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Mehrad MahmoudianView profile

Researcher

• Machine Learning
• Statistical Data Analysis
• Survival Analysis
• +2 more

Mehrad Mahmoudian serves as a Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Computing and Project Researcher at the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku. He is affiliated with the Computational Biomedicine research group under Elo Lab, operating from Biocity 7th floor (Office 7096) at Tykistökatu 6, Turku. His research spans Machine Learning , Statistical Data Analysis , and Survival Analysis applied to biomedical challenges. Key focus areas include cancer genomics, reproductive health disorders, microbiome analysis, and clinical risk prediction. His methodological innovations address high-dimensional biological data through algorithm development for feature selection, epigenomic analysis, and predictive modeling. Analysis of his publications reveals a consistent trajectory in developing computational tools for biomedical data interpretation. His work bridges molecular biology (epigenetics, transcriptomics) with clinical applications (cancer prognosis, pregnancy disorders, cardiovascular risk), emphasizing robust statistical frameworks and machine learning pipelines for translational research. As a core member of the Computational Biomedicine group, he contributes to collaborative projects involving multi-omics integration, clinical decision support systems, and biomarker discovery. His technical expertise spans proteomics, metaproteomics, and genomic data analysis pipelines, with significant contributions to open-source computational methods like ROTS for differential peak detection.

• Pharmacology
• Neuroscience
• Pain Research
• +3 more

Pekka Rauhala serves as an Adjunct Professor (Docent) at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology within Medicum. He holds a Docent contract, acts as Supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Drug Research, and maintains active visiting researcher status. His institutional presence spans decades with continuous research output from 1984 to 2025. Rauhala's research centers on pain mechanisms and opioid pharmacology, with deep specialization in spinal cord neuropharmacology, opioid tolerance development, and glial cell interactions. His work integrates molecular neuroscience, metabolomics, and drug delivery systems to investigate polyneuropathy, intrathecal pharmacokinetics, and neuroinflammatory pathways in chronic pain models. Primary methodologies involve rat-based experimental systems examining gene expression, microglial activation, and lymphatic transport mechanisms. Analysis of his 79 research outputs (including 15+ recent publications) reveals consistent focus on opioid-glial interfaces, with escalating emphasis on transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches since 2020. His publication trajectory demonstrates methodological evolution from classical pharmacokinetics toward multi-omics integration while maintaining core investigation of morphine tolerance mechanisms. Rauhala actively supervises doctoral candidates within the Drug Research Programme and collaborates through two major projects: the ongoing "Glia and pain" initiative and the completed EC-FP7 GLORIA project (2013-2018) targeting glial-opioid receptor interfaces for chronic pain therapeutics. His work involves significant cross-institutional partnerships with researchers including Eija Kalso, Mikko Airavaara, and Tiina Lilius. Based at Medicum's B211B facility (PO Box 63), he maintains dual email contacts and direct phone lines, reflecting ongoing laboratory engagement. His research group operates within Helsinki's pain neuroscience consortium, contributing to translational pain medicine through mechanistic studies of drug delivery systems and neuroimmune interactions.

• Atherosclerosis
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Vascular Biology
• +6 more

Redouane Aherrahrou is a Senior Researcher at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, with emphasis on genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic approaches. He has contributed to studies on vascular smooth muscle cell biology, GWAS analysis, and translational research bridging genetic findings to clinical applications. Key areas of research include: Genetic risk loci in coronary artery disease Transcriptomic profiling of atherosclerotic plaques Functional interpretation of GWAS data Role of smooth muscle cells in vascular pathology Sex-specific gene expression in cardiovascular diseases Recent work highlights discoveries such as the identification of ITIH4 as a novel smooth muscle cell-specific gene in atherosclerosis and the role of autoantibodies in cardiovascular risk prediction.

