Dr. Hannele Yki-Järvinen is a distinguished Finnish endocrinologist and internationally recognized authority in metabolic research. She currently serves as Professor of Medicine at the Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, a position she has held with tenure since 1997. After completing her specialty in Internal Medicine at the University of Helsinki in 1993 and subspecialty in Endocrinology in 1994, she established herself as a leading researcher in diabetes and metabolic disorders. Her career includes prestigious appointments as Professor at the Academy of Finland from 1995 to 2005 and as Nordic Professor of Medicine at the Karolinska Institutet from 2002 to 2004, reflecting her significant contributions to the field across Scandinavia.
Professor Yki-Järvinen's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of the intricate relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Her seminal work, recognized with the prestigious Minkowski Award in 1993 - the highest-ranking scientific award in diabetes research in Europe - was the first to demonstrate critical connections between hepatic fat accumulation and insulin resistance. Through meticulous patient-based studies, she has uncovered how fatty liver disease contributes to diabetes pathogenesis and how targeting liver metabolism can improve diabetes treatment outcomes. Her research has established new paradigms in metabolic medicine, demonstrating that Finland's exceptional patient participation in research has enabled global leadership in this critical area of medical science.
As Head of the Division of Diabetes at Helsinki University Central Hospital, Professor Yki-Järvinen continues to shape clinical practice through evidence-based guidelines and innovative treatment approaches. Her academic leadership is reflected in nearly 500 scientific publications and the mentorship of 29 doctoral students, establishing her as the highest-ranked researcher at the University of Helsinki and 185th among the world's top female researchers. In 2024, she received the Jacobaeus Prize from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for her decades of pioneering work that has significantly advanced our understanding of fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Professor Yki-Järvinen remains at the forefront of metabolic research, currently leading European and national initiatives to develop more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these increasingly prevalent conditions.
