Professor Mikaela von Bonsdorff, Folkhälsan’s new Program Director for public health research, sees clear potential to expand collaboration nationally and internationally

– Folkhälsan Research Center has a unique opportunity to deepen and strengthen its role in public health research, especially by generating evidence-based insights that can help tackle the current key public health challenges, says Mikaela von Bonsdorff.

Mikaela von Bonsdorff is Professor of Gerontology and Public Health at University of Jyväskylä, with a PhD in Health Sciences and title of Docent in Gerontology at University of Helsinki. She has been affiliated with the Public Health Research Program at Folkhälsan Research Center since 2015 – initially as a researcher, and since 2022 as the leader of the healthy aging research group. Since September 2025 she has been the Program Director of public health research at Folkhälsan, while retaining her position at University of Jyväskylä. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on healthy and active aging from a life course perspective, with particular interest in physical, mental, social, and cognitive health and functioning.

– I am truly looking forward to working with the program’s researchers to further develop its direction and goals. It is both inspiring and a significant responsibility to lead the Public Health Research Program. Looking ahead, I see clear potential for expanding collaboration nationally and internationally, says von Bonsdorff.

She considers the 2025 strategic work at Folkhälsan to be an important platform for advancing public health research within the entire organization.

– The Public Health Research Program already includes several themes that cut across different research groups, and further developing these in alignment with the strategy feels both meaningful and important, says von Bonsdorff.

The Director of Folkhälsan Research Center Anna-Elina Lehesjoki is pleased with the appointment and believes that von Bonsdorff has the right expertise to develop the research program considering the recommendations of the external Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which evaluated the research last year.

– Professor von Bonsdorff’s expertise and leadership strongly support the development of the Public Health Research Program, especially regarding research on the health and wellbeing of the aging population. Mikaela von Bonsdorff will also have a central role in implementing Folkhälsan’s new strategy, says Lehesjoki.

Strengthened collaboration with the University of Jyväskylä

Following the appointment of Mikaela von Bonsdorff as Program Director for Public Health Research, Folkhälsan and the University of Jyväskylä have established a three-year collaboration agreement aimed at advancing research on public health and aging and increasing its societal and international impact.

– Collaboration within public health research at Folkhälsan Research Center and the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, and in particular with the Gerontology Research Center GEREC, has been ongoing for a long time. My intention now is to broaden this collaboration – our research interests are aligned, and both organizations have their own strengths. There is clear synergy in our activities. I want to promote collaboration in research on physical activity and health and enable the unique expertise of each organization to meet, says von Bonsdorff.

Anna-Elina Lehesjoki also welcomes the collaboration agreement.

– The agreement creates an excellent basis to deepen and broaden collaboration between the Folkhälsan Research Center and the University of Jyväskylä in public health research. In addition, I see opportunities to expand collaboration to the area of genetic research as well, says Lehesjoki.