Laura Airas
Professor of Neuroimmunology, MD, PhD
laura.airas@utu.fi Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4 Turku ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9751-5881 |
Neurology; Neuroimmunology; Multiple sclerosis; PET-imaging; MRI; Drug development
Multiple sclerosis research, @multiplesclerosisresearchfinland, Neuroinflammation research, INFLAMES Flagship
Laura Airas is an internationally recognized expert in multiple sclerosis (MS) and has served as Professor of Neuroimmunology at the University of Turku since 2017. She also practices clinically as a neurologist at Turku University Hospital, specializing in the care of MS patients.
Professor Airas earned her MD from the University of Turku in 1991 and completed her PhD in immunology and cell biology under Professor Sirpa Jalkanen. Her dissertation was recognized with a special distinction from the University of Turku. She became a specialist in neurology in 2001 and was appointed Associate Professor (docent) in 2007.
Her international experience includes serving as a Visiting Professor at Yale University in 2016–2017. In 2015, she was awarded the prestigious Grant for Multiple Sclerosis Innovation (GMSI).
Professor Airas is a respected member of the international scientific community. She serves as a reviewer for major neurology and neuroimmunology journals and funding agencies, and is a frequent invited speaker at national and international scientific events.
Professor Airas leads a translational and patient-centered research group focusing on the pathophysiology of progressive MS and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Her research integrates cutting-edge imaging techniques (PET and MRI), biomarker discovery, and genetic analysis to investigate the role of glial cells in brain neurodegeneration.
Her multidisciplinary group of about 20 members includes physicians, biomedical scientists, biosiatisticians, and students. They collaborate widely with national and international partners in PET imaging, immunology, drug development, and neuroscience.
The research is funded by:
- Research Council of Finland
- State Research Funding (VTR)
- Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation
- U.S.-based organizations including the U.S. Department of Defense, National MS Society, and the Progressive MS Alliance
The group is a member of the InFLAMES Flagship at the University of Turku, where Professor Airas also serves on the leadership team.
In addition to her academic work, Professor Airas has been the Principal Investigator in numerous international multicenter clinical trials. She currently leads two investigator-initiated trials targeting microglial activation to slow down progression of MS.
Professor Laura Airas is actively engaged in teaching at the University of Turku. She lectures in neurology and neuroimmunology for students in the medical and biomedical degree programmes and trains specialist physicians in neurology.
Her teaching approach emphasizes patient-centeredness, integration of clinical care and research, and the application of up-to-date scientific knowledge. She brings insights from the latest breakthroughs in neuroimmunology and clinical trial methodology directly into the classroom.
Professor Airas also supervises PhD candidates and has served as the primary supervisor for several completed doctoral theses. In addition, she contributes to postgraduate education programmes for neurology specialists and neuroscience professionals. She is a sought-after lecturer at both national and international medical education events.
- Evaluation of the Effect of Fingolimod Treatment on Microglial Activation Using Serial PET Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (2017)
- Journal of Nuclear Medicine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Fertility and Assisted Reproductive Techniques in Women with MS (2017) Health Issues in Women with Multiple Sclerosis Hellwig K., Brzosko B., Airas L., Smith E.K.
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Imaging of microglial activation in MS using PET: Research use and potential future clinical application (2017)
- Multiple Sclerosis
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - In Vivo PET Imaging of Adenosine 2A Receptors in Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Disease (2017)
- Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Ocrelizumab versus Placebo in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (2017)
- New England Journal of Medicine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Anti-JC virus seroprevalence in a Finnish MS cohort (2016)
- Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Effect of Fingolimod-Treatment on Blood Lipid Profiles of Multiple Sclerosis Patients (2016)
- Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology
(B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal) - Natalizumab treatment leads to an increase in circulating CXCR3-expressing B cells (2016)
- Neurology, Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Successive pregnancies in multiple sclerosis (2016)
- Neurology
(B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal) - Utilization of PET imaging in differential diagnostics between a tumefactive multiple sclerosis lesion and low-grade glioma (2016)
- Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Anti-VLA-4 treatment reduces microglial activation in a focal EAE-model (2015)
- Glia
(Other publication) - Association between soluble L-selectin and anti-JCV antibodies in natalizumab-treated relapsing-remitting MS patients (2015)
- Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Automated reference region extraction and population-based input function for brain [11C]TMSX PET image analyses (2015)
- Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Elevated concentration of C-reactive protein is associated with pregnancy-related co-morbidities but not with relapse activity in multiple sclerosis. (2015)
- Neurological Sciences
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Hormonal and gender-related immune changes in multiple sclerosis (2015)
- Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Imaging neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis using TSPO-PET (2015)
- Clinical and Translational Imaging
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - In Vivo PET Imaging Demonstrates Diminished Microglial Activation After Fingolimod Treatment in an Animal Model of Multiple Sclerosis (2015)
- Journal of Nuclear Medicine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Kuvantaminen MS-taudissa (2015)
- Lääkärilehti
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Microglial activation correlates with disease progression in multiple sclerosis (2015) E. Rissanen, J. Tuisku, M. Gardberg, A.M. Dickens, M. Sucksdorff, J. Rokka, T. Paavilainen, R. Parkkola, J.O. Rinne, L. Airas
(Other publication) - MS-tauti - Käypä hoito -suositus (2015) MS-tauti - Käypä hoito -suositus Remes A, Airas L, Atula S, Färkkilä M, Hartikainen P, Koivisto K, Mäenpää E, Ruutiainen J, Sumelahti ML
(D2 Article in a professional compilation book)