Samuli Ripatti is a Professor of Biometry at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, and Director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM). He chairs the Research Council Finland’s Centre of Excellence in Complex Disease Genetics and the EU H2020-funded Intervene Consortium. His research focuses on genetic variation in the Finnish population, particularly its effects on cardiometabolic diseases and cancers, with a strong emphasis on polygenic risk scores for disease prevention and early detection. His work spans Genetic risk prediction models Lipidomic and metabolomic profiling Gene-environment interactions Translational genomics Recent research highlights include 1099 plasma metabolite-disease causal analysis Genetic determinants of weight loss interventions Cardiovascular risk stratification tools Leukocyte lipid metabolism pathways He actively supervises doctoral programs in Integrative Life Science, Social Sciences, Clinical Research, and Population Health, and collaborates with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
Matti Pirinen is a Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, and holds a Docent title in the same department. He leads the Centre of Excellence in Complex Disease Genetics and contributes to precision medicine initiatives. His affiliations include the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology and supervision roles in the Doctoral Programmes in Mathematics/Statistics and Population Health. Supervision of doctoral and master's theses Visiting researcher at Stanford University (Oct 2018) His research focuses on statistical and population genetics , particularly genome-wide association studies (GWAS), lipidomics, and nicotine metabolism. Collaborations with FinnGen and the Long COVID Host Genetics Initiative highlight applications in public health and disease risk modeling. Recent projects include Genetic risk in Finland: from genetic ba... (Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, 2024–2026) and CoECDG: Center of Excellence in Complex Disease Genetics (Academy of Finland, 2023–2025). Publications (164 total) span topics like smoking-lipidome associations, long COVID genetics, and employment outcomes post-traumatic brain injury. Activities include public lectures (e.g., Sukupolvien Ketjut Tämän Päivän Geenitutkimuksessa , Oct 2024) and oral presentations on multivariate GWAS analysis (Apr 2017).
Juhani Taponen is an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Helsinki , affiliated with the Department of Production Animal Medicine . His work focuses on veterinary science with emphasis on reproduction in ruminants and endocrinology of reproduction . His research spans reproductive biotechnology, metabolic adaptation in dairy cows, and genetic factors in reproductive failures. Key projects include REPROINNOVA (1995–present) and ETTS/Esteves Luis/Doppler (2025–2028). Publications highlight studies in bovine fetus anomalies , gene variants in fertility , and dietary impacts on transition cows . Dr. Taponen has supervised multiple Master’s and Licentiate theses , including works by Aakkula, Heikkilä, and Nykyri. His peer-review activities cover journals like Theriogenology , PLoS One , and Reproduction in Domestic Animals . He has served as an opponent in doctoral dissertations , including Miha Savc (2017) and Adam Dunstan Martin (2015).
Hanna Ruhanen is a researcher affiliated with the Functional Lipidomics Group at the University of Helsinki , specializing in lipidomics and its intersections with genetics, physiology, and environmental biology. She contributes to advanced research on lipid profiles in diverse contexts, including human disease and marine ecosystems. Research Interests: Lipidomics and proteomics of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) Genetic and environmental influences on lipid metabolism Ecological lipid studies in marine organisms Recent Publications span lipid profiling in systemic lupus erythematosus , menopause-related cardiovascular changes, and dietary variability in copepods, reflecting her interdisciplinary focus on lipid dynamics across biological systems. Labs & Teams: She is a key operator in the Helsinki University Lipidomics Unit , collaborating on functional omics projects and ecological lipidomics.
Minna Holopainen is a researcher at the University of Helsinki affiliated with the Functional Lipidomics Group and Helsinki University Lipidomics Unit. Her work focuses on lipid metabolism across diverse biological systems including cancer, stem cells, and marine organisms. Her primary research areas include lipidomics , biochemistry , and cell biology . She investigates lipid profiles in prostate cancer (examining genes like ANO7), stem cell self-renewal mechanisms, autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, and ecological adaptations in Atlantic salmon and Baltic Sea copepods. Her approach integrates genetic, seasonal, and environmental perspectives to understand metabolic regulation. Analysis of recent publications (2024-2025) reveals strong emphasis on lipid roles in disease pathogenesis and environmental adaptation. Key trends include mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer, HDL functionality in autoimmune therapy, and lipid-based dietary indicators in aquatic ecosystems, demonstrating cross-disciplinary applications of lipidomics. As an operator of the Helsinki University Lipidomics Unit, she maintains critical research infrastructure supporting advanced lipid analysis for university-wide projects, facilitating collaborations across biomedical and ecological research domains.
