Topi Salmi Prize was founded by the Finnish Veterinary Association and the Finnish Veterinary Foundation in 2007.

The Prize is awarded to Finnish veterinary researchers, whose work has international societal significance. Participation in the training of young researchers is considered a benefit. The Prize can be awarded for even a single research finding, if it has outstanding merit. The prizewinner is invited to make a lecture at the opening of the Annual General Meeting of the Finnish Veterinary Association.

The Topi Salmi Prize for 2010 was granted to Professor Satu Pyörälä. The prize is 10,000 euros.

Satu Pyörälä is the Professor of Milk Hygiene in the University of Helsinki. She is an internationally acknowledged researcher of bovine mastitis and has conducted valued research since the 1980s.

Her special interests include the pathogenesis, aetiology, diagnostics and treatment of mastitis. The disease is of great importance for the dairy economy and bovine welfare.

Professor Pyörälä has been a major influence for the treatment of mastitis in Finland. The favourable antimicrobial resistance situation in our country has greatly benefited from her tireless work for the prudent use of antibiotics in dairy medicine.

Professor Pyörälä is an internationally acknowledged lecturer, who has spoken about the responsible use of antibiotics in mastitis treatment in many conferences. She is an excellent teacher and a driving force in basic, specialised and supplementary veterinary education.

Professor Pyörälä's merits in securing external funds for mastitis research are invaluable. She has authored or co-authored over 100 original papers and 200 other works.

The first Topi Salmi Prize ever, 10,000 euros, was awarded to Professor Hannu Korkeala in autumn 2007. Professor Korkeala works at the Institute of Food and Environmental Hygiene, in the Veterinary Faculty of Helsinki University.

According to the Prize Committee, the extensive research career of Professor Korkeala covers food hygiene throughout the production chain and its management. The work is characterized by robust pragmatism and applicability, and it has widely been utilized in the development of food safety. Professor Korkeala has been busy as an international expert, for instance organizing research training for veterinarians and overseeing PhD projects in the Baltic countries. His strong involvement in the training of young scientists reflects the emphasis on education cited in the charter of the Prize.  

The Prize Committee is chaired by the Chairman of the Board of the Finnish Veterinary Association. Veterinary members are invited from the Veterinary Faculty, the Finnish Veterinary Foundation, the Department of Food and Health of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira.