JYU and Folkhälsan enhance research cooperation in the fields of ageing and public health

Von Bonsdorff will develop research and education in this field at JYU, and she will also be responsible for developing the research programme and international cooperation as well as obtaining external funding at Folkhälsan.

The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, particularly the Gerontology Research Center, has collaborated with the Folkhälsan Research Center for many years.

“My goal is to expand our collaboration. We share similar research interests and both organisations have their own strengths,” says von Bonsdorff. “Their activities have clear synergy potential. I want to promote cooperation in sports and health research, bringing together the unique expertise of both organisations.”

“Professor von Bonsdorff’s expertise and leadership will give a significant boost to the development of our Public Health Programme and our research targeting the ageing population,” says Anna-Elina Lehesjoki, Director of the Folkhälsan Research Center.

“The agreement creates excellent conditions for deepening and expanding the collaboration between the Folkhälsan Research Center and the University of Jyväskylä in public health research,” says Lehesjoki. “In addition, I see opportunities to broaden the collaboration into the field of genetic research as well.”

Von Bonsdorff has worked at Folkhälsan since 2015, leading a research team focused on healthy ageing since 2022. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and has held various academic positions, including chairing the Public Health Panel of FORTE (the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare). She is also responsible for organising the 2027 Nordic Congress of Gerontology in Jyväskylä.

Von Bonsdorff has an extensive international research background. She has worked as a Fulbright researcher in the United States as well as a postdoctoral researcher of the Research Council of Finland in London. She completed her doctoral degree in gerontology and public health at JYU in 2009 and has worked as an associate professor since 2019 and professor since 2024. She also holds the title of docent in gerontology at the University of Helsinki.

Further information:

Professor Mikaela von Bonsdorff
University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences 
mikaela.vonbonsdorff@jyu.fi, +358 40 034 2692