Professor Outi Vaarala has been appointed Senior Vice President for Research and Development and member of the Executive Management Board of the Orion Group, as of 1 June 2020.
Vaarala has held the position of Vice President, Oncology Research in Orion’s Research and Development as of 10 June 2019. Prior to Orion, Vaarala led drug discovery and development from target identification to clinical Phase 2 studies in Respiratory Inflammation and Autoimmunity therapy area, first at AstraZeneca, Sweden, and later at Medimmune/AstraZeneca, USA.
”Orion’s Research and Development is in an interesting phase. Our operations have been developed into a recognized world-class organization that has also achieved remarkable results. Outi Vaarala has excellent background and experience from various leadership positions in Research and Development in the international pharmaceutical industry as well as a long experience of immunology and remarkable career in the academy. She has published more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles in internationally renowned scientific journals. I warmly welcome Outi as a member of Orion’s Executive Management Board,” says Timo Lappalainen, President and CEO, Orion.
Co-operation and international networking is a key to success
Outi Vaarala is a medical doctor (University of Helsinki) and has a PhD in immunology. Outi Vaarala was appointed as a Professor of Pediatric Immunology, Linkoping University, Sweden, in 2000, and as a Professor of Autoimmune Diseases, Lund University, Sweden, in 2015.
”During the past year when leading Oncology Research team at Orion, I have recognized the fabulous opportunities in Orion based on the knowledge and expertise across the organisation. This makes me excited about this new challenge ahead me. Co-operation and international networking is a key to success because nobody can develop drugs alone. Finland and Orion have a lot to offer for the proprietary drug discovery, and at the same time international networking is a crucial part of the operations of Orion’s Research and Development. In my new position, I want to emphasize this,” says Outi Vaarala.
Photo: Orion
