Dr. Johan Gunnar Eriksson stands as a preeminent clinical scientist whose career has significantly shaped our understanding of metabolic health across the lifespan. He currently serves as Professor at the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Programme Director for the Human Potential Translational Research Programme. Previously, he held the position of Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, and served as Chief Physician at Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland. His educational foundation in medicine was established at the University of Helsinki, where he earned both his medical degree and specialist qualifications in internal medicine and general practice.
Dr. Eriksson's pioneering research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of how early life factors influence long-term health outcomes, particularly regarding diabetes and metabolic diseases. He has led major longitudinal cohort studies including GUSTO and S-PRESTO in Singapore and the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study in Finland, which has followed over 20,000 individuals from birth to beyond 80 years of age. His instrumental role in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study provided the first compelling evidence that lifestyle interventions can effectively prevent type 2 diabetes, establishing a new paradigm in preventive medicine. Additionally, his leadership in the RADIEL study demonstrated successful reduction of gestational diabetes through lifestyle modifications, directly impacting clinical practice guidelines worldwide.
Recognized as one of the world's most influential scientists, Dr. Eriksson ranked first in Singapore among the World's Top Scientists in medicine in 2023 and received the prestigious J.W. Runeberg Prize in 2021 for his groundbreaking research on early life risk factors. As Executive Director of the A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential, he continues to expand research horizons with a renewed focus on adolescent development and improving health span across populations. His work has generated over 800 original research publications with an h-index of 161, reflecting extraordinary scholarly impact and sustained contributions to medical science. Dr. Eriksson remains committed to translating research findings into actionable policy recommendations that enhance public health outcomes across Singapore, Asia, and the global community.
