Åbo Akademi University is currently contributing to a national Centre of Excellence, financed by the Academy of Finland for the period 2014–2019:
Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease
The Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease carries out research into cardiovascular diseases as well as into how diabetes occurs. The researchers involved are looking for ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the illnesses in question.
The research is focused in particular on so-called metabolic syndrome. The name is a collective term for a number of factors that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and abdominal obesity.
The Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease is a joint venture between Åbo Akademi University, the University of Turku, Turku University Hospital and the University of Eastern Finland, and is led by Turku PET Centre’s director, Professor Juhani Knuuti.