Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsLaura Airas
Research
Publications
2026
ORATORIO-HAND: Results of the Primary Analysis of Ocrelizumab vs Placebo in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, Including Older Patients and Those With More Advanced Disease (S40.001)
Giovannoni G, Airas L, Bove R, Cutter G, Hobart J, Kuhle J, Montalban X, Tur C, Wolinsky J, Schneble H, Baldinotti A, Bonati U, Giacobino C, Wang Q, Yang K, Oh J. ORATORIO-HAND: Results of the Primary Analysis of Ocrelizumab vs Placebo in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, Including Older Patients and Those With More Advanced Disease (S40.001). Neurology 2026, 106 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000215551.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe test-retest reproducibility of [11C]PK11195 positron emission tomography using Biograph Vision Quadra scanner
Sjöros T, Matilainen M, Saunavaara V, Wahlroos S, Rajander J, Koivumäki M, Honkonen E, Luoma A, Airas L. The test-retest reproducibility of [11C]PK11195 positron emission tomography using Biograph Vision Quadra scanner. EJNMMI Research 2026 PMID: 42230367, DOI: 10.1186/s13550-026-01460-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTest-retest reproducibilityIntraclass correlation coefficientBiograph Vision QuadraDistribution volume ratioMultiple sclerosisEmission tomographyResultsThe intraclass correlation coefficientTranslocator protein bindingBackgroundPositron emission tomographyRepeatability coefficientTranslocator proteinProgressive multiple sclerosisDeep gray matter structuresPositron emission tomographyHealthy volunteersCentral inflammationProgressive MSTSPO PET imagingLesion-wiseGray matter structuresTreatment trialsMicroglial activationLesion coreMS lesionsWhite matterTSPO-PET-measurable neuroinflammation associates with information processing speed decline in multiple sclerosis.
Saraste M, Nikkilä T, Matilainen M, Hämäläinen P, Wahlroos S, Rajander J, Snellman A, Rinne J, Airas L. TSPO-PET-measurable neuroinflammation associates with information processing speed decline in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal 2026, 13524585261446839. PMID: 42218616, DOI: 10.1177/13524585261446839.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSymbol Digit Modalities TestImpaired information processing speedTranslocator protein positron emission tomographyDistribution volume ratioNormal-appearing white matterMagnetic resonance imagingGlial activationMultiple sclerosisInformation processing speedProcessing speed declineDiffusion tensor imagingCognitive deficitsProcessing speedChronic glial activationModal testingTensor imagingMultivariate regression modelRadial diffusivitySpeed declineEmission tomographyResonance imagingWhite matterLong-term changesBaselineSclerosisEfficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in primary progressive multiple sclerosis, including older patients and those with more advanced disease (ORATORIO-HAND): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3b study
Giovannoni G, Airas L, Bove R, Cutter G, Czarnecki M, Drulovic J, Hobart J, Kuhle J, Montalban X, Selmaj K, Tur C, Wolinsky J, Baldinotti A, Bonati U, Craveiro L, Giacobino C, Manfrini M, Schneble H, Stevenson P, Wang Q, Yang K, Oh J, group O, Barnett M, Dwyer C, Macdonell R, Marriott M, Simpson M, Popescu V, Van Pesch V, Willekens B, Lilovski H, Milanov I, Tsvetanov P, Macdougall A, Marriott J, McKelvey J, Oh J, Thorne M, Vosoughi R, Navas C, Ruiz C, Habek M, Kes V, -Piskac S, Airas L, Castelnovo G, Clavelou P, De Seze J, Laplaud D, Mathey G, Ruet A, Beridze M, Janelidze M, Tsiskaridze A, Bergamaschi R, Comi G, Filippi M, Grimaldi L, Inglese M, Lus G, Malucchi S, Marfia G, Pozzilli C, Ristori G, Uccelli A, Abboud H, Mourad A, Farfan F, Meza E, Gurrola M, Martinez-Manzanera C, Rivas V, San Juan Orta D, Kissani N, Louhab N, Regragui W, Mason D, Mottershead J, Bartosik-Psujek H, Bonek R, Chyrchel-Paszkiewicz U, Czarnecki M, Fryze W, Jasinska E, Kulakowska A, Maciejowski M, Ochudło S, Ratajczak M, Rejdak K, Selmaj K, Slowik A, Stryczynska K, Susz-Kolodynska M, Swiat M, Tomaszewska M, Tutaj A, Zbrojkiewicz J, Zielinski T, Cerqueira J, Ferreira J, Martins A, Mendes I, Santos E, Vale J, Albu C, Balasa R, Ionescu A, Manescu S, Agafina A, Arefyeva E, Arzumanyan N, Belova A, Brylev L, Dorogov N, Evdoshenko E, Greshnova I, Khabirov F, Khachanova N, Kotov S, Parshina E, Prokopenko S, Sazonov D, Sherman M, Sivertseva S, Sokolova I, Trushnikova T, Volkova L, Zakharova M, Aleksic D, Dincic E, Drulovic J, Gavric-Kezic M, Krsmanovic Z, Smiljanic-Miljkovic D, Szakalas L, Toncev G, Rodriguez E, Arroyo R, Blanco Y, Costa-Frossard L, Madueño S, Montero Y, Estruch B, Montalban X, Merino A, Gonzalez I, Meca J, Sabin J, Hinarejos A, Kuhle J, Damak M, Frih-Ayed M, Gouider R, Mhiri C, Cherkez A, Daineka N, Gryb V, Halych L, Ignatenko I, Kalbus O, Kobys T, Korolova O, Kostiuchenko A, Kovalenko O, Moskovko G, Myronova O, Nehrych T, Neryanova Y, Novakovska O, Peleshok S, Sanotskyy Y, Seliuk O, Shulga O, Skrypchenko I, Smolanka V, Tomakh N, Yaholnyk V, Artal F, Chataway J, de Angelis F, Gallagher P, Giovannoni G, Gran B, Hobart J, Paling D, Pearson O, Sharaf N, Tallantyre E, Tur C, Webb S, Amjad F, Boster A, Bove R, Cutter G, Huang D, Jacobs D, Lynch S, Schneider J, Shafer S, Wolinsky J. Efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in primary progressive multiple sclerosis, including older patients and those with more advanced disease (ORATORIO-HAND): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3b study. The Lancet 2026, 407: 2195-2207. PMID: 42208561, DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(26)00617-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhase 3b studyExpanded Disability Status ScaleDisability progressionProgressive multiple sclerosisDouble-blindPlacebo-ControlledAdvanced diseaseSafety profileOlder patientsRate of serious adverse eventsRisk of disability progressionSafety of ocrelizumabEffect of ocrelizumabDelay disability progressionMultiple sclerosisSerious adverse eventsProportion of patientsDisability Status ScaleIntravenous ocrelizumabORATORIO trialsPPMS populationsLaboratory parametersSerious infectionFunction preservationAdverse eventsAssociation between post-COVID-19 neuropsychiatric symptoms and persistent glial activation in the limbic system: a TSPO PET study
Tuomaala J, Saraste M, Smith E, Kuusi M, Westerberg E, Honkonen E, Kargar R, Laaksonen S, Lehto J, Luoma A, Matilainen M, Misin O, Atosuo J, Kanerva M, Liira H, Laakso S, Posharina T, Saunavaara V, Wahlroos S, Rajander J, Airas L. Association between post-COVID-19 neuropsychiatric symptoms and persistent glial activation in the limbic system: a TSPO PET study. Journal Of Neurology 2026, 273: 298. PMID: 42059960, PMCID: PMC13132884, DOI: 10.1007/s00415-026-13842-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDistribution volume ratioTSPO availabilityHealthy controlsTranslocator protein positron emission tomographyMental health assessmentTSPO-PETLimbic activityPsychiatric symptomsWhite matterBrain areasBrain volumetricsLimbic systemNeuropsychiatric symptomsGlial fibrillary acidic proteinPositron emission tomographySARS-CoV-2 infectionMultiple sclerosisGlial activationAmygdalaPET studiesHippocampusNeuroinflammatory processesEmission tomographyPersistent glial activationLC participantsTSPO-PET-measurable neuroinflammation associates with brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis
Yenikekaluva A, Sjöros T, Matilainen M, Snellman A, Rinne J, Alfaifi B, Hinz R, Saraste M, Airas L. TSPO-PET-measurable neuroinflammation associates with brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders 2026, 110: 107207. PMID: 42025273, DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2026.107207.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNormal-appearing white matterDistribution volume ratioHealthy controlsPositron emission tomographyGlial activationMultiple sclerosisBrain atrophyTissue destructionDevelopment of brain atrophyMeasuring glial activationAdverse pathologic factorsT2 lesion volumeCentral nervous system atrophyBrain parenchymal fractionMultivariate linear regression analysisBody mass indexLarger ventricular volumesParenchymal fractionCross-sectional associationsMass indexNeuroaxonal damageVentricular volumeBrain MRIPathological factorsDisease progressionPET imaging of microglial pathology in multiple sclerosis