Sanna-Kaisa HerukkaView profile

Research Professor

• Biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases
• Alzheimer's disease
• Mild cognitive impairment
• +2 more

Sanna-Kaisa Herukka, MD, PhD, is Research Director at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland. A neurologist and neuroscientist, she leads the Biomarkers for Neurological Disorders group and several multi-disciplinary research teams focusing on fluid biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Education MD, University of Eastern Finland, 2011 PhD (Neurosciences), University of Eastern Finland, 2009 MSc (Applied Biotechnology), University of Eastern Finland, 2008 Research Focus Herukka’s work centers on the discovery, analytical validation, and clinical implementation of cerebrospinal fluid and blood-based biomarkers for early detection and differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. She has particular expertise in Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Her team integrates proteomics, metabolomics, neuroimaging, and machine-learning approaches to improve diagnostic accuracy and prognostic stratification. Scientific Output & Trends Across more than 220 peer-reviewed publications, her recent work (2018-2025) demonstrates a clear emphasis on synaptic proteins, phosphorylated tau species (especially p-tau217), neurofilament light chain, and multimodal biomarker panels. Collaborative multinational studies (e.g., Nature Medicine 2025, JAMA Neurology 2022) highlight reproducible biomarker signatures that predict cognitive decline and therapeutic response. Grants & Collaborations She has received continuous competitive funding from the Academy of Finland, EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND), and industry partnerships. Current consortium grants support the TWINGEN cohort, FinnGen clinical recall studies, and the UEF Brain Research Unit 2.0 infrastructure. Labs & Teams Herukka directs the UEF Biomarker Laboratory within the Brain Research Unit, which provides ISO-accredited CSF and blood biomarker analyses for academic and clinical trials across Europe. She also co-chairs the Clinical Alzheimer Research group and the NPH & Early AD program, integrating neurosurgery, neurology, and radiology expertise.

• Celiac Disease
• Immunology
• Organoid Models
• +3 more

Keijo Viiri is a researcher specializing in celiac disease, immunology, and organoid modeling. His work focuses on understanding gluten-induced intestinal damage and developing therapeutic interventions using molecular and cellular approaches. Research employs proteomics, transcriptomics, and organoid systems to identify biomarkers and drug targets. Viiri's recent publications (2023-2024) explore transglutaminase inhibitors, gut organoid responses to gluten, and translational applications for celiac disease management. Work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, with contributions to Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences and Nature Immunology.

Conny SjöqvistView profile

Researcher

• Marine Biology
• Ecology
• Phytoplankton
• +5 more

Conny Sjöqvist is a postdoctoral researcher and project scientist at Åbo Akademi University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Environmental and Marine Biology. She earned her PhD in 2015 for research on the genetic and phenotypic diversity of Baltic Sea phytoplankton. Her career includes a postdoctoral fellowship at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2015-2017) and visiting researcher roles at institutions like the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research. Her research focuses on marine phytoplankton and microbial ecology, particularly the genetic diversity and adaptation of diatoms in the Baltic Sea. She combines experimental ecology with advanced computational methods, including autoencoders for parasite detection. Her work addresses climate change impacts on marine primary producers, salinity gradients, and eco-evolutionary responses. Recent publications highlight her contributions to understanding phytoplankton adaptation (2025), temperature optima shifts under global warming (2024), and novel methods for identifying marine microbes (2024). Her projects, like ARCHIVE (2024-2028) and SOS: Center for Sustainable Marine Science, explore microalgae resilience and climate governance.

• Neurosciences
• Synaptic Plasticity
• Neurobiology
• +3 more

Roles and Affiliations: Professor at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences. Group Leader of the Synaptic Plasticity and Neuronal Synchronization research group. Supervisor for doctoral programs in Integrative Life Science, Clinical Veterinary Medicine, and Brain & Mind. Research Interests: Tomi Taira's research focuses on neurosciences, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal network development. His work explores mechanisms underlying synaptic maturation, kainate receptor function, and the impact of developmental processes like early life stress on neural circuits. He also contributes to translational research through initiatives like Helsinki One Health, which integrates veterinary, human, and environmental health research. Grants and Collaborations: Principal investigator on projects funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation and the Academy of Finland. Collaborates internationally on studies involving neuronal synchronization, GABAergic transmission, and antidepressant mechanisms. Labs and Teams: Leads the Synaptic Plasticity and Neuronal Synchronization group, focusing on experimental and computational approaches to understand network dynamics in health and disease.

