Mikko Hiltunen

Mikko Hiltunen is a Professor of Tissue and Cell Biology at the Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). He leads several research groups including the Molecular Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease (Hiltunen Lab) and participates in the Brain Research Unit and Genome Center of Eastern Finland.

Research interests span Alzheimer's pathogenesis, neuroinflammation, genetic risk factors, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic development. His work integrates molecular biology, genetics, and clinical neuroscience to investigate microglial function, amyloid pathology, and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. Key areas include APOE genetics, PLCγ2-mediated neuroprotection, and machine learning applications in neurodegeneration.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, genetic association studies, neuroinflammation mechanisms, and therapeutic interventions. Article themes consistently emphasize microglial biology, genetic risk modifiers, and translational approaches for Alzheimer's and iNPH. Collaborative projects include Neuro-Innovation (2021-2026) and NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme (2024-2029).

Hiltunen leads the Clinical Alzheimer Research group and co-directs the UEF Brain Research Unit. His team utilizes advanced models including iPSC-derived microglia and pericyte systems to study neurovascular interactions. Current work explores phospho-tau immunotherapy, lysosomal dysfunction, and polygenic risk score applications across diverse populations.