Team

Medeia's management

Medeia is led by an experienced team of drug discovery executives, scientists and business operations professionals in close collaboration with members of the Board of Directors. We have required skills to move a biomedical innovation from idea to non-clinical development candidate, secure IPR and create commercial value

Dr. Milla Koistinaho, Chief Executive Officer

Milla Koistinaho is the founding CEO of Medeia and through her academic merits one of the key scientists behind Medeia’s R&D portfolio. She has over 10 years’ of expertise in leading exploratory drug discovery projects from seed to commercial success. Milla has spent several years in the US. She previously served as the CEO for Cerebricon Ltd., a leading European contract based research organization in neuropharmacology. Milla received her PhD in Neuroscience from University of Kuopio and completed postdoctoral training at Eli Lilly Research Laboratories in Indianapolis, IN, USA. She additionally holds Adjunct Professorship at A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences.

Mr. Heikki Eronen, Manager, Company Administration and Finance

Heikki Eronen is one of the key members in Medeia’s founding team. He joined Medeia full-time in 2007. Heikki brings over 35 years’ of experience to Medeia having served different small to medium-sized companies at various administrative and managerial roles. Heikki is a strong talent especially in accounting and financial planning.

Medeia’s Discovery management consists of the following people:

Dr. Toni Ahtoniemi, Head of Preclinical Pharmacology

Toni Ahtoniemi has deep knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases. He obtained his PhD in the field of Neurobiology in Molecular Brain Research Group led by Professor Jari Koistinaho at the A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Kuopio, Finland. Toni joined Medeia in 2007 and he currently serves as the Head of Preclinical Pharmacology.

Dr. Anu Muona, Head of Cellular and Molecular Biology

Anu Muona has a strong background in molecular biology and genetics. She obtained her PhD in extracellular matrix research in the Collagen Research Unit led by Drs Taina Pihlajaniemi and Kari Kivirikko at the University of Oulu, Finland. She has completed extensive postdoctoral training in stem cell research and its applications in neurodegenerative diseases. Anu holds the position of Head of Cellular and Molecular Biology.

Dr. Jari Ratilainen, Head of Medicinal Chemistry

Jari Ratilainen has over 10 years’ experience in organic synthetic chemistry in both academic and industrial projects. His medicinal chemistry expertise is centered on CNS and hormone replacement therapy. Jari has served in multiple independent research administration and group leader roles, one of the most recent ones being Group leader in medicinal chemistry at Orion Corporation OrionPharma. Jari obtained his PhD in Organic Chemistry at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Jari joined Medeia in 2007 and he currently serves as the Head of Medicinal Chemistry, leading the Company’s small molecule drug design and synthesis in various R&D projects.