معرفی
Jukka Westermarck is a Professor of Cancer Biology and Research Director at the Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku. His career spans postdoctoral work at EMBL Heidelberg (1999-2001), leadership roles at Turku Centre for Biotechnology (2002-2006, 2009-present), a tenure as group leader at the Institute of Medical Technology (University of Tampere, 2006-2009), and a visiting professorship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2012).
His research centers on the role of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in cancer progression. Key contributions include discovering PP2A's tumor-suppressive mechanisms, therapeutic targeting of phosphatase regulators, and demonstrating how CIP2A and IER5L influence therapy resistance in breast and prostate cancers. Recent work explores NRF2 adaptation in HER2-inhibited oesophageal adenocarcinoma and DDX4's oncogenic roles.
Scientific Awards:
- Young researcher prize from Finnish Medical Association Duodecim (2007)
- Anders Jahre young investigator prize (2009)
- Elected member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters (2017)
Westermarck's laboratory (Westermarck Lab) operates within the Turku Bioscience Centre, focusing on phosphatase-based cancer mechanisms and translational applications. His work has generated novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapy targets, while his 2024 commentaries in Kauppalehti and Helsingin Sanomat highlight his engagement in national science policy debates.
