Simo Ojanen

Simo Ojanen is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Veterinary Biosciences. His research focuses on neuroscience with particular emphasis on brain circuitry, kainate receptors, and their role in neurological development and disorders.

His primary research interests include:

• Neuroscience and brain circuitry development
• Kainate receptors and their role in neural network formation
• Genetic basis of neurological and cardiac disorders
• Pediatric neurological conditions and their molecular mechanisms

Ojanen's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the role of GluK1 kainate receptors in brain development, particularly their impact on parvalbumin interneurons in the amygdala and GABAergic transmission in the hippocampus. His work bridges veterinary science, neuroscience, and genetics, with applications to understanding both neurological and cardiac disorders in pediatric populations.

He is currently involved in two major research projects:

• "Kainate receptors (KARs) as a control parameter in critical brain dynamics" (2024-2028), funded by the Academy of Finland
• "Lundbeck-Castrén" (2023-2028), funded by the Lundbeck Foundation