DPMM is organized into six research programs. Below you can find the programs and supervisors belonging to each program.
Program in cardiovascular diseases focuses on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis at gene and protein levels both in vitro and in vivo with special emphasis on studies of the growth factors playing a major role in the disease progress. The program also includes projects on development of novel therapies based on gene therapy and therapeutic angiogenesis.
Supervisors
A. I. Virtanen Institute
- Airenne, Kari (PhD): Virus-mediated gene delivery, Gene therapy of cardiovascular diseases and cancer
- Kaikkonen Minna (PhD): Unravelling complex interactions between macrophages, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells underlying atherogenesis and identifying key factors responsible for differences in naturally induced angiogenesis and therapeutic angiogenesis using next-generation deep sequencing methods (GRO-Seq, RNA-Seq).
Levonen, Anna-Liisa (MD, PhD): The role of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense systems in cardiovascular diseases, the mechanisms of Nrf2- dependent gene regulation
Tavi, Pasi (PhD): Cellular and molecular physiology of the heart muscle cells
Turunen Mikko (PhD): Role of small RNAs in epigenetic gene regulation and their delivery by viral vectors as a novel gene therapy strategy for cardiovascular disease such as myocardial infarction
- Ylä-Herttula, Seppo (MD, PhD): Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis at gene and protein level both in vitro and in vivo; development of novel therapies based on gene therapy and therapeutic angiogenesis
School of medicine
- Erkkilä, Arja (PhD): Cardiovascular nutrition; lipid and glucose metabolism
Top of page
The main focus of the program is on the genetics of type 2 diabetes, early phases of atherosclerosis and monogenic heart diseases. The genetic basis of type 2 diabetes and the monogenic forms of diabetes, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia of newborns is studied using modern methods of molecular genetics at the DNA and RNA levels. Also, specific animal models are developed and produced.
Supervisors
School of medicine
- Erkkilä, Arja (PhD): Cardiovascular nutrition; lipid and glucose metabolism
- Laakso, Markku (MD, PhD): Genetics of chronic diseases; type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, atheroscerosis
- Pihlajamäki, Jussi (MD, PhD): Metabolic consequences of obesity and obesity surgery; RNA processing in T2DM and obesity
Top of page
Program focuses on the genetic background and interaction of genetic and dietary factors in etiology of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. The influence of nutrition factors on the gene expression in adipose tissue and white blood cells is studied in order to find out the regulation of type 2 diabetes, obesity and cholesterol metabolism.
Supervisors
School of medicine
- Gylling, Helena (MD, PhD): Metabolism of cholesterol and plant sterols in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes; obesity
- Kolehmainen, Marjukka (PhD): Interactions of dietary and genetic factors on the development of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
- Laakso, Markku (MD, PhD): Genetics of chronic diseases; type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, atheroscerosis
- Pulkkinen, Leena (PhD): Nutrigenomics and molecular genomics of obesity
- Schwab, Ursula (PhD): Genetic factors of lipid and glucose metabolism
- Uusitupa, Matti (MD, PhD): Obesity and type 2 diabetes; molecular mechanisms of obesity-related metabolic disorders; nutrigenomics; prevention of type 2 diabetes
Top of page
The molecular mechanisms, treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, ALS, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and circulatory disorders of brain are under intensive research in this program. The research projects include projects from basic research to clinics: The risk factors, genetics and novel imaging methods of Alzheimer's disease; neuropathology of dementias; mechanisms of memory; molecular biology of the aging nervous system; the role of inflammatory factors and mitochondria in neurodegeneration; stem cell research and; the basic mechanisms and novel therapies of epilepsy.
Supervisors
A. I. Virtanen Institute
- Courtney, Michael (PhD): Cell signalling and drug targets in neurodegeneration
- Giniatullin, Rashid (MD, PhD):Molecular and cellular mechanisms of pain, migraine pathophysiology, synaptic transmission, ligand-gated receptors, desensitization, signalling via reactive oxygen species
- Gröhn, Olli (PhD): Biomedical NMR - MRI of neurodegenrative diseases
- Koistinaho, Jari (MD, PhD): Inflammatory mechanisms of neurodegeneration; stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases; stroke; Alzheimer's disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Koistinaho, Milla (PhD): Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities of neurodegenerative diseases and preclinical in vivo and in vitro modelling of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS, spinal cord injury and stroke
- Pitkänen, Asla (MD, PhD): Basic mechanisms of epileptogenesis
- Tanila, Heikki (MD, PhD): Neurobiological mechanisms of memory and memory disorders
- Wong, Garry (PhD): Molecular mechanisms of the neurodegerative diseases; Parkinson's disease
School of Medicine
- Alafuzoff, Irina (MD, PhD): Neuropathology of neurodegerative diseases
- Haapasalo Annakaisa (PhD): Molecular and cell biological characterization of pathways and genes related to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis
- Hiltunen, Mikko (PhD): Molecular and functional genetics of Alzheimer's disease
- Salminen, Antero (PhD): Molecular mechanisms of neuronal degeneration; Alzheimer's disease
- Soininen, Hilkka (MD, PhD): Molecular epidemiology, genetics and imaging; Alzheimer's disease
Top of page
Stem cell research program includes projects studying the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to brain cells and cardiac muscle cells, differentiation of mouse embryonic brain stem cells to neurons, and the differentiation and transfer of both human and mouse hematopoietic stem cells in disease models of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Modification of stem cells with gene transfers, use of stem cells as tools of gene therapy, studies on combining gene and cell therapy with conventional pharmacotherapy, and imaging of the stem cells are among the most important parts of the program.
Supervisors
A. I. Virtanen Institute
- Koistinaho, Jari (MD, PhD): Inflammatory mechanisms of neurodegeneration; stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases; stroke; Alzheimer's disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Ylä-Herttula, Seppo (MD, PhD): Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis; development of novel therapies based on gene therapy and therapeutic angiogenesis using stem cells
Top of page
Acute pancreatitis: Deficiency of polyamines due to increased polyamine catabolism is related to the pathogenesis of severe acute pancreatitis in transgenic mice and rats. The program focuses on clarifying the molecular mechanisms of the early phases of pancreatitis, and also on the use of polyamine analogues in regeneration of lethal lesions of the pancreