Symposium honoring Distinguished Professor Erkki Ruoslahti held in Helsinki

On August 7, 2025, an international grassroots symposium celebrating the career and birthday of Distinguished Professor Erkki Ruoslahti took place at the Haartman Institute Lecture Hall of the University of Helsinki. Organized without external funding, the event highlighted the strong camaraderie within the Ruoslahti scientific community, with participants traveling at their own expense to honor a mentor and colleague whose work has shaped modern cell biology, oncology, and targeted drug delivery.

The program featured talks from leading scientists including Antti Vaheri, Carl Gahmberg, Michael Sailor, Douglas Hanahan, Kai Simons, Andrew Dean, and Kari Alitalo, along with video greetings from Sangeeta Bhatia and Kristiina Vuori. Prof. Ruoslahti himself delivered an inspiring Jubilee Lecture titled “The Ruoslahti Way.” Alumni flash talks further showcased ongoing research influenced by his pioneering discoveries.

Informal gatherings before and after the symposium fostered meaningful discussions and reconnections, reinforcing the sense of community that has grown around Prof. Ruoslahti’s scientific legacy.

The symposium was organized by Pirjo Laakkonen, Tero Järvinen, Kazuki N. Sugahara, and Tambet Teesalu.