The team at PTEN Research

Karola works with both internal and external stakeholders to provide efficient coordination of the grant funding review and appraisal process and day-to-day project management of the Foundation’s clinical project portfolio to ensure projects run on time and to budget and deliver valuable new scientific insights.

Karola has 10 years’ experience in scientific project and programme management, ranging from the NHS and academia to commercial health technology companies. Prior to joining PTEN Research Karola project managed academic and commercial genetics initiatives and clinical trials. She manged the delivery of the 100,000 Genomes Project in the East of England across five University hospitals. The 100,000 Genomes Project was a national project creating infrastructure for improved access to genetic testing and whole genome sequencing for NHS patients with rare diseases and cancer. Most recently Karola worked for Genomics plc, a UK health-tech company leveraging genomic information for improved disease risk prediction, drug discovery and personalised medicine. Karola holds a PhD in medical genetics from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Her PhD thesis explored the role of genetics in Finnish families with autism spectrum disorders.

Ask me about: the Foundation's granting process and grant applications, ongoing clinical research projects, legal contracts and basic clinical research.