world evidence (RWE) projects. Earlier in his career, he has worked on mathematical and statistical modeling of infectious diseases. He has also taught statistics at the University of Helsinki.

Juha’s free time is divided between a mixture of various sports: he enjoys fishing and outdoor climbing in the summer, and indoor climbing and hitting the gym throughout the year. Juha likes spending time on his motorbike, but when he wants to slow down and relax, he explores the latest news in astronomy and cosmology.

juha.mehtala@medengine
+358407735059

A deep interest in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases has driven Sanna Hellberg in her scientific career. After finishing her PhD in PET imaging of atherosclerotic plaque inflammation at the University of Turku, Sanna spent three years as a postdoc at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. From the beginning of her career she has been motivated by the possibility to be a part of finding solutions to health problems, and eventually enabling better cures.

sanna.hellberg@medengine.fi
+358407152385

Sarah draws inspiration from deriving insights for better healthcare, understanding the mechanisms of different diseases, and determining how to fight them most effectively.

Sarah has worked in various research groups, contributing to research on multiple sclerosis and breast cancer. Additionally, she has significant experience in the Finnish Biobanking ecosystem, coordinating the national biobank studies at FINBB.

sarah.smith@medengine.fi
+358 44 0222 435

Riikka describes herself as a determined, loyal, and social person. She is well known for her optimism, and her friends have noted that if her good mood disappears, things have really taken a turn for the worse!

Riikka studied Biomedicine at the University of Turku and did her Master thesis at the Turku PET Centre before continuing to PhD studies. She completed her PhD in the field of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, with her research focused on PET imaging of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and melanoma.

riikka.viitanen@medengine.fi
+358503633247

Ida’s background is in Health Economics and Pharmacy. She has Master’s degree in Health Economics and Bachelor’s in Pharmacy from the University of Eastern Finland. Ida joined MedEngine as a trainee in 2020, moved into a part-time role during her studies, and became a full-time member of the Market Access Team in 2022. Ida did her comprehensive thesis of the economic costs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

ida.alakorkko@medengine.fi
+358 44 493 6079

Mónica has a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Coimbra, in her native Portugal. After her master’s studies Mónica became very interested in pharmaceutical technology and in the process of developing a medical product. After graduating she had a short experience as a pharmacist in a community pharmacy, but always knew she wanted to continue her studies and become a scientist of some sort.
During her PhD studies Mónica then realized that she really liked writing. The more experience she had in writing, reviewing and editing different research and development documents, both in academia and then in the pharma industry, the more interested she became to develop those skills and pursue a career in it. ”Scientific and medical writing provide endless learning and creative opportunities!”, she sums her enthusiasm.

monica.ferreira@medengine.fi
+358 44 491 4742

Ulrikke has an extensive background in academic research and communication. She has a master’s degree in biochemistry and neurobiology from the University of Copenhagen and a PhD in Medical Science from Lund University with a focus on experimental diabetes and neurogastroenterology. Before joining MedEngine, Ulrikke was a Lecturer in Physiology at the University of Oslo. Ulrikke works in the Scientific Content & Digital Engagement team in MedEngine Copenhagen.

ulrikke.voss@medengine.dk
+45 51 33 1174

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

With her everlasting positivity, un-Finnish talkativeness and her sailing hobby, Disa fits your typical Fenno-Swede stereotype perfectly. Disa holds an MSc in pharmacology and has worked in pharmacies, academia and pharmaceutical industry. At MedEngine she has been able to combine her passion for science and human resources. As People & Culture Lead she can pursue her dream of building the best workplace and see people grow.

Disa loves summer, laughter, and sparkling wine. In her spare time, she relaxes by climbing on a wall or doing sun salutations—preferably on the sunny quay of her family’s summer cottage.

disa.langstrom@medengine.fi
+358 40 7034 981

Miika has his background in biotechnology and he has specialized in biological imaging and image analysis. Imaging is close to Miika’s heart also outside the lab: He has been running his own photography and creative media business for a decade. As a creative person with an endless fascination for science, Miika enjoys combining his scientific background with his love for creative thinking in projects that can actually improve patients’ quality of life.

miika.fadjukov@medengine.fi
+358 44 7731 815

Heidi Loponen has extensive background in biomedical research. She holds a PhD in genetics from the University of Helsinki and has experience in a wide range of hands-on laboratory techniques as well as in research project planning and execution. Heidi also has experience as a teacher - both of biology students and swimmers, at different levels.

