The City of Helsinki presented its annual Science Award to Professor Satu Mustjoki on 12 June, Helsinki Day. Deputy Mayor Pia Pakarinen presented this year’s recipient with the 10,000-euro award in a virtual ceremony, available for viewing online.

Helsinki’s Science Award for 2020 has been presented to Satu Mustjoki. Mustjoki is a leader in her field, as a Helsinki University professor of translational haematology, Helsinki University Hospital HUS Cancer Centre chief physician, and director of the iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship initiative’s immunological unit.

Mustjoki’s work has crucial significance for Helsinki residents and the larger HUS network, as it seeks to develop cancer treatments with immunotherapy solutions based on innovative scientific breakthroughs. The research programme she leads provides high-level basic and clinical research in the fields of cancer treatments, immunology and autoimmune diseases. Her own research explores the links between leukaemia, immune defence systems and molecular-level clinical applications. She is active in several national and international scientific communities, and has previously been recognised with several awards, the Biomedicum Helsinki Medal in 2018, among others.

Cancer is a global challenge. One third of the world’s population is forecast to contract some kind of cancer during their lifetimes. Targeted treatments propelled by cancer research have improved the care of, for example, chronic myeloid leukaemia significantly. Professor Satu Mustjoki’s research team is working to figure out how this same progress could be made in the treatment of other cancers. 

Helsinki as a city that supports scientific advances

The City of Helsinki has awarded a 10,000-euro Science Award since the year 1996, in an effort to strengthen the city’s support of scientific advances and spread the word of this commitment. The award is presented each year in recognition of remarkable achievements in the field of science originating from Helsinki residents or organisations in the city.

This year, Helsinki presented the award virtually, as part of its traditional ‘Helsinki says Thank You’ event on Helsinki Day, 12 June. The event is available for viewing on the city’s Helsinki-kanava video service. See the City of Helsinki website to find a list of previous winners of the Helsinki Science Award.

Research grants for urban studies

The City of Helsinki also distributed 73,000 euros in research grants to 11 research projects on Helsinki Day.

Helsinki research grants are intended for researchers completing an advanced academic degree, primarily those pursuing a licentiate degree or doctorate. Grants also support recent graduates doing post-doc work.

The research proposals are awarded funding based on their scientific quality, feasibility, and the significance of the research topic for the City of Helsinki. Priority is given to those projects that are associated with urban development and its influence, city finances and commerce, the organisation of services provided or contracted by the city, and studies and research that focus on Helsinki’s living environment, wellbeing, history, daily life, urban culture and the vitality and internationalisation of the city. In addition, an effort is made to see that the grant recipients represent several different fields of academia and research disciplines.

In 2020, the City of Helsinki awarded research grants to the following applicants and their research topics:

Sara Allaouat, University of Eastern Finland

Air pollution, depression and dementia

Anna Heinonen, University of Helsinki

Läheissuhteet suomalaisissa kommuuneissa

Jenny Högström, University of Helsinki

Elevers aktörskap i nordiska digitalt rika klassrum

Tamás Lahdelma, Aalto University

Paikalliset työvoimavirtojen verkostot ja yritysten tuottavuus

Jenni Neuvonen, University of Helsinki

Stadin slangin bamlaajat – Slangin käyttö, kieliyhteisöt ja -asenteet Helsingissä 1800-luvun lopulta 1950-Iuvulle

Annaliina Niitamo, University of Helsinki

Kommunikatiivista kaupunkia etsimässä: viestintä ja vuorovaikutus kaupunkien osallistavassa kehittämisessä

Kaisa Pankakoski, Cardiff University/University of Helsinki

Kolmikielisten lasten kotikielten kehitykseen vaikuttavat tekijät ja perheiden näkökulmat Helsingissä ja Cardiffissa

Kaisa Pasanen, University of Helsinki

Moniammatillisten tietokäytäntöjen muodostuminen sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon yhteistyössä (Sosiaalityö)

Jenna Syrjälä, University of Tampere

Tuleeko asunnoton autetuksi sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon palvelujärjestelmässä? Etnografinen tutkimus asunnottomien tilapäisen asumisen palvelusta

Elli Valtonen, University of Helsinki

Lemmikkieläimiin kohdistuvat eläinsuojelurikokset ja eläinsuojeluvalvonnan vaikuttavuus

Frida Westerback, University of Helsinki

Möjlighetshorisonter, välfärd och dissonanser – NEET-ungas subjektiva etableringsmöjligheter  och Iivschanser

 Photo: Professor Satu Mustjoki, photo by Linda Tammisto