The iCMLf is delighted to announce that Professor Satu M Mustjoki, Professor of Translational Hematology at the University of Helsinki, has been awarded the 2025 Rowley Prize. This iCMLf award, named in honor of Janet Rowley, recognises individuals who have made exceptional lifetime contributions to advancing the understanding of the biology of CML. Professor Mustjoki’s groundbreaking research in CML immunology and her pioneering discoveries in translational hematology have profoundly shaped the field and enhanced our understanding of immune responses in CML.

 “Well-deserved recognition for Professor Mustjoki’s groundbreaking contributions to the immunology of CML and target identification.
– Professor Andreas Hochhaus

Pioneering research in CML immunology

At the core of Professor Mustjoki's research is a deep commitment to uncovering the immunological mechanisms underpinning CML and other hematological malignancies. Her work has been instrumental in demonstrating how immune cells interact with leukemic cells, paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies that harness the immune sysstem to combat cancer. 

One of her most impactful contributions to the field was the discovery that tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy has immunomodulatory effects, including its ability to enhance immune responses in CML patients. Her studies revealed that second-generation TKIs such as dasatinib not only inhibit leukemic cells but also induce immune responses associated with better treatment outcomes. This finding has influenced treatment strategies and contributed to the growing interest in immunotherapies for CML.

Her research has also highlighted the role of natural killer (NK) cells and T cells in the long-term remission of CML patients who successfully discontinue TKI therapy. These insights have opened new avenues for understanding treatment-free remission and optimising therapy discontinuation strategies.

Beyond CML, Professor Mustjoki has made major contributions to the study of immune responses in various hematologic malignancies, with a focus on rare T-cell and NK-cell disorders. Her group was the first to discover STAT3 mutations in T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) leukemia, a finding now incorporated into the WHO disease classification.

A career of excellence in hematology

Professor Mustjoki serves as the Director of the Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM) at the University of Helsinki and is the Scientific Director of the iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship. Under her leadership, her research group at the Hematology Research Unit Helsinki has grown into an internationally recognised team at the forefront of hematology and immunology research.

Her contributions to science are widely recognised, with over 200 peer-reviewed publications and numerous awards, including the 2024 Medix Prize for groundbreaking research in cancer immunology. Beyond academia, she is an advocate for patient engagement in research and has played a key role in developing a nationwide biobank for hematologic cancers in Finland.

Professor Satu Mustjoki’s career exemplifies the spirit of the iCMLf Rowley Prize – dedication to scientific discovery, translational excellence, and a commitment to improving outcomes for patients with CML.

For more information about Professor Mustjoki’s work:

• fi/hematology
• helsinki.fi/TRIMM