Marjo SaastamoinenView profile

Professor

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Climate Change Adaptation
• +4 more

Marjo Saastamoinen is a Professor at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme. Her research focuses on understanding how species cope with environmental variation through genetic, experimental, and statistical modeling approaches, particularly using the Glanville fritillary butterfly as a model system. University of Helsinki Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme Research Interests include ecological and evolutionary responses to climate change, metapopulation dynamics, phenotypic plasticity, and genetic diversity. She integrates long-term monitoring data with molecular tools to study adaptive mechanisms in insects. Notable Scientific Awards include the Finnish Academy PhD-thesis award (2008). Her recent publications address biodiversity stability, pesticide impacts on butterflies, and thermal adaptation mechanisms. Advising includes PhD and postdoctoral supervision in evolutionary biology. She is involved in projects like WildAP (Wild Animal Phenotyping Infrastructure) and biodiversity metrics initiatives.

Sonja Emilia NykänenView profile

Researcher

• Gynaecology
• Paediatrics
• Stem Cell Research
• +5 more

Sonja Emilia Nykänen is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki , affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and the Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program . Her research focuses on gynaecology, paediatrics, and developmental biology , particularly the role of DUX4 in embryonic genome activation and Lynch syndrome-associated colorectal tumorigenesis. Education : Pursuing a doctoral degree in Biomedicine at the University of Helsinki. Her recent work explores how transient DUX4 expression in stem cells induces blastomere-like gene programs and investigates mitotic abnormalities preceding microsatellite instability in Lynch syndrome tumors. Keywords include embryonic development, cancer genetics, stem cell biology . Projects : Participated in a 2021-2023 research project on non-coding genomic elements in early human embryo development.

Teemu TeeriView profile

Research Professor

• Plant Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Developmental Biology
• +3 more

Teemu Teeri is a Research Professor at the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, where he serves as Research Director and Supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Plant Sciences. He is a key member of the Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS), a major research hub for plant sciences in Finland. Dr. Teeri's research focuses on plant molecular biology, with particular expertise in Asteraceae developmental biology and secondary metabolism. His work spans several critical areas of plant science including: Plant genomics and molecular biology Secondary metabolite biosynthesis Developmental biology of plants Crop production sciences Plant-insect interactions Metabolic engineering of plant compounds His recent publication record demonstrates a strong focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind plant secondary metabolism, particularly in specialized metabolic pathways. His work often employs advanced genomic and transcriptomic approaches to identify key regulatory elements in biosynthetic pathways. There's a clear trend toward studying both model and non-model plant species to uncover evolutionary patterns in metabolic pathway development. Dr. Teeri has received notable recognition for his work, including: SPPS Popularization Award 2013 As an active researcher, Dr. Teeri supervises doctoral students in the Plant Sciences program and has secured significant research funding. He currently leads the "Phytochemical recruitment of pest suppression" project funded by Novo Nordisk Fonden (2023-2026). He is also a key participant in several major research initiatives including the Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS) and the NaPPI National Plant Phenotyping Infrastructure. Dr. Teeri is deeply embedded in the Viikki Plant Science Centre ecosystem, collaborating with numerous researchers across various plant science disciplines. His work contributes significantly to understanding plant metabolism and development, with potential applications in agriculture, biotechnology, and natural product discovery.

• Biochemistry
• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• +3 more

Outi Monni is a University Lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki. She serves as a supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine and Clinical Research and as a Director of PhD thesis supervision projects. Supervisor, Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine Supervisor, Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research Director, Biomedicum Functional Genomics Unit (LS-RIA/HGI) Her research focuses on biochemistry, genetics, and oncology , particularly in head and neck cancers. Recent work includes studies on Liprin-α1 in MAPK signaling, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in HPV-positive cancers, and genetic risk variants in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Key trends in her publications show expertise in functional genomics, cancer signaling pathways, and translational research . She has 54 peer-reviewed publications and extensive collaboration networks in oncology and developmental biology. Finnish Cultural Foundation Grant (2023) Luise and Henrik Kuningas Foundation Grant (2024) Monni has supervised multiple PhD theses and organized academic events like the Single Cell Transcriptomics Symposium (2017) and Single Cell Course Week (2018). Her leadership roles include directing the GOptima tumor inhibition project since 2016.

