Biography

Nina Maria Bjelogrlic-Laakso (MSc in biochemistry, MD, PhD in toxicology, specialist in neurology with subspecialty in  intellectual disability medicine) has expertise in scientific evaluation and passion in improving the health and wellbeing of intellectually disabled people. Her open and multidisciplinary approach creates pathways for finding new treatment options to patients suffering autism spectrum disorders and related severe behavioral disorders. She has built this model after years of experience in clinical work, evaluation, teaching and administration both in hospital and medicines evaluation institutes. Her home country Finland is divided into 16 state-supported regional full-service districts for intellectual disability individuals and has a decades long history of research in intellectual disability medicine. The unique organizational system has allowed for systematic, long-term follow up of intellectually disabled patients with autism spectrum disorders and other comorbidities. This approach is responsive to all stakeholders and has a different way of focusing.

Research Interest