The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET) at Tampere University (TAU) and the Technical Medical Centre of the University of Twente (UT) are planning a second edition of a joint research day to further strengthen collaboration between the institutions in research, education, and innovation activities. Both institutions already have experience with internal Research Days. Following a successful joint research day in April 2023, accompanied by a travel voucher call that stimulated mobility between the two institutes and resulted in several long-lasting collaboration activities, we will organise a second online Joint Research Day with selected thematic talks and matchmaking sessions on 23 April 2026. This event is designed to serve as a starting point for more in-depth discussions on new areas of collaboration. The Research Day is particularly targeted at younger researchers (PhDs, Postdocs, and Assistant Professors), and also to stimulate their international exposure.
General information
- Date event: 23 April 2026 (full timeline see below)
- Time: 1- 4 PM (NL) & 2-5 PM (FIN)
- Language: English
- Format: Digital
- Location: Registrations will receive a livestream before the event
For whom
The Research Day is organised for the younger researchers of the University of Twente and Tampere University, and also to stimulate their international exposure (this event is not intended for researchers of other universities or institutes):
- PhD students
- Postdocs
- Assistant Professors
The programme
The times below are based on CEST, as used in the Netherlands. In Finland, the time zone is EEST, which means it is 1 hour later.
12:30 - 13:00 | Online doors open 13:00 - 13:15 | plenary opening & Introduction of organisations Duo presentation by organising organisations
> Tampere University
> University of Twente
13.15 - 14:15 | Parallel sessions - Round 1 1: Cell and Tissue Engineering and Organ-on-a-chip
This topic will continue in session 5.
1. "LIVEROX" a credible platform for the drug toxicity testing in pre-clinical phase studies
Mina Aminlou, Tampere University
2. Functional characterization and organ-on-chip integration of human iPSC-derived sympathetic neurons
Oskari Kulta, Tampere University
3. Microelectrode array development
Tomi Ryynänen, Tampere University
4. Development of advanced Brain Cancer-on-Chip: from proof-of-concept to modeling patient-derived glioblastoma behavior in a brain-mimetic 3D microenvironment
Lotta Isosaari, Tampere University
2: Biomedical Imagin & Diagnostics + Optimized Care planning
This topic will continue in session 6
1. Towards cardiovascular flow quantification using deconvolution-based ultrasound super-resolution
Rienk Zorgdrager, University of Twente
2. Robust medical imaging models under real-world distribution shifts
Daniela Herrera Montes de Oca, University of Twente
3. Cytomorphology of primary and metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma in fine-needle aspiration: An international multi-institutional study
Mari Helenius, Tampere University
4. Optimizing sepsis surveillance in the neonatal ICU using non-invasive biosignals and deep learning
Antti Kallonen, Tampere University
3: Women’s Health
This topic will continue in session 7.
1. Innervation Zone detection of Puborectalis Muscle using HD-EMG vaginal probe
Irina De Alba Alvarez, University of Twente
2. Improving women's health during menopause in primary and mental health care
Marijke Schotanus-Dijkstra, University of Twente
3. The effect of pelvic mesh surgery for multicompartment pelvic organ and rectal prolapse assessed with upright MRI
Mart Kortman, University of Twente
4. Hypertensive pregnancy disorders as early indicators of women’s cardiometabolic risk
Jaakko Tyrmi, Tampere University
5. HPV vaccinations’ impact on reproductive health
Tiina Koivisto, Tampere University
4: eHealth & Data Science
1. Information security knowledge in Leadership and management studies for specializing doctors and dentists: Combining Self-Assessment with Scenario-Based VR Game
Mirkka Forssell, Tampere University
2. RingNet: An Interactive Platform for Multi-Modal Data Visualization in NetworksYou need a title and authorship
Liang Zhang, Tampere University
3. Statistical Decision Support for Dynamic eHealth Monitoring
Julia Mikhal, University of Twente
4. The adaptation of healthcare professionals to telemonitoring: A cross country study
Tafadzwa Karuma, University of Twente
5. Explainable and dynamic predictions for long-term physiological data
Arlene John, University of Twente
14:30 - 15:30 | Parallel sessions - Round 2 5: Cell and Tissue Engineering and Organ-on-a-chip
This session is a continuation of session 1.
1. Integrating Optical Tweezers into Microfluidic Platforms to Study Photoreceptor Membrane Mechanics
Mohammed Mostafa Al Quadir, Tampere University
2. Versatile Organ on a Chip Platforms for Precise Oxygen Modulation in Cell Culture Microenvironments
Kaisa Tornberg, Tampere University
3. Engineered heart tissues on a hypoxia-on-chip platform with advanced imaging and analysis methods
Sara Pihlava, Tampere University
4. Pacing Toward Standardization: Electrically Paced Engineered Heart Tissues on a Translational Organ-on-Chip Platform
Sem Sterckel, University of Twente
6: Optimized Care planning
This session is a continuation of session 2.
1. Planning of Remote Healthcare Interventions: Optimizing & Evaluating using Mathematical Modeling
Jedidja Lok-Visser, University of Twente
2. Optimizing Personalized Dementia Treatment
Anne Zander, University of Twente
3. Preoperative patient optimization today and tomorrow
Maija-Liisa Kalliomäki, Tampere University
4. What we need to know - information flow from caregiver to emergency physician
Juuso Matkaselkä, Tampere University
7: Women’s Health
This session is a continuation of session 3.
