The mid-April marked an exciting milestone for the FAME Flagship as its delegation headed across the Atlantic to the United States.
Over the course of an intensive and inspiring week in Houston and Los Angeles, our team had the opportunity to represent FAME on an international stage, strengthen existing connections, and build new relationships with leading local research institutes and universities.
The visit was filled with meaningful discussions, shared insights, and a strong sense of common purpose – laying the groundwork for future collaboration and deeper transatlantic cooperation.
The director of the delegation, Professor Samuli Siltanen from University of Helsinki, states that many potential points of collaboration were found, both topic-wise and in the form of like-minded researchers connecting. In particular, the combination of advanced technology in American laboratories and novel computational methods from Finland can be a fruitful way towards new innovations in medical imaging.
The FAME Flagship delegation visit to the United States kicked off in Houston, Texas
Our first day focused on exploring Houston’s world‑class research, innovation, and health technology ecosystem. We engaged with Texas Medical Center Innovation, gaining insights into healthcare startup collaboration, and visited UTHealth Houston’s Institute of Molecular Medicine, a leader in molecular and translational research.
At Rice University’s BioScience Research Collaborative, we learned how interdisciplinary research brings together biosciences, engineering, and medicine, alongside cutting‑edge work in neuroengineering, signal processing, and AI-driven health solutions.
The day ended up at the University of Houston, where mathematics and engineering are combined to support applied research and industry needs, as FAME’s vice director, Prof. Siltanen gave a lecture titled “How does AI detect cats in photos using elementary school math?”.
An inspiring start that highlighted the strong potential for transatlantic collaboration across research, technology, and innovation.
The variety of offices and labs available at TMC Innovation, and just the sheer size of the operation, helped the Finnish delegation think about spin-off company activities from a fresh perspective.
Space Center Houston
Some of us arrived in Houston already on Saturday evening, ahead of the official delegation program, and took the opportunity to ease into the week with a visit to Space Center Houston.
Walking through the exhibits and learning more about NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s work and the history of space exploration was both impressive and inspiring. It was a great way to recover from the journey, spark curiosity, and start the week in a setting that truly highlights the role of bold ideas, innovation, and international collaboration.
Day 2
Day two of the delegation visit continued with a strong focus on medical research and data‑driven health innovation.
The program highlighted cutting‑edge work in neurology, neuroscience, medical imaging, and biomedical data science at UTHealth Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Discussions focused on translational research, advanced analytics, and the integration of data, technology, and clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.
The day offered valuable perspectives on how leading U.S. institutions advance interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and data science — and opened promising avenues for future international cooperation.
FAME is based on a core of mathematics reaching out towards many different applications. It was a fresh viewpoint to see how MD Anderson Cancer Center starts from a focus on curing cancer and collects all necessary tools and techniques around that goal.
Day 3
The third official program day of the FAME Flagship delegation visit took place in Los Angeles.
Following the travel day from Houston to LA, the program resumed with a strong academic and research focus at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
At the USC, discussions highlighted advanced biomedical research, neuroimaging, data‑driven health solutions, and the role of interdisciplinary collaboration across medicine, engineering, and AI. The day continued at UCLA, where meetings with the UCLA International Institute and leading researchers in medical imaging and data sciences offered valuable perspectives on international academic collaboration and global research partnerships.
The day concluded with a networking reception at the Residence of the Consul General of Finland, providing an excellent setting for informal discussions and strengthening connections between Finnish and U.S. research and innovation communities. Our sincere thanks to the Consul General of Finland for generously hosting the evening reception and fostering meaningful dialogue between Finnish and U.S. partners!
The demonstrations by Summer Decker were the highlight of the trip. She offered inspirational stories about using 3D printing with medical materials as a tool helping surgeons save lives. And limbs. And endangered animals at zoos. Dr. Decker is a star of medicine, perhaps fittingly working next to Hollywood.
Day 4
The final day of the delegation visit to Texas and California took place at UC Irvine and concluded with an inspiring FAME Flagship meeting at the Beckman Laser Institute (BLI).
The day offered an excellent overview of cutting‑edge biomedical imaging and research. During the morning sessions, we learned about the activities of BLI and FIBRE, as well as the current focus areas of the FAME Flagship. The short and insightful talks highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of the research and the importance of strong international collaboration.
In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to visit several laboratories and see hands‑on demonstrations at BLI, followed by a visit to Lumitron, providing valuable perspectives on translating research results into practical applications and commercialization.
Warm thanks to our hosts at UC Irvine, the Beckman Laser Institute, FIBRE, and Lumitron for an excellent program and open discussions — and to the entire delegation for the active engagement throughout the visit. A great foundation for continuing and deepening our collaboration ahead!
The visit to UC Irvine stands out in its hospitality and warm atmosphere. Also: what a variety of ways to use light in the service of medicine!
Conclusion
FAME’s delegation was a valuable experience, combining professional meetings, site visits, and cultural exchange.
The program offered meaningful insights into different working cultures, operational models, and development approaches, while enabling open and constructive knowledge to exchange with international partners. Alongside the formal agenda, observing local environments and everyday life provided important context for discussions. The visit strengthened existing relationships, created new professional connections, and underscored the importance of international collaboration and cross‑cultural learning. We are looking forward to the collaboration in the future!
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Texas Medical Cener Innovation, UTHealth Houston’s Institute of Molecular Medicine, Rice University’s BioScience Research Collaborative, University of Houston, UTHealth Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center, USC, UCLA, UC Irvine, Beckman Laser Institute, FIBRE, Lumitron, and all the individuals who welcomed the FAME delegation, shared their expertise, and generously hosted our visits. Your openness and engagement made the journey both impactful and memorable.
Special thanks to Sari Tojkander and the Consul General of Finland for making this delegation possible!
Text: Samuli Siltanen & Siiri Utriainen | Photos: Samuli Siltanen. Top photo: The FAME delegation at the Residence of the Consul General of Finland. Consul General Minna Laajava in the middle, Counselor for Science and Higher Education Sari Tojkander second from the left.