Hartiala O, Tuomaala J, Airas L. PET imaging of microglial pathology in multiple sclerosis. Current Opinion In Neurology 2026, 39: 240-246. PMID: 41947663, PMCID: PMC13152060, DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001490.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMicroglial activationPET imagingPotential neuroprotective therapiesPET-based methodPET-derived measuresMultiple sclerosis pathologyTranslocator proteinClinical deteriorationMetabolic biomarkersNeuroaxonal injuryInflammatory componentMultiple sclerosis brainTSPO PET imagingClinical trialsNeuroprotective therapiesMolecular imaging toolMS brainsPET tracersMultiple sclerosisBrain atrophyImaging toolMicroglial pathologyPathological processesBrainPathologySV2A PET reveals synaptic density loss in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and in a pilot multiple sclerosis study
Chia P, Toyonaga T, Tong J, Le H, Dias M, Boyle A, Raymond R, Longbrake E, Huang Y, Carson R, Airas L, Vasdev N, Chen M, Zheng C. SV2A PET reveals synaptic density loss in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and in a pilot multiple sclerosis study. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2026, 123: e2517709123. PMID: 41774796, PMCID: PMC12974510, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2517709123.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisMultiple sclerosisAutoimmune encephalomyelitisPET imagingSpinal cordExperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis miceAge-matched healthy controlsQuantitative biomarkersLumbar spinal cordRegional distribution volumesDensity in vivoCross-species validationSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2APET findingsTracer uptakeSV2A bindingSynaptic pathologyHealthy controlsDisease progressionMouse modelMS patientsPathological featuresDistribution volumeMultiple Sclerosis StudySV2A levelsCorrection: Longitudinal accumulation of glial activation measured by TSPO-PET predicts later brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis
Nylund M, Lehto J, Matilainen M, Rajander J, Wahlroos S, Sucksdorff M, Kuhlmann T, Airas L. Correction: Longitudinal accumulation of glial activation measured by TSPO-PET predicts later brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis. Journal Of Neuroinflammation 2026, 23: 46. PMID: 41630005, PMCID: PMC12862898, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-026-03700-x.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersReal-world detection of paramagnetic rim lesions and their association with disease burden in multiple sclerosis
Misin O, Piispanen A, Matilainen M, Parkkola R, Nyman M, Sainio T, Hirvonen J, Airas L. Real-world detection of paramagnetic rim lesions and their association with disease burden in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders 2026, 107: 107012. PMID: 41564463, DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2026.107012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsParamagnetic rim lesionsMultiple Sclerosis Severity ScoreExpanded Disability Status ScaleSusceptibility-weighted imagingMultiple sclerosisRim lesionsManual chart reviewUniversity HospitalElectronic medical recordsAssociated with disease burdenT2 lesion volumeTertiary university hospitalIron-laden macrophagesT1-weighted imagesDisability Status ScaleSmoldering inflammationDisease burdenChart reviewParaclinical parametersLaboratory variablesMedical recordsStatus ScaleMS-relatedPatient managementLesion volume
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