The Foundation for Pediatric Research and its predecessor, the Supporters of the Pediatric Research Fund, established in 1947, have played a key role in taking Finnish pediatric research to the top level internationally. Thanks to us, Finnish pediatricians got their first research laboratory in 1947, which marked the start of pediatric research in Finland.
During our operation spanning more than six decades, we have provided support to hundreds of Finnish researchers in the form of grants and have thus contributed to spreading a tradition of research to all pediatric clinics in Finland.
With the same goal in mind, we have been promoting research physicians opportunities to work abroad since the 1950s. Thus, they have been able to connect to international research networks and absorb top-level expertise at the world’s best universities.
As a result of all this, Finnish children now receive the best care in the world.
Over the decades, our researchers have been able to identify all pediatric diseases typical for the Finnish population as well as the majority of the gene defects that cause them. This is unique on a global scale, and thanks to this information, newborns in the country can be given the best possible treatment right from the start.
However, research support is still needed. Even today, it is not possible to cure all children, which means that there is a lot of work to do. Even one child who falls ill or is in pain is one too many. That is why we are not giving up, and we hope that you will join us in supporting this important work.
Research grants are important because they allow researchers to concentrate on their areas of interest in the long term.
”The Foundation for Pediatric Research has opened up new paths in Finland. The support provided by the Foundation has played a crucial role in making pediatric research one of the leading areas of research in Finland.”
Kari Launiala
Professor of Pediatrics (Emeritus)
”The Foundation was set up wisely and profitably. When you look back at the history, it has had enormous impact. Besides generating a lot of knowledge through research for the purposes of pediatric health care, it has also succeeded in attracting talented researchers to the field of pediatrics.”
Jaakko Perheentupa
Professor (Emeritus)
Each year, we distribute grants for research projects as well as to individual researchers to fund their work and training. The funds for the grants are derived from donations and investment profits. In the last 15 years, the Foundation for Pediatric Research has donated more than 30 million euros for research.
At the same time, government funding for research has steadily been reduced. This is why donations are more important than ever.
Through us, you can support our national funds or the fund of one of the pediatric clinics of Finnish university hospitals.
Every five years, the Arvo Ylppö Award is given to a researcher in recognition of outstanding research on premature and newborn babies. The award is given to one international and when possible to a Finnish researcher as well.
Since 2007, in addition to a commemorative medal, the winners have also received a cash prize of €50,000.
Arvo Ylppö (1887 – 1992) was a Finnish physician and professor of pediatrics who significantly decreased Finnish infant mortality during the 20th century. He is credited as the father of Finland’s public maternity and child health clinic system.
Every two years, the Helena and Niilo Hallman Award is given to a young Finnish researcher in pediatrics who has won international acclaim. The award, worth €15,000, also includes a numbered Niilo Hallman medal.
The predecessor of the Foundation for Pediatric Research, the Supporters of the Pediatric Research Fund, was founded in 1947. The starting capital, 4.75 million Finnish marks, was raised by a campaign arranged to mark the 60th birthday of Dr Arvo Ylppö.
When Dr Ylppö heard about the new fund that been set up, he commented: ”Now we can finally raise the level of pediatric research in Finland to international level.”
The Foundation is governed by a Board consisting of four to seven members. The Board members are elected by the Board of Trustees which convenes twice a year. The Trustees and Board members work without pay or other compensation.
The Association of Friends of the University Children’s Hospitals (Lastenklinikoiden Kummit ry) is the most important supporter of the Foundation’s work. For a long time, the Foundation for Pediatric Research has received 30 per cent of the Association’s annual unallocated profits.
We are one of the founders of the Finnish Public Health Association (Suomen Kansanterveysyhdistys ry), of which we are still a member. Each year, we receive a quarter of the profits distributed by the Association.
For addition information about donating and grant award process, please contact:
Sari Jaulas, The Foundation for Pediatric research:
email: lts@ltts.fi
tel. +358 50 576 6196