Ninja Karikoski is a Senior Clinical Instructor at the University of Helsinki within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , specifically the Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine . With a focus on Equine Endocrinology , Karikoski's research explores insulin dysregulation, metabolic disorders, and pharmacological interventions in horses. Key Research Areas: Equine Endocrinology, Clinical Pharmacology, Comparative Genetics, Animal Physiology, Equine Internal Medicine Karikoski's recent publications analyze the effects of alpha-2 adrenergic agents on equine metabolism, genetic loci linked to insulin dysregulation and insect bite hypersensitivity, and bedding material impacts on respiratory health. Collaborations span institutions like Eläinlääketieteen tutkimuksen tukisäätiö and Suomen Hippos ry. Supervision: Directed doctoral theses on equine diabetes (Justin Box), equine ophthalmology (Katri Kosunen), and hoof pathology (Paula Jaakkola). Projects under Karikoski’s leadership include genetic studies of Finnhorses and metabolic health initiatives. Teaching activities emphasize clinical veterinary pedagogy and diagnostic methods.
Pia Siljander is a Senior University Lecturer at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, where she leads the Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme. She serves as Head of the Extracellular Vesicles (EV) Core Facility and is Principal Investigator of the Extracellular Vesicle Research group. Her work bridges biochemistry, cell biology, and pharmaceutical sciences with a focus on extracellular vesicles in health and disease. Dr. Siljander has established herself as a leading expert in extracellular vesicle research, particularly focusing on platelet-derived vesicles and their roles in cancer, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases. Her research spans from fundamental EV biology to clinical applications, including biomarker discovery and therapeutic development. She has developed standardized methodologies for EV research and is actively involved in international EV research initiatives. Eberhard Mammen Young Investigator award (2011) Teaching award (2015) Scientific Conference Power Player (2017) Influencer of the Year (2023) Dr. Siljander actively supervises doctoral and master's students and serves on numerous doctoral committees. She has secured significant research funding from foundations, Business Finland, and the Research Council of Finland. Her leadership extends to the Finnish Society of Extracellular Vesicles, where she serves as Chair, and she is a sought-after peer reviewer for major journals in her field. As head of the EV Core Facility, Dr. Siljander oversees advanced research infrastructure supporting extracellular vesicle studies across multiple disciplines. Her team develops innovative methodologies for EV isolation, characterization, and functional analysis, contributing to precision biomedicine approaches.
Pentti Somerharju is a Professor at the University of Helsinki and serves as a supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science and the Doctoral Programme Brain & Mind. He is also the Director of the Helsinki University Lipidomics Unit, where he leads research in lipid metabolism and membrane biology. Research Focus: Lipidomics and membrane biology Phospholipid metabolism and homeostasis Mitochondrial lipid dynamics Cellular lipid trafficking Lipid-protein interactions His work extensively covers the molecular mechanisms governing lipid metabolism in mammalian cells, with particular emphasis on glycerophospholipid homeostasis, cholesterol transport, and the role of lipids in cellular organelle function. His research employs advanced lipidomic techniques including mass spectrometry and stable isotope labeling to study lipid dynamics. Research Infrastructure: As Director of the Helsinki University Lipidomics Unit, he oversees state-of-the-art facilities for lipid analysis, supporting both internal and collaborative research projects. The unit provides expertise in mass spectrometry-based lipidomics and maintains essential equipment for lipid research. Collaborations and Supervision: He actively supervises doctoral students in multiple programs and collaborates internationally, as evidenced by his extensive publication record involving researchers from various countries. His work bridges fundamental lipid biochemistry with clinical applications in metabolic diseases.
