Activities of the Finnish Cancer Institute in 2024
Supporting scientific research
In 2023, the Finnish Cancer Institute (FCI) employed 10 researchers: three research professors, three senior cancer researchers, and four cancer researchers. Researchers worked actively and progressed according to the submitted research plans. In 2024, the researchers published a total of 46 (2023: 43) scientific, peer-reviewed articles and gained visibility at international conferences and symposia. There were no open calls since none of the terms ended in 2024 or early 2025.
Finnish Cancer Institute Symposium
The 2024 symposium was held in Kuopio on September 26-27, 2024. The name of the symposium was 16th FCI Symposium - Future of Clinical Decision-making. In addition to the FCI, the organizers of the symposium included FICAN East, UEF Cancer Research Community, Wellbeing services county of North Savo and the University of Eastern Finland. The chairman of the organizing committee was docent Leena Latonen.
No FCI symposium will be organized in 2025, but the FCI participates in organizing the iCAN symposium in September 2025.
Model Country for Individual Cancer Treatment initiative
The initiative was carried out in active cooperation with the Association of Cancer Patients in Finland and 11 pharmaceutical companies (AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche ja Takeda).
The year 2024 started with a roundtable discussion in January, which brought together experts in cancer treatment, cancer research and pharmaceutical industry. The purpose of the discussion was to prepare material for decision-makers on the current state of Finnish cancer treatment and areas for development. Based on the themes of the discussion, a 4-page document entitled The level of ambition in Finnish cancer treatment must be maintained high was published (in Finnish).
In 2024, the most important areas of influence of the Mallimaa project were the renewal and harmonisation of the drug evaluation system, the content of the national cancer strategy and securing the implementation of the emerging cancer strategy in terms of funding. These messages were conveyed to decision-makers in one-on-one meetings and as social media messages. In addition, the Mission: Possible - Equal Cancer Treatment for Finns event was organised in conjunction with the SuomiAreena in collaboration with the Satakunta Cancer Association.
A report on the meetings of decision-makers and other advocacy work was submitted to the Finnish Transparency Register. The FCI also committed to following the recommendations on good advocacy practice drawn up by the Finnish Transparency Register Advisory Board, which aim to promote a good advocacy culture.
In September 2024, a survey was launched in collaboration with Success Clinic to map the views and experiences of healthcare decision-makers, doctors treating cancer patients and citizens on the treatment of cancer patients over 65 years of age. The aim of the survey was to create a broad picture of the treatment options for patients over 65 with incurable cancer, but also to map opinions on a general level on cancer treatment practices in Finland. The results of the survey were received in January 2025.
In late 2024, the main focus of the project was on cancer strategy work. Jenni Tamminen-Sirkiä served as the chair of the Patient Involvement working group, Tiina Vesterinen participated in the preparation of the strategy as an expert secretary in the Research and Data and New Methods working groups, and representatives of pharmaceutical companies were part of the national expert network.
During the year, Mallimaa's X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts regularly shared timely content related to the project's themes. The main focus was on X, which received 8 million views and thereby 9,400 clicks to Mallimaa's website.
Administration, accounting, and auditing
FCI’s governing bodies are the Board of Trustees and the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). In 2024, the Board of Trustees consisted of eight members (Chair: Tomi Mäkelä) and the SAB of 13 members (Chair: Vesa Kataja). The Board of Trustees met four times and the SAB three times. Tiina Vesterinen worked as the managing director. Accounting services were provided by Premium Accounting Oy. The FCI was audited by DHS Oy Audit Partners.
Finance and fundraising
The FCI received support from the Cancer Foundation Finland (360 000 euros) and from the K. Albin Johansson Foundation (374 000 euros). The Cancer Foundation Finland financed the total costs of four researcher positions, and the K. Albin Johansson Foundation's donation covered the salary costs of five K. Albin Johansson researchers.
The funds of the FCI have been cost-effectively directed to cancer research in the form of salaries for researchers. The Institute has a part-time (50%) managing director and the necessary facilities and services are acquired on a case-by-case basis. The Board of Trustees and the Scientific Advisory Board are working without reward. Travel costs to the meetings are covered in accordance with the state travel regulations.
The companies involved in the Mallimaa project supported the project's activities with a total of 96,000 euros. FCI's own funds were invested in interest-bearing instruments to secure finances in the longer term. FCI did not conduct any business or other fundraising but received one bequest. The bequest included cash and real estate in Nurmes. A fund was established from the donation received.
