Specializing doctor Sanna-Kaisa Herukka, PhD in neurosciences, directs the Biomarker Laboratory of the Brain Research Unit at the University of Eastern Finland and works in the Neurology Clinic at Kuopio University Hospital. Her research focuses include biological markers of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, she has interest in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and mild cognitive performance impairment. “I am particularly interested in the final stage of translational research, when the new data generated by the study can reach clinical use and benefit patients,” says Sanna-Kaisa.  

Sanna-Kaisa has a two-decade-long history in the Biomarker Laboratory since its inception. Sanna-Kaisa manages the practical activities of the laboratory and is responsible for the quality system and the maintenance of analytics. She has been involved in several international and national collaborative projects investigating biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and early-stage diagnostics. The aim is to develop new biochemical and image-based markers to facilitate early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, other memory disorders and neurological diseases, but also develop the operations of Biomarker Laboratory with business objectives.  

“The Biomarker Laboratory of the Brain Research Unit at the University of Eastern Finland has been pioneering in commercializing service research for 20 years,” points Sanna-Kaisa. The Biomarker Laboratory is FINAS accredited testing laboratory and has unique offer including biomarker analyses from spinal fluid in Finland. Key partners are the Society for CSF Analysis and Clinical Neurochemistry, Neurocenter Finland and The Finnish FTD Research Network (FinFTD). 

Biomarker Laboratory, Brain Research Unit, University of Eastern Finland: https://sites.uef.fi/alzheimermarkkeritutkimukset/?lang=en