Marko Lehtonen is a Research Director at the School of Pharmacy , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland. His work focuses on metabolomics , pharmacokinetics , and analytical chemistry with applications in neuropharmacology , cardiovascular research , and nutritional science . His research spans multiple domains: Metabolomics : Systematic analysis of metabolic profiles in diseases like alcohol-related liver disease , rheumatoid arthritis , and neurodegeneration Drug Delivery : Mechanistic studies on LAT1 transporter for brain-targeted therapies and prodrug development Dietary Biomarkers : Identification of whole-grain metabolites , obesity-related shifts , and microbiota interactions Recent publications reveal trends in cross-species metabolite profiling , pregnancy-related biomarkers , and neuroinflammatory pathways . His collaborations span translational medicine (e.g., Parkinson's disease studies) and environmental toxicology (e.g., PCB 180 exposure analysis).
Associate Professor Sami J. Taipale is affiliated with the Department of Biological and Environmental Science at the University of Jyväskylä. His research focuses on understanding the ecological consequences of environmental changes on aquatic ecosystems, leveraging lipidomics and traditional limnological methods. Key interests include the impact of climate change (e.g., eutrophication, browning) on fatty acid synthesis, terrestrial organic carbon dynamics in lake food webs, and plastics recycling. He holds an active role as Associate Professor and previously served as a Senior Lecturer at the same institution. His projects, funded by organizations such as the Research Council of Finland and the Finnish Environment Institute, investigate topics like microplastic degradation, mercury biomagnification, and fatty acid transfer in food webs. Notable collaborations include work on the fate of plastics in the Baltic Sea and the nutritional quality of freshwater organisms under climate change. Taipale leads the Aquatic Sciences group and contributes to the WET School of Resource Wisdom at JYU. Research activities span over 121 publications, emphasizing fatty acid analysis, microbial ecology, and environmental engineering. His work bridges laboratory experiments, field studies, and advanced analytical techniques such as compound-specific isotope analysis to address global environmental challenges.
Anni I. Nieminen is a Senior Researcher at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program and the Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science. She leads the Helsinki Metabolomics Center (HMC) and plays a pivotal role in national research infrastructure initiatives like Biocenter Finland and HiMETA. Senior Researcher, University of Helsinki Director, Helsinki Metabolomics Center Project Manager, Biocenter Finland Her research spans metabolomics, lipidomics, and biochemical pathways in diseases such as cancer and acute brain injuries. She employs advanced LC-MS and ex vivo 3D culture models to study metabolic reprogramming and tumor-stroma interactions. Recent work focuses on spatial metabolomics for liver cancer profiling, multi-omics standardization in personalized medicine, and metabolic adaptations post-DNA damage. Collaborations extend across Finland and internationally through networks like EATRIS and Nordic-EMBL. Scientific recognition includes the Master thesis award (2007) and The Medix Prize (2011). She actively participates in academic leadership programs and organizes key metabolomics conferences.
Anders Backman is a researcher at Åbo Akademi University, based in the Faculty of Science and Engineering within the Biochemistry and Cell Biology – Solutions for Health programme. His work focuses on lipid-transfer proteins and membrane-trafficking mechanisms that underpin cellular lipid homeostasis and vesicle biology. Research interests span glycolipid-transfer proteins, sphingolipid transport pathways, and the emerging role of lipid signatures in small extracellular vesicles. Using gene-knockout models, biochemical assays and lipidomic profiling, Backman dissects how specific lipid-transfer proteins sense and shuttle lipids between intracellular membranes, thereby influencing processes ranging from vesicle exocytosis to plasma-membrane remodelling. Publication trend: a steady output since 2014, with increasing citation impact (Scopus counts up to 15 citations for individual 2021 articles). His 2023 study in Journal of Biological Chemistry demonstrates that loss of glycolipid-transfer protein disrupts vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane, highlighting a critical node in membrane trafficking networks. Collaboration & networks: recurrent co-authorship with P. Mattjus and other members of the Åbo Akademi lipid-research cluster; international co-authors from Finland, Sweden and beyond contribute to topically specialised papers.