Sten AnslanView profile

Research Fellow

• Environmental DNA
• Metabarcoding
• Soil Ecology
• +3 more

Sten Anslan serves as an Academy Research Fellow at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Jyväskylä, with office location YA C410.2 and contact details sten.s.anslan@jyu.fi / +358504612239. His research centers on environmental DNA metabarcoding for organism identification in ecological samples, with specialized focus on soil faunal networks and micro-mycobiome interactions. He systematically evaluates bioinformatics pipelines for sequence data analysis to optimize methodological approaches for diverse environmental datasets, bridging molecular biology and ecosystem ecology. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in biodiversity assessment through DNA-based techniques, spanning soil microbial databases, machine learning applications for rare species identification in Madagascar, and marine ecosystem studies in the Galápagos. His work consistently addresses methodological innovation for ecological monitoring and restoration science. Dr. Anslan actively contributes to the Predictive Community Ecology Group, a collaborative research initiative led by Nerea Abrego and Otso Ovaskainen focused on biodiversity modeling and community assembly mechanisms.

Risto KasanenView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Forestry
• Forest Pathology
• Microbial Ecology
• +4 more

Risto Kasanen , Senior Lecturer at the Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, is a leading researcher in forest pathology and microbial ecology. His work focuses on tree health, fungal communities, and interactions between pathogens, pests, and forest ecosystems. Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki Research interests include: Forest disease management and biocontrol agents like Phlebiopsis gigantea Microbial communities in phyllosphere/endosphere of Norway spruce Interkingdom interactions in Heterobasidion-affected trees Climate change impacts on forest health and pathogen dynamics Recent publications highlight his contributions to understanding: Microbiome responses to bark beetle infestations Role of abiotic factors in fungal community composition Mechanisms of xylem dysfunction in pathogen-infected trees Latent infections by opportunistic fungal endophytes As an editor and reviewer for journals like Frontiers in Microbiology and Forest Ecology and Management , he advances scientific discourse in forest microbiology. His collaborations span microbial ecology, forest entomology, and sustainable forestry practices.

• Immunology
• Cancer Biology
• Cell Biology
• +2 more

Marko Salmi is a Professor at the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, and a key member of the InFLAMES Flagship research program. His research focuses on immunology, cancer biology, and cellular metabolism, with significant contributions to understanding immune cell functions in disease contexts. Contact information: masalmi@utu.fi, +358 29 450 4380, +358 50 338 5678. His primary research interests include leukocyte trafficking, tumor immunogenicity, and the molecular regulation of liver metabolism. He investigates how immune cells, particularly macrophages, influence cancer progression and hormonal balance, using advanced techniques such as single-cell transcriptomics and in vivo models. Recent publications (2024-2025) highlight his work on TIMP-1 in dendritic cells, pituitary macrophages in hormonal regulation, and ERK signaling in KRAS-mutant cancers. These studies underscore his interdisciplinary approach to uncovering immune mechanisms in disease. Professor Salmi is affiliated with the InFLAMES Flagship, a major research initiative at the University of Turku that integrates basic and clinical research on inflammation and immunity, fostering collaboration across multiple disciplines.

• Agricultural Biotechnology

Guangxun Fan is a Doctoral Researcher affiliated with the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and the Department of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Helsinki. His work focuses on agricultural biotechnology and plant genetics. Research Interests : Guangxun investigates molecular mechanisms governing plant development and climate adaptation, particularly in strawberry species. His studies address epigenetic changes, gene regulation during asexual reproduction, and the role of transcription factors like HANABA TARANU in morphological development. Research trends include methylome/transcriptome interactions, flowering control, and climate-driven phenotypic plasticity in Fragaria vesca . Publications : His recent work explores temperature-induced epigenetic modifications, runner formation in strawberries, and natural variation in flowering traits. These studies reflect interdisciplinary applications of biotechnology to improve crop yield and resilience.