International evaluation of clinical research in Finland and Sweden

The Academy of Finland and the Scientific Council for Medicine of the Swedish Research Council conducted a joint international evaluation of clinical medical research during 2008–2009 simultaneously both in Finland and Sweden. The evaluation covered the entire research field and one of the main aims was to evaluate the standard of clinical research, its funding systems, and the clinical career. Also in focus were the differences between the two countries in terms of these issues.

In Finland, the evaluation was commissioned by the Academy’s Research Council for Health and in Sweden by the Scientific Council for Medicine of the Swedish Research Council. The evaluation was steered by a steering committee that was chaired by Professor Kalervo Väänänen. The evaluation was coordinated by Senior Researcher Riikka Pellinen from the University of Kuopio, Finland. The evaluation panel was chaired by Professor Roger Bouillon from the Catholic University of Leuwen, Belgium.

The evaluation panel states in its report that clinical research in both countries holds a high international standard. The panel also lists several aspects that should be specifically considered in both countries in order to maintain clinical research at this high international level.

The evaluation report will help to support measures aimed at further developing the research field. It will be used in the Academy’s funding decisions and when making decisions on the launch of new research programmes. It can also be used to support the further development of the units evaluated and in general science policy discussion.

Final report 5/09 (pdf)

The report can also be ordered from the Academy of Finland Communications Unit by email viestinta@aka.fi.

Steering Committee:

• Professor Kalervo Väänänen (Chair),
  Chancellor Kari Raivio,
  Professor Olle Stendahl, and
  Professor Håkan Billig

Evaluation Panel:

• Professor Roger Bouillon, K.U. Leuwen, Belgium (Chair)
  Professor Thom Stossel, Harvard Medical School, USA (Vice Chair)
  Professor Lisbeth Tranebjaerg, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Vice Chair)
  Professor Ingrid Agartz, Norway
  Professor Ariane de Agostini, Switzerland
  Professor Henning Beck-Nielsen, Denmark
  Professor Stein Evensen, Norway
  Professor Margaret Liu, USA
  Professor Karen Luker, UK
  Professor John Sear, UK
  Professor Peter Sleight, UK
  Professor Susan Suter, Switzerland
  Professor Helgi Valdimarsson, Iceland
  Professor Jørgen Vestbo, Denmark
  Professor Jens Zimmer, Denmark