€8.3 Million for Medicine and the Development of the Arts Sector
The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation has awarded a total of €8.3 million in grants to 12 projects in the fields of medicine, art, and culture. The first funding round of the year was highly competitive, with grants awarded to 11.7% of applicants.
The decisions aimed to support researchers at different career stages and ensure the continuity of research. In several projects, basic research is combined with clinical research, and the patient perspective is increasingly integrated into the work.
New Approach to Studying the Impact of Menopause on Women’s Health
A project led by Associate Professor Eija Laakkonen at the University of Jyväskylä examines a key yet insufficiently understood phenomenon: the effects of declining estrogen levels on women’s cardiovascular and metabolic health, body composition, and quality of life. The study follows women undergoing surgical menopause before and after ovary removal, enabling exceptionally precise analysis of the biological effects of menopause. The project combines clinical measurements, exercise physiology, molecular biology, and women’s own experiences, producing new knowledge about estrogen deficiency and the role of hormone replacement therapy. The findings could improve menopause care, support the development of more personalized treatments, and strengthen evidence-based decision-making in promoting women’s health.
New Research Sheds Light on Changes Behind Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder affecting over 10 million people worldwide, and there is currently no treatment to slow its progression. A research project led by Adjunct Professor Mikko Airavaara at the University of Helsinki aims to better understand what happens in brain neurons during the disease and how these changes might be influenced. Researchers have identified molecules that affect protein accumulations associated with Parkinson’s disease in neurons. Next, the most promising compounds will be studied in human-derived neuronal models. The research may provide new insights into the biological mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease and, in the long term, open new avenues for treatment development.
Building a Stronger Collective Voice for Visual Artists
The Artists’ Association of Finland has been granted funding for a development project to prepare a viable model for a new national organization for visual artists. The goal is to strengthen the position of visual artists and improve their livelihood conditions by combining the current functions of the association and its member organizations into a stronger unified entity. The project addresses a well-recognized challenge in the visual arts sector in Finland: it is fragmented and less resourced compared to many other art fields.
The development project will design the structure and funding of the new organization, as well as practical steps for implementing the change. At the same time, it aims to strengthen joint communication and advocacy within the field. The objective is to build a more sustainable foundation for the future of visual artists and the visual arts sector.
The project is an example of the foundation’s strategic funding for art and culture, aimed at accelerating structural renewal in the arts sector and strengthening its long-term impact.
The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation Supports Top-Level Research, Art and Culture
The primary goal of the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation is to promote high-quality research, particularly in the fields of medicine, technology, and economics. The foundation also supports high-quality art and culture, as well as selected other initiatives that promote the wellbeing of Finnish society. In 2025, the foundation awarded a total of €38.4 million to science, art, culture, and societal activities.
More information:
Hanna-Mari Peltomäki, Secretary General, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation
hanna-mari.peltomaki@jaes.fi, tel. +358 44 513 1069
www.jaes.fi