Tarja Kokkola, PhD, docent, serves as Research Coordinator at the Institute of Clinical Medicine within the School of Medicine at the University of Eastern Finland. She manages quality systems for the Clinical Research Centre, including two ISO 15189-accredited diagnostic laboratories, and contributes to development, validation, and quality assurance of clinical chemistry methodologies. Her research spans multiple critical areas in biomedical science, with particular emphasis on biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases (especially Alzheimer's disease), type 2 diabetes mechanisms, and sirtuin-related pathways. She has developed expertise in cerebrospinal fluid diagnostics, metabolic phenotyping, and multi-omics integration approaches. Her work bridges clinical laboratory practice with translational research through extensive collaboration in major European research initiatives. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on Alzheimer's disease biomarkers (6 articles), type 2 diabetes mechanisms (5 articles), and methodological innovations in multi-omics data analysis (4 articles). Her research demonstrates consistent methodological rigor with emphasis on clinical applicability, particularly in differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative conditions and stratification of metabolic disease subtypes. As an active collaborator in the IMI DIRECT consortium and FinnGen project, she contributes to large-scale European efforts to understand disease heterogeneity and develop precision medicine approaches. Her publications consistently appear in high-impact journals across neurology, diabetes research, and analytical methodology fields. Dr. Kokkola also provides lectures and training in quality management, auditing, and risk assessment, supporting the next generation of clinical researchers. Her leadership in maintaining ISO 15189 accreditation for diagnostic laboratories demonstrates commitment to research quality standards essential for translational medicine.
Tytti Niemelä is a Clinical Instructor at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, where she also serves as a supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Veterinary Medicine. Her contact details include email (tytti.niemela@helsinki.fi) and phone (+358294157256), with her office located at P.O. 57, Koetilantie 2. Her primary research explores: Equine osteoarthritis pathophysiology and biomarker discovery Synovial fluid analysis and extracellular vesicle functions Innovative joint treatments including hyaluronan and platelet-rich plasma therapies Advanced imaging techniques for cartilage assessment Publications demonstrate a consistent focus on equine joint health, with recent work emphasizing extracellular vesicles' role in osteoarthritis and fatty acid signatures. Earlier research established foundations in hyaluronan therapeutics and diagnostic methodologies. She leads multiple active projects: PRP-hoito hevosen niveliin (2024-2027): Corporate-funded study of platelet-rich plasma for equine joints Hevosen osteoartriitti (2024-2025): Foundation-supported osteoarthritis research Equine back projects (ongoing since 2019) As a doctoral supervisor, she oversees thesis research and regularly participates in veterinary conferences including ECVS Annual Scientific Meeting and Finnish veterinary seminars. She has also contributed to curriculum development in higher education pedagogy.
Alex Dickens serves as Docent in the Department of Life Technologies at the University of Turku, Finland, with dual Academy Research Fellow appointments at the Centre for Chemical and Molecular Analysis (CCMA) and Turku Bioscience Centre. Research focuses on advanced lipidomics and metabolomics applications across human and veterinary medicine, utilizing cutting-edge analytical chemistry and bioinformatics approaches to address complex biological questions in systems medicine. Primary research interests center on analytical chemistry, metabolomics, lipidomics, bioinformatics, and systems medicine, with emphasis on lipidome dynamics in neurological disorders, gut-microbiome interactions, and inter-laboratory metabolomic standardization. Current work develops novel mass spectrometry methodologies for precise lipid profiling in schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, and metabolic diseases, while exploring lipid-based drug formulations and microbiome-metabolome relationships in developmental psychology. Recent publication trends reveal strong focus on large-scale collaborative lipidomics studies, particularly inter-laboratory validation of reference materials, lipid biomarkers in neuroimaging, and gut microbiota-metabolite interactions across diverse populations. Key methodological contributions include standardized ceramide quantification protocols and comparative analyses of fecal stabilization techniques for microbiome research. Scientific recognition includes: Academy Research Fellow (Academy of Finland) Research leadership is demonstrated through the Academy Research Fellowship, which funds independent projects at CCMA and Turku Bioscience Centre. Collaborative networks span international institutions including University of Cambridge, Karolinska Institutet, and multiple European metabolomics consortia, with emphasis on translational applications in clinical and veterinary settings. Laboratory operations are centered at the Centre for Chemical and Molecular Analysis (CCMA) and Turku Bioscience Centre, featuring state-of-the-art mass spectrometry infrastructure for high-throughput lipidomics. Current team initiatives include the Lipidomics Quality Assurance Consortium and multi-center studies on lipid formulations for cannabidiol delivery, with active participation in global reference material development projects through the Metabolomics Standards Initiative.
