Globally Recognized Science, Purpose-Driven Innovation
Our Team
Board & Management
Heikki Hyöty, Chairman of the Board, Cofounder, MD, Ph.D, is currently professor of virology at Tampere University. Dr. Hyöty has 35 years of experience in basic and clinical research in academia and almost 25 years of experience in biotechnology business. His expertise includes virology and immunology.
Mikael Knip, Member of the Board, Cofounder, MD, Ph.D, is emeritus professor of pediatrics at the University of Helsinki and works currently as research director at the university and the Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital. Dr. Knip has more than 40 years of experience in clinical research in academia and almost 25 years of experience in biotechnology business. His expertise includes type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, other immune-mediated diseases, and clinical trials.
Tero Välimaa, Ph.D – Chief Executive Officer, brings over 25 years of leadership experience across the pharmaceutical, surgical, and medical device industries. Throughout his career, he has successfully guided numerous products from early development to commercialization, securing funding and ensuring regulatory compliance. Under his leadership, Vactech continues to advance innovative healthcare solutions with a strong focus on scientific excellence and real-world impact.
Matias Knip, Member of the Board, M.Sc., has extensive experience in investment banking (M&A and ECM advisory) with leading Finnish advisory firms. Mr Knip is currently Chief Specialist at the Government Ownership Steering Department of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Johanna Friedman, Member of the Board, CPA, B.S.B.A., obtained her bachelor’s degree from Boston University, Questrom School of Business, in 2016. Mrs. Friedman is a Certified Public Accountant and is currently working as an Audit Manager in a large public accounting firm in the United States.
Petri Laine joined the board of Vactech in 2021. Petri is a seasoned venture capital investor with 20 years’ experience. He has works as a partner at Innovestor Ventures which manages a portfolio of approx. 90 companies in all field of technologies including life science, medtech and health. In addition to Vactech he is currently board member in six other companies. He has a degree in accounting from Finland and a degree in finance from the UK.
Marjut Borgenström, European Patent Attorney, Ph.D. in Natural Sciences, has more than 20 years of experience in intellectual property rights (IPR). She has extensive expertise in safeguarding innovations in the life sciences, particularly within the field of biotechnology. At Vactech, Dr. Borgenström is responsible for managing the Vactech’s intellectual property portfolio.
Jutta Laiho, Biotechnology Specialist, Ph.D, is a bioscientist specializing in the role of viral infections—particularly enteroviruses—in autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Dr. Laiho brings extensive experience in translational research, scientific coordination, and multidisciplinary collaboration across academic and clinical settings.
Vincent Dubois, Biopharmaceutical Specialist, Ph.D, has over twenty-five years’ experience in the biopharmaceutical industry; specialized in new drug development, across a wide range of disease indications and therapeutic product types. Dr. Dubois brings wide expertise in manufacturing process development and scale-up, analytical method development, stability studies, including regulatory matters.
Charlie Questel, Drug Development and QA Expert, Ph.D, has extensive experience in the nonclinical and CMC development of therapeutic products for oncology and auto-immune disease indications. Dr. Questel specializes operational planning and project management of manufacturing, interface between clients, regulatory authorities & service providers and creating regulatory documents.
Jaakko Koskenniemi, Principal Investigator, Ph.D, MD, is a Clinical Lecturer in Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, with a strong focus on clinical paediatric endocrinology. He is recognized for his extensive research and investigations of early biomarkers for type 1 diabetes in children.
Jussi Lehtonen, Laboratory Chief, B.ScMr, has extensive experience in biosciences, advanced laboratory technologies, and database construction for laboratory and data analysis applications. He is also highly skilled in statistical analysis.
Scientific Advisory Board
Arto A. Palmu, Chief research and medical officer at FVR – Finnish Vaccine Research Ltd, MD, PhD. Specialist in Public Health Medicine, University lecturer in clinical epidemiology (Tampere University 2006). Dr. Palmu has 30 years of experience in vaccine research, including clinical trials, pragmatic field trials, real-world evidence (RWE) studies, and ethics. Most publications relate to pneumococcal and viral respiratory disease burden and vaccines.
Jussi Mertsola, member of the Advisory Board, MD, PhD., is a specialist of peadiatric infectious disease, emeritus professor at the University of Turku. Prof. Mertsola has more than 40 yrs of experience of clinical rexsearch, mainly about respiratory infections and vaccinology. Prof Mertsola has coordinated several years education in c4c (conect4children) which is a large collaborative European network that aims to facilitate the development of new therapies for the entire paediatric population.
Mika Rämet, MD, Ph.D., Professor of Experimental Immunology at Tampere University. Dr. Rämet has participated in more than 30 clinical vaccine trials many of which have included minors. His expertise includes Pediatrics, Immunology and Vaccine development.