Laura
Airas
Areas of expertise
Biography
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.
Teaching
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.
Research
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.