Juha Töyräs

Professor, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Innovation, Kuopio University Hospital

Personal Statement

I have published 286 journal papers, letters and book chapters (c.40% with the first or last name) that have been cited over 7000/10000 times (H-index of 45/54, Scopus/Google Scholar). I have supervised 46 Ph.D. theses until completion and currently supervising >20 in various fields of medical physics and engineering. In addition to scientific publications and supervised academic theses, my work has led to commercialization of the scientific innovations. I was involved in the development of an EEG-electrode set for emergency medicine. This BrainStatus EEG-electrode set (Bittium Biosignals Oy) is patented, CE-approved and currently marketed globally (https://www.bittium.com/products_services/medical/bittium_brainstatus). Furthermore, supervision of Ph.D. theses of Ossi Riekkinen and Janne Karjalainen led to commercialization of basic research results and a spin-off company (Bone Index Oy, http://www.bindex.fi/en/). My productive scientific work has also realized as significant and continuous external funding by e.g. the Academy of Finland, European Commission, NHMRC and Business Finland.

My scientific work is focused on translational research and seeks solutions in diagnostic shortcomings related to musculoskeletal diseases and sleep apnea. My research is very closely related to medical physics but it has also a strong interface with clinical medicine.

Personal information

Co-head of the Sleep Technology and Analytics Research Group (STAR)

  • Phone: +358447174444
  • Room: Kuopio University Hospital, building 4, 4th floor
  • Email: juha.toyras[at]pshyvinvointialue.fi
  • Year of birth: 1975
  • Supervised 46 Ph.D. theses, 286 scientific papers, book chapters and letters, H-index 45 (Scopus) – 54 (Google Scholar)
  • Current research interests: Sleep disorders, infrared spectroscopy, orthopaedic biomechanics
  • Current positions:
    • Director of Research and Innovation, Kuopio University Hospital, 1.4.2021–
    • Professor of Medical Physics and Engineering, Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, 15.2.2010–
    • Honorary Professor, School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, 28.3.2021–
    • Vice/Co-Head of Biophysics of Bone and Cartilage group, Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, 1.6.2004–
    • Vice/Co-Head of Sleep Technology and Analytics Research Group, Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, 1.1.2017–
  • Education:
    • Hospital Physicist, University of Kuopio (Kuopio, Finland), 2007
    • Docent (Medical Physics, Biomechanics), University of Kuopio, (Kuopio, Finland), 2004
    • Ph.D. (Medical Physics), University of Kuopio (Kuopio, Finland), 2001
    • M.Sc. (Medical Physics), University of Kuopio (Kuopio, Finland), 1999
    • Graduate of Finnish Upper Secondary School, Muurolan lukio (Muurola, Finland), 1994
  • Skills: Biomedical ultrasonics, radiology physics, cartilage biomechanics. Qualified radiation safety officer in the fields of medicine, industry, science and education
  • Language proficiency:
    • Finnish, native language
    • English, fluent
  • Hobbies: Scuba diving, tennis
  • Awards:
    • Awarded as a member of The Bone Index-team in the National business plan competition Venture Cup, 2007
    • The primus doctor of the 6th Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees by the University of Kuopio, 2005
    • The Finnish Reserve Officers’ Federation Award for the Dux of the Finnish Reserve Officer’s School Course Nr. 223. (Course Kipinä, 24.10.2003–29.1.2004, Hamina).
    • Innovation award (INNOINT 2004) for military time research on the effects of nuclear weapons, 2004.
    • Kuopio City Award for Young Scientist, 2002.
    • Award for the Best Poster: “Effects of Variation in Sound Velocity on Cartilage Ultrasound Indentation Measurements”. XXXVI Conference of the Finnish Physical Society, Joensuu, Finland, 2002.
    • Award for Distinguished Scientific Presentation: ”Mechano-Acoustic Evaluation of Articular Cartilage”. Association of Finnish Anatomists, Anatomici Fenniae, Helsinki, Finland, 1999.
    • Young Researcher Award 2nd prize, IV Scandinavian Congress on Medicine and Science in Sports, Lahti, Finland, 1998.
  • Lecturing:
    • Medical and Industrial Instrumentation, School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland (Course coordinator and lecturer, 2019).
    • Physics for Diagnostic Radiology, Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland (Primary lecturer 2002–2017)
    • Physics of Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Protection for Clinical Radiologists, Kuopio University Hospital (Lecturing 2005–2018)
    • Medical Imaging, Department of Physics, University of Kuopio