Cell biology and cell membranes research projects

Orphan Nuclear Receptor Group
Signaling by orphan nuclear receptors in bone.
Piia Aarnisalo, lecturer

Neuroendocrine Membrane Traffic Research
Endocytotic trafficking and recycling of secretory granule membrane.
Nils Back, senior lecturer

Protein Chemistry / Proteomics / Peptide Synthesis and - Array Unit
Marc Baumann, unit director

Mitogroup
Mitochondria and apoptosis.
Ove Eriksson, senior lecturer

Hautaniemi Laboratory
Systems biology analysis of complex biological systems; mathematical and computational methods to gain holistic understanding of the function and control of biological processes.
Sampsa Hautaniemi, principal investigator

Holmberg Laboratory
C. elegans model system for proteasome studies.
Carina Holmberg-Still, principal investigator

Intracellular Cholesterol Trafficking
Mechanisms involved in the movement of cholesterol between cell membranes, sterol-dependent membrane domains, sterol- binding proteins. Disturbances of intracellular cholesterol transport underlying human diseases.
Elina Ikonen, professor

Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory
Cellular programs selectively active in cancer cells as a result of oncogene activity. Retroviral & lentiviral gene transfer. Genetic, systems biology, biochemical & cellular analyses.
Juha Klefström, Ph.D/docent, principal investigator

Käkelä Laboratory, Functional lipidomics
Interactions of membrane lipids and proteins; channels and pumps. Role of lipids in neurodegenerative diseases. Changes in cellular lipidomes during neural stem cell differentiation.
Reijo Käkelä, PhD/Docent, Principal Investigator

Monni Laboratory, oncogenomics
Genome-wide approaches to study genes deregulated in cancer due to copy number alteration and to identify putative target genes with pathophysiological or therapeutic role in cancer. Biochip and functional genomics technologies.
Outi Monni, PhD/Docent, Principal Investigator

Mäkelä Laboratory
Deregulation of cell cycle signaling in cancer; several cell cycle-regulated serine/threonine kinases and their potential roles as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in human cancer.
Tomi Mäkelä, professor

Viral tumorigenesis group
Molecular mechanisms underlying cellular transformation by oncogenic viruses. How viral or cellular oncogenes deregulate cell cycle, sensitize cells to apoptosis or trigger the onset of premature senescence.
Päivi Ojala, Ph.D/docent, principal investigator

Raivio group
Genetic regulation of puberty and its disturbances. Study of Kallmann syndrome. Development of GnRH neurons and the olfactory placode.
Taneli Raivio, MD, Ph.D, principal investigator

Developmental Biology
Inductive signaling in embryogenesis. Control of stem cell differentiation.
Hannu Sariola, professor

The Somerharju Lipid Group
Regulation of lipid composition of membranes in mammalian cells.
Pentti Somerharju, senior lecturer

Neuroscience research projects

Neuroscience Unit
Neurophysiology of memory and pain.
Synnöve Carlson, senior lecturer, Academy research fellow

Neuropharmacology of Pain
Pharmacology of exogenous opioids; role of endogenous opioids and related peptides.
Eija Kalso, professor

Neuropharmacology of Anxiety, Schizophrenia and Drug Addiction
Esa Korpi, professor

Neuronal signaling and disturbed organelle functions in brain diseases
Dan Lindholm, professor

Histaminergic Regulation of Brain Functions and Physiology of RFamide Neuropeptides
Peptides of the central nervous system.
Pertti Panula, professor

Neurophysiology of chronic pain and its treatment
Plasticity in pain modulatory pathways contributing to long-lasting pain.
Antti Pertovaara, professor

Neuroprotection Group
The role of oxidative stress in Parkinson's disease and ALS.
Pekka Rauhala, senior lecturer

Sleep Research
Neural mechanisms of sleep and sleep debt.
Tarja Stenberg (Porkka-Heiskanen), senior lecturer, Academy research fellow

Cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and connective tissue research

TULES Group
Synovial membrane and synovial membrane-like tissue: role in the pathogenesis of arthritis and in aseptic loosening of artificial joints.

Medical Nutrition Physiology
Evaluate the health effects of nutritional components and to understand their mechanisms. Increase collaboration between nutrition physiology and other medical sciences in research and teaching.
Riitta Korpela, professor

Cardiovascular Pharmacology Group
Molecular mechanisms of hypertension-induced target organ damage.
Eero Mervaala, senior lecturer - Heikki Karppanen, professor - Ilari Paakkari, professor

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