Katja Kanninen

Katja Kanninen is a Professor at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland. She leads the Cellular Neurobiology research group, focusing on how environmental factors impact brain health, with particular emphasis on air pollutants, viral infections, and Alzheimer's disease using patient-derived cell models.

Her research interests span neurobiology of disease, environmental influences on brain health, and neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Kanninen investigates how ultrafine particles from traffic emissions affect cellular functions in the brain, particularly in microglia and olfactory mucosa cells. Her work connects air pollution exposure to Alzheimer's disease mechanisms, examining how pollutants alter gene regulation, lysosomal functions, and signaling pathways like PI3K/AKT. She also explores the relationship between environmental exposures and neurodegenerative conditions through population studies across multiple international cohorts.

The analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on environmental neurotoxicology, particularly the impact of air pollution on brain health. Her research spans molecular mechanisms using cellular models, epidemiological studies examining population-level effects, and systematic reviews establishing adverse outcome pathways. Key themes include the role of ultrafine particles in neurodegeneration, the connection between environmental exposures and Alzheimer's disease, and the use of novel methodologies like iPSC-derived models and multi-omics approaches to understand environmental impacts on the brain.

Dr. Kanninen actively leads ongoing research projects including Neuro-Innovation (2021-2026) and the NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme (2024-2029), demonstrating her leadership in securing substantial research funding. Her Cellular Neurobiology group has established important collaborations across Europe and Asia, contributing to our understanding of environmental impacts on brain health through interdisciplinary approaches that bridge molecular neuroscience, environmental health, and clinical research.