Lauri Holmström, a researcher on sudden cardiac death, was awarded the Young Investigator Award

Lauri Holmström graduated with a Licentiate of Medicine and received his PhD in 2020 from the University of Oulu. His doctoral thesis dealt with the characteristics of sudden death in sudden cardiac deaths without underlying coronary artery disease. Of particular interest in Holmström's dissertation was the accumulation of connective tissue, or fibrosis, in these diseases, of which there is very little previous international knowledge. Holmström is currently completing a specialist qualification in medicine at the University of Oulu and is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Clinical Cardiology Research Group.

The selection committee judged Holmström's publication record to be extensive (38 publications). The results of Holmström's research projects have been published in high-impact cardiology journals. Holmström has also developed a clear research theme (risk factors for cardiac arrest) and has received post-doctoral training at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, USA. According to the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research selection committee, Holmström has proven to be a very active, accomplished, and internationally networked cardiac researcher in his relatively short research career.