Finnish Science Award to Professor Johanna Ivaska

The Finnish Science Award 2025 has been awarded to Johanna Ivaska, Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Turku. The multidisciplinary research group led by her focuses on research into the movement and spread of cancer cells. Ivaska’s research increases understanding of both the behaviour of cancer cells and the importance of healthy tissue in cancer treatment. The research can be used to develop new treatments to prevent the spread of cancer.

“The work of a researcher is endlessly interesting. Every day can include a surprise or insight that will before long have an impact on how we understand the root causes of diseases,” says Professor Johanna Ivaska.

Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie presented the Finnish Science Award at the Tiedefoorumi science forum on 20 May at the Old Student House in Helsinki.

“High-quality, free science is part of the foundation of a civilised, prosperous and democracy-based society. It is a pleasure and an honour to give the Finnish Science Award to Johanna Ivaska, Professor of Cell Biology. She is a distinguished researcher and her work is widely recognised in her field. Finnish cancer research is top-level, even on a global scale. High-quality research guarantees that tomorrow we will have good treatments and solutions that advance human health and quality of life. Professor Ivaska has contributed to this pioneering work in the field of cell biology,” says Minister Talvitie.

The Finnish Science Award of EUR 100,000 is awarded to a researcher or group of researchers working in Finland as recognition of significant scientific work. The prize is awarded by the Ministry of Education and Culture on the proposal of the Board of the Research Council of Finland. The biennial science award was established in 1997 and has now been awarded for the 15th time.

Award criteria

Professor Johanna Ivaska’s (b. 1972) international and multidisciplinary research group conducts groundbreaking biological research into cancer cells, specifically studying breast and pancreatic cancer and related cell movement and invasion in tissue. Ivaska’s research looks for new approaches and drug development targets for the treatment of metastatic cancer. The object of the study is the spread of cancer from the tumour to the surrounding tissue and the emergence of metastases. Ivaska’s research team is also looking for biomarkers for the assessment of cancer malignancy.

Professor Johanna Ivaska works as K. Albin Johansson Research Professor of the Foundation for the Finnish Cancer Institute (2021–2025) at the Department of Biotechnology and at the Turku Bioscience Centre at the University of Turku, where she has worked as Professor of Molecular Cell Biology since 2008.

She also leads a Research Council of Finland-funded Centre of Excellence (cellular mechanics in the operation of biological barriers: integration of forces and signals from the molecular level to the tissue level 2022–2029) and works on the Academy of Finland-funded InFLAMES Research Flagship (Innovation Ecosystem Based on the Immune System). Previously, Ivaska has worked as Academy Professor (2015–2019) and Academy Research Fellow (2003–2008) at VTT, appointed by the Research Council of Finland. She completed her doctoral degree in 2000 in the field of medical biochemistry at the University of Turku. Ivaska’s dissertation examined collagen receptors.

The high quality of Ivaska’s research is also reflected in the significant funding she has received from the European Research Council (ERC): ERC Advanced Grant 2023, ERC Consolidator Grant 2014, ERC Starting Grant 2007 as well as ERC Proof of Concept funding for three projects 2015, 2018 and 2020. For her work, she has also received funding from several Finnish and foreign foundations.

Ivaska’s scientific work comprises more than 125 scientific articles (figure from 2023). She is a sought-after expert at international scientific meetings. She has several patents and patent applications.

Ivaska is a respected member of national and international scientific communities in her field, such as Academia Europea, the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and the European Molecular Biology Organisation EMBO. In addition to this, she is a member of the council of EMBO and has served and serves on the editorial boards of several (in total more than 40) international scientific publications or similar positions. Ivaska has instructed dozens of postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students in their research work.

Ivaska has received several awards for her work in Finland and abroad, including the Anders Jahre Young Scientist Award (2011), Orion Science Foundation Research Award (2017) and A.I. Virtanen Prize (2017), Medix Prize of the Minerva Foundation for the best international biomedical publication (2009, 2012, 2018) and UNESCO and L’Oreal Foundation – Women in Science Prize (2008).

In addition to her research work, Ivaska has also acted as an advisor to two medical companies. Her research is of interest to the general public, which is why she has appeared on several TV and radio programmes.

Inquiries

• Professor Johanna Ivaska, joivaska(a)utu.fi, tel. +358 29 450 2260
• Paavo-Petri Ahonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture, tel. +358 295 330 247
• Paula Eerola, President, Research Council of Finland, tel. +358 295 335 001