During the reporting period, SYS-LIFE successfully implemented the first full recruitment cycle and initiated the second, delivering the core scientific “engine” of the programme: two international, open calls recruiting 2×11 experienced researchers for 36-month fellowships via external peer review and a merit-based selection process. In practice, the first call opened in December 2023, closed on 31 January 2024, progressed through external evaluation, culminated in the Selection Committee meeting on 3 June 2024, after which the first cohort arrived from September. Recruitment delivered a highly international and diverse cohort, with selected researchers coming from Finland and Sweden plus India, China, Japan, Iran, Nigeria, Australia, and Malaysia, reflecting SYS-LIFE’s ambition to attract talent globally including from the Global South.
Scientifically, SYS-LIFE established a collaborative platform connecting cardiometabolic and brain health research across 43 research teams spanning the Faculties of Medicine, Science and Technology, supported by key infrastructures including Turku PET Centre and Turku Bioscience Centre. Fellows launched bottom-up projects applying systemic and life-course perspectives, linking mechanisms, behaviour and clinical pathways through multi-omics, advanced imaging (incl. PET/CT), AI, digital health monitoring, and population-level evidence. Example themes include gut–brain interactions, oral–cardiovascular connections, blood-pressure trajectories across the lifespan, atrial fibrillation proteomics, and AI-enabled wearable monitoring. To support high-quality implementation, SYS-LIFE delivered structured researcher development actions including an Induction Day, a Mentoring Day, and a dedicated “Data & Grants” training day, complemented by seminars and topic-focused sessions that strengthen methodology, research planning, and project execution. This was extended with cohort-level training such as the April Business & Academia day at Konttori, featuring company perspectives and SYS-LIFE pitches with Sanofi, Uniogen, Aurlide, Siemens Health, Orion and Misvik Biology, followed by sessions on project management, workplace communication, career transitions from academia to industry, and interdisciplinary expansion of fellows’ research. Early scientific excellence has also been visible through fellow achievements highlighted in programme news, including awards and recognitions at external scientific meetings.
