Pia Rantakari, University of Turku, Chair of the board

Hello flow cytometry friends! I’m a research group leader at the University of Turku (UTU), working in immunology with a focus on early myeloid cell biology. I’ve been an enthusiastic flow cytometry user for over 15 years and have actively contributed to cytometry services and teaching at UTU. Since 2024, I’ve served as Head of the Turku Bioscience Cytometry Core, supporting our talented core staff. I’m excited to help drive the growth of the Finnish Cytometry Society and strengthen our national cytometry community! https://bioscience.fi/cytometry-core/

Nina Peitsaro, University of Helsinki

Nina has served as the Head of the Flow Cytometry Infrastructure at University of Helsinki for the past 15 years. She is a Senior University Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, dedicated to educating the next generation of medical professionals. Nina is the Chair of the Flow cytometry platform at Biocenter Finland, whith a pivotal role in advancing collaborative research initiatives and promoting best practices in flow cytometry. https://www.helsinki.fi/en/infrastructures/flow-cytometry

Marc Llort Asens, University of Helsinki, Secretary of the board

I am the laboratory coordinator of the Viikki Flow Cytometry Core and a doctoral researcher in the field of immunology at the University of Helsinki. In my research, I have studied the effect that expression levels of beta2-integrins and their regulators have on survival and immunotherapy response in urothelial cancer patients.

Laura Kummola, University of Tampere, Treasurer of the board

I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Tampere University, where I have been leading the university’s Flow Cytometry Unit since 2018.  My expertise in flow cytometry is tightly connected with my background in immunology. My current research explores how environmental microbes influence the immune system and overall human well-being, bridging fundamental immunological mechanisms with real-world applications for promoting immune health. https://www.tuni.fi/en/research/flow-cytometry

Heidi Harjunpää, University of Helsinki, Vice-chair of the board

Heidi´s field is immune-oncology and in her PhD, she studied the safety and therapeutic potential of novel immune checkpoint blockade therapies. During the postdoctoral period, Heidi focused on immune cell metabolism and dendritic cell vaccines as cancer therapy. Currently, she is starting her own research group with the aim to assess the interplay between the immune system, metabolism and cancer. Heidi has a long experience with flow cytometry and it will remain the main technique also in her future research.

Nora Pernaa, University of Oulu

I am a biologist/immunologist working as a Special Researcher at the Biocenter Oulu Flow Cytometry Core, University of Oulu. https://www.oulu.fi/en/university/faculties-and-units/biocenter-oulu/flow-cytometry-core

Anna-Mari Schroderus, University of Eastern Finland

Anna-Mari is working with the projects on T-cell immunology in autoimmune diseases at University of Eastern Finland. She has a particular interest on immunophenotyping, developing new flow cytometry panels and analysis of high dimensional flow cytometry and single cell multiomics data. She is a coordinator of recently established UEF flow cytometry unit.  https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/flow-cytometry-unit/