1. Functional measurements of the pelvic floor in women with pelvic floor disorders
Jaimy Simmering, University of Twente
2. Differences in clinical work-up and clinical outcomes of combined mesh surgery as compared to the solo approach
Cheramise Leilis, University of Twente
3. Optimizing Cervical Cancer Screening through Age and Genotype
Aarno Leino, Tampere University
4. Ascorbic acid 2-phosphate-releasing poly(trimethylene carbonate) biomaterials for pelvic organ prolapse tissue engineering
Katri Ala-Mononen, Tampere University
8: Oncology
1. From Emergent Proteome-Level Mechanisms to Precision Drug Combinations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Mohieddin Jafari, Tampere University
2. Differential Mobility Spectrometry for tumor diagnosis
Ismail Hermelo, Tampere University
3. Network Medicine and Explainable AI for Cancer Research
Xin Lai, Tampere University
4. Personalized care for late effects after cancer
Kim Wijlens, University of Twente
5. Urine-based point of care devices for cervical cancer screening
Nikki van Loenen, University of Twente
9: Physiological sensors and Systems, medical robotics
1. Transforming Oropharyngeal Dysphagia Diagnostics with a Single-Insertion Multimodal Assessment Platform
Manuel Maria Loureiro da Rocha, Tampere University
2. Stretchable antenna using laser-induced graphene (LIG) for wearables
Naveen Tiwari, Tampere University
3. Analysis of Self-Healing Passive UHF RFID Tag Under Mechanical Damage: Cutting and Stretching Effects
Isra Yaqoob, Tampere University
4. Physiology-Centred Hybrid AI for System-Level Modelling of Human Physiology
Ying Wang, University of Twente
15:30 - 15:40 | Plenary wrap-up & closing words 15:40 - 16:00 | Breakout rooms open
Matchmaking
In order to stimulate actual matchmaking leading to collaboration between the research groups of both institutions, all submitted abstracts will be shared with the participants beforehand to be used for the matchmaking session. Furthermore, participants are encouraged to follow up bilaterally after the Joint Research Day.
Are you looking for contact details of staff members? If so, please check the links below to make your first connections.
Technical information
The program will be broadcast digitally via a Zoom live stream. In addition to the plenary introduction part, we will create three (thematic) parallel sessions. Each session will consist of six presentations (7 minutes + 3 minutes Q&A). Registered participants are then assigned to the respective parallel session based on chosen themes (parts 1 and/or 2) in their registration.
Travel vouchers
After the online session on 23 April, all participants are invited to apply for TAU-UT collaboration vouchers. The vouchers will be applied by using a separate form to be opened later. Vouchers of up to 5,000 € are available at each university to support visits and short research stays of research group members at the partner university, and to enable initial joint research activities, preferably leading to a joint publication or a joint grant application. Each university may award vouchers up to a maximum total of 25,000 €. When planning the overall budget, the impact of daily allowances must also be taken into account. Costs will be reimbursed based on actual expenses incurred, within the limits of the approved budget.
The timeline
15 December 2025
| Call for proposals online, and the registration form opens
|
6 February 2026
| Submission deadline for the abstracts
|
3 March 2026
| Communicating the final programme, incl. assigned slots to applicants
|
23 April 2026 | Joint Research Day |
24 April 2026 | Call for Collaboration proposal vouchers online (after the event) |
8 May 2026 | Submission deadline for Collaboration Voucher proposals |
19 May 2026 | Communicating assigned Collaboration Vouchers to applicants |
Registration
All participants have to register in advance via a registration form and will receive a link to the livestream (Zoom) a few days before the event. The registration form includes personal questions and asks whether you would like to submit an abstract to be part of the programme. Additionally, you can indicate whether you wish to be included in the digital profile book (“I offer…; I am looking for…”), which will be created and will be accessible only to participants of the event.
Organisation
Tampere University - Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET) is dedicated to pursuing world-class research and delivering high-quality education in the fields of biomedical engineering, biotechnology, medicine and health technology. We conduct internationally acclaimed basic and applied research.
- The Tampere University community’s areas of priority are technology, health and society. Our Faculty brings together research expertise in medicine, biosciences and technology and is committed to generating new knowledge and solutions that promote health and well-being and benefit both individuals and the broader society. Our research interests focus on biomaterials, biosensors, immunology, clinical medicine, tissue engineering, computational systems, imaging, and cell and molecular biology.
- MET hosts extensive research infrastructure: MET Core-facilities and Services
- Our multidisciplinary Faculty provides a state-of-the-art environment for research that encompasses biotechnology, medicine and technology. Our high-quality basic research paves the way for applied research with commercial potential.
- Our close collaboration with the healthcare sector enables us to utilise our research findings, such as new diagnostic methods and treatment options, in clinical practice. Our Faculty is also a member of SPARK Finland, a programme that offers commercialisation support for academic researchers and research-based startups and promotes the growth of internationally competitive health tech businesses in Finland.
University of Twente - Technical Medical Centre Institute
Enabling sustainable and personalised health by means of technology
The Technical Medical (TechMed) Centre is a leading innovation hub making an impact on healthcare through research, innovation, and education. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including research laboratories, preclinical testbeds, and simulated hospital environments, the TechMed Centre drives technological advancements in healthcare.
Impact on healthcare
We believe that the development, evaluation, and appropriate implementation of technology enable sustainable and personalised health for everyone. In our mission to impact society, we stimulate entrepreneurship and enable (new) companies to grow within our regional ecosystem. As an innovation hub, we collaborate with experts from healthcare, biomedical technology, and government sectors to make an impact on health in society.