Heidi is excited about applying the scientific skills she has gathered during her research career in a completely new context. This, combined with her endless passion to challenge herself, makes Heidi a great match for MedEngine’s research team. If not at work, Heidi spends time with her friends and family, or enjoys physical activities like swimming, gym, or downhill skiing in the winter.

heidi.loponen@medengine.fi
+358 44 0190 699

A passion for understanding the mystery of the human brain led Aino to become an expert in neuroscience. After receiving her PhD from the University of Helsinki, Aino has worked as a post-doctoral scientist and as a coordinator at the Scandinavian Physiological Society. Aino is also known for her popular scientific blog postings.
Aino enjoys pushing herself outside the comfort zone, let it be challenging herself at work, seeking out new perspectives, or training endurance sports. For balance, she loves to design and bake imaginative cakes, which are highly appreciated by her colleagues.

aino.vesikansa@medengine.fi
‭+358 50 307 9128‬

Simone has a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Aalborg and years of experience in managing various projects within the field of pharmacoepidemiology and RWE; especially with post authorization safety studies/phase IV studies, Market Access and follow-up studies to clinical studies within the Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden). This has given her the ability to lead cross functional teams, from inception to publication, within the allocated budget, on time, and with a high level of quality.

In addition, Simone works as a Board member for a patient association for cancer patients with late effects (Senfølgerforeningen) and is representing the patients as a committee member of the Danish Medicine Council’s Scientific Committee for Cross-sectional Cancer Pharmaceuticals. As a committee member, Simone uses her knowledge and experience to assist with medical, pharmaceutical and patient-oriented assessments of new drugs and indications, as well as therapy areas, in the area of cross-sectional cancer.

simone.hede@medengine.dk

Ona is a curious scientist fascinated by human diseases and biomedicine. She holds an MSc in physiology and neuroscience. During her studies, she dove into the mysteries of biomedical physiology and infectious microbes in the Universities of Helsinki and Glasgow.

Ona has a passion for modern ways of visualizing science, and audiovisual projects in particular spark her interest.

To keep life out of the ordinary, the extroverted Ona can often be found trying out new activities and sports or planning her next explorations out in the world. In her free time, she enjoys learning new skills like photography, dancing, and making art with various materials.

ona.saarnisalo@medengine.fi
+358 44 7332 090

From the beginning of her biomedicine studies at University of Turku, Sonja Granroth has been excited by exploration of different medical specialty fields. Even though Sonja always knew that she wanted to work in the field of medicine, she has also had a strong passion for more creative projects and scientific communication. In addition to her Master´s degree in biomedical imaging, Sonja’s long-lasting art hobby has evolved into jobs in online marketing material production, web design, and scientific content creation.

sonja.granroth@medengine.fi
+358 44 739 4827

At MedEngine Tero sure completes us with his experience: He has combined experience of 36 years (and counting!) in the pharma industry, in seven different companies overall, in roles like Country Manager, Market Access Lead, Marketing Director and Sales Manager, to mention a few. Among other things, Tero has specialized in hospital procurement of pharmaceuticals for the past fifteen years.

Noora is a kind and helpful person who spreads positivity around, has a good sense of humor, and is pleasantly easy to approach and talk to. She describes herself as a problem solver who works in a precise and thorough manner.

Noora studied Biomedicine with a major in drug development at the University of Turku. She also did exchange studies in neuroscience and pharmacology at the University of Surrey, UK. After her MSc studies, she carried out PhD research in the Turku PET centre. Her PhD thesis aimed at improving the detection of early cognitive impairment and dementia risk using a telephone interview and developing PET imaging of Alzheimer’s disease.

noora.lindgren@medengine.fi

Karoline obtained her PhD in Neuroscience at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. She has 7 years of experience in real world data research and knowledge of patient reported outcome measures. Karoline has a strong analytical mindset and obtained in-depth knowledge and practical experience in observational studies, development of surveys, multi-methodological study designs and statistics. Through various research projects in different disease areas, Karoline has gained insight on Nordic health care systems and available data sources. Her strength is thinking ahead while keeping the big picture and potential hurdles in mind, and has resulted in numerous successful projects.
Karoline is an outgoing and highly motivated person. She is always seeking new challenges and overcoming boundaries. Outside work, she enjoys activities such as running, fitness and being creative. But the best moments of the day are spent being together with her two lovely children and husband.

karoline.doser@medengine.dk
+45 91 95 1274

Laura is an outgoing person who brings a positive attitude wherever she goes. She’s interested in science, communications, and graphic design, having art as a passion from a young age.

Laura’s curiosity about science eventually led her to study Biomedicine, where she earned a BSc, and gained her MSc in Drug Discovery and Development with a minor in Business. During her studies she has gained work experience from involvement in various projects: she’s conducted research on extracellular vesicles and prostate cancer, for instance.

laura.mantyla@medengine.fi

Harlan has always been fascinated by the natural world and spent his childhood exploring the forests near his home. After receiving a BSc in Biology at Indiana University, Harlan progressed from biology to bioinformatics at the University of Tampere. Data science became a passion once he saw its ability to derive impressive insights from large biological datasets. During his current doctoral studies, Harlan has collaborated on a number of manuscripts. For him, the appeal in scientific writing and editing is making research understandable and thus improving its utility.

At MedEngine, Harlan enjoys bringing new and exciting technologies to market. Outside of work, he devotes his free time to reading, biking, studying blockchain technologies, and learning Finnish with his son.