معرفی
Pekka Lappalainen is a Professor in Quantitative Cell Biology at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and a member of the Academy of Finland's Center of Excellence (BarrierForce). He leads the Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme and has held leadership roles in teaching and research, including Director of Biocentrum Helsinki (2014-2017). His work focuses on actin cytoskeleton dynamics, cell motility, and membrane mechanics, with applications in cancer and parasitic diseases.
Education:
- 1991: MSc in Biosciences, University of Jyväskylä
- 1995: PhD in Biosciences, University of Jyväskylä & EMBL-Heidelberg
- 1998: Docent of Biochemistry, University of Helsinki
His research explores how cells detect mechanical properties of their environment, the dysregulation of actin machinery in cancer, and structural differences in cytoskeletons of pathogens like Leishmania. Recent publications highlight innovations in actin filament regulation, stress fiber mechanics, and implications of cytoskeletal mutations in diseases such as cardiomyopathy and cancer. His work bridges structural biology, molecular biophysics, and biomedical applications.
Scientific awards include the
- Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland (2017)
- EMBO Membership (2016)
- Center of Excellence funding (2022-2029)
- EMBO Young Investigator (2001)
Lappalainen has supervised 16 PhD theses and 10 postdocs, with 4 PhD students and 5 postdocs currently under his guidance. He has secured major grants from the Academy of Finland, Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, and international bodies like the European Commission. As a leader in his field, he directs a research group at the Institute of Biotechnology and co-organizes international scientific meetings.
