Nordic Life Science 1
BUSINESS // COMMENTARY “Among Finland’s key asset
s are its national health registries and biobank networks, which securely link genetic, clinical, and lifestyle data at scale.” Digital health and data technologies Aiforia Technologies – AI for pathology Aiforia applies artificial intelligence to analyze pathology images, speeding up diagnosis and improving accuracy in identifying cancer types and biomarkers. Genevia Technologies – Turning genomic data into insight Based in Tampere, Genevia helps researchers and companies make sense of complex biological data. Its bioinformatics uncover cancer-causing mutations and guide the development of personalized medicines. By translating massive data into clear scientific insight, Genevia bridges the gap between raw sequencing results and real understanding in cancer research. Genomill Health – Liquid biopsy for colorectal cancer Turku’s Genomill Health is advancing liquid-biopsy diagnostics to detect colorectal cancer through a simple blood test – providing a less-invasive and earlier detection option for patients. Lynsight – Predicting cancer risk before it strikes Formerly known as LS CancerDiag, Lynsight (Helsinki) developed DiagMMR, the world’s first functional test for detecting inherited DNA-repair deficiencies that cause Lynch syndrome. Early identification enables preventive care before cancer develops. Misvik Biology – Functional precision oncology Turku-based Misvik Biology offers personalized drug testing using patient-derived tumor samples. Its chip-based platform screens FDA-approved cancer drugs to identify effective therapies for rare or resistant cancers. Thestra – Estimating cancer aggressivity Thestra develops diagnostic tools to evaluate tumor aggressivity, with early applications in head-and-neck cancers. Its EPLINEx technology could help clinicians personalize treatment decisions more accurately. Uniogen – Detecting ovarian cancer Also in Turku, Uniogen is developing glycovariant-based assays for ovarian-cancer detection, building on research from the University of Turku and combining academic innovation with industrial-scale production. 78 | NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG Adesante, Grundium, and Planmed – Finnish design in cancer care From virtual-reality surgical planning to portable digital microscopes and advanced mammography systems, these Finnish innovators show how engineering and design enable early detection and improved patient care. BC Platforms and MediSapiens – Data integration for precision medicine Both companies specialize in integrating clinical, genomic, and imaging data into secure platforms that support precision medicine and international research collaboration. Finnadvance – Human biology on a chip Based in Oulu, Finnadvance builds miniature “disease-ona-chip” systems that replicate how human cells behave inside the body. These microfluidic models let researchers study complex tissue interactions and test new treatments in realistic conditions – helping bridge the gap between lab experiments and real-world biology. Kaiku Health – Patient-reported outcomes for better care Now part of Elekta, Kaiku Health enables patients to track symptoms and side effects remotely. Clinicians can adjust treatment in real time, improving outcomes and quality of life. SOLID-IO – Tumor-on-a-chip innovation Helsinki’s SOLID-IO is transforming oncology with a tumor-on-a-chip platform that delivers real-time, patientspecific insights to guide treatment. This micro-engineered model lets researchers study how a person’s tumor responds to therapies – before the treatment is given. NLS ABOUT THE AUTHOR: NINA PULKKIS Nina Pulkkis is CEO at Photino Science Communications and Founder at Synbio Powerlabs. She is also a Science Communicator at Finnish Bioindustries.