Kaitera Talks: Aarno Palotie – The Genes of Finland
Event information
Time
Tue 17.11.2026 18:00 - 19:00
Venue location
Oulun Lyseon Lukion juhlasali, Kajaaninkatu 3, 90100 Oulu
Location
World-renowned geneticist Aarno Palotie will take the audience on a captivating journey into the roots of the Finnish genome. He will explore how advances in technology have driven major leaps in genetic research, how studying genes could transform medicine and disease treatment in the future, and why Finnish genes offer a unique window into human health and inheritance.
Research Director Aarno Palotie currently works at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Boston, and holds several prestigious international positions. He graduated as a physician from the University of Oulu and is one of the most internationally recognized Finnish geneticists.
Palotie leads the FinnGen project, which analyzes the genomes of over half a million Finns. By uniquely combining genetic data with health registries, the project provides an unprecedented perspective on disease mechanisms and personalized healthcare.
The event is open to all, and the language of the event is Finnish.
The Kaitera Talks 2026 speaker series is part of the University of Oulu’s 2026 cultural program and the Oulu2026 Art & Tech Week.