Cooperation between foundations
FCI has systematically strengthened its cooperation with the Cancer Foundation Finland and the K. Albin Johansson Foundation. Long-term cooperation agreements have been signed with both foundations, and both foundations have representatives on the FCI’s Scientific Advisory Board. FCI is also involved in the group of Finnish medical foundations, which meets on average twice a year to discuss current issues and update news from the foundation field.
Finnish Cancer Center (FICAN)
During 2024, FCI increased its cooperation with the Finnish Cancer Center (FICAN) in two ways. In May 2024, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health assigned FICAN the task of preparing a national cancer strategy. The steering group for the cancer strategy defined the strategic goals, the division of working groups and the chairmen of the working groups. The work started in autumn 2024 and the cancer strategy has been agreed to be completed in May 2025. The managing director of the FCI participated closely in the preparation of the cancer strategy, acting in the secretariat as responsible for the sections Research and data (chairman Kimmo Porkka) and New methods (chairman Olli Tenhunen). The goal of the FCI is that the resulting strategy 1) nationally harmonises activities related to cancer diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, 2) presents concrete measures to develop and strengthen cancer research in Finland, including registry research, and 3) promotes individualised cancer care. FCI is ready to contribute to the implementation of the strategy in the coming years.
On the other hand, the FICAN Science group was established in spring 2024. It aims to maintain scientific dialogue, intensify national research cooperation and to promote cooperation in the preparation and implementation of international projects. The managing director of the FCI was invited to be part of this group. For 2025, the focus will be on cancer strategy work and in the development of a seminar series. Moreover, plans are being made to establish an annual, international symposium series focusing on cancer research and cancer treatment.
iCANDOC Precision Cancer Medicine (PCM) pilot
The Ministry of Education and Culture granted universities a total of 255 million euros to pilot new practices in doctoral education in 2024–2027. The additional funding was directed at 1,000 doctoral researchers who will be accepted into universities on fixed-term, three-year employment contracts to complete their doctoral degree. The pilot aims to increase the number of doctoral candidates and develop new practices in doctoral education. The largest single entity to receive funding (38.8 million euros) was iCANDOC Precision Cancer Medicine (PCM), coordinated by the University of Helsinki. FCI is involved in this project as a partner, considering how doctoral candidates in cancer fields will find their place in the workforce and what kind of internships could be offered to them during their studies.
Activities for the current year 2025
FCI is an independent actor whose expertise is medically, socially and nationwide comprehensive. Maintaining research activities remains the most central activity of the FCI. The number of researcher positions in the future depends essentially on the financial support provided by the Cancer Foundation Finland and the K. Albin Johansson Foundation. New partners are being identified.
Another key form of activity is the coordination of the Model Country for Individual Cancer Treatment initiative. The importance and visibility of the project have grown over the past three years. The most important tasks for the current year will be to communicate the results of the survey completed in January 2025, support the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy, and influence the reform of the drug evaluation system, highlighting in particular the perspective of cancer patients.
FCI has so far organized 16 international-level symposia that have found their place in the research community. Arrangements for the 40th anniversary symposium will begin in 2025. The symposium is planned to be organized in broad cooperation with other stakeholders in Tampere in September 2026.
The Ministry of Education and Culture allocated a total of 255 million euros to Finnish universities for piloting new practices in doctoral education for the years 2024–2027. FCI is a partner in the Doctoral Education Pilot in Precision Cancer Medicine, which aims to train 152 new PhDs in the field of cancer medicine by 2028. The number of experts in cancer medicine will therefore increase significantly in the coming years, and ways must be found to ensure that everyone has a career path in Finland.
FCI is closely monitoring the development of the activities of the Finnish Cancer Center (FICAN). Currently, one of FICAN's key tasks is to prepare a National Cancer Strategy for 2025-2035, commissioned by the Ministry of Social affairs and Health. The strategy will include measures for the implementation of which the FCI can take responsibility. Cooperation with the FICAN Science group plays also a central role.
FCI was established in 1986 to prevent the increased "brain drain" that occurred in the early 1980s. Since then, the perspective has also expanded to include "brain gain", as the FCI has hired talented cancer researchers born abroad who have moved to Finland. Third sector support for cancer researchers is still very relevant, as there seem to be few salary-related researcher positions at universities, even though there is more research funding available than before. Therefore, the need for the FCI is significant. We want to support the best cancer researchers working in Finland and ensure that Finland has attractive operating environments, including career prospects for cancer researchers. According to the researchers who have worked with us, we have succeeded in our mission so far. They wrote in their 2024 interim reports that the researcher position e.g. enabled them to focus fully on research, develop their careers, start with a new post-doc research area, and keep their research in Finland.
The official annual report with financial statements (in Finnish) can be received on request by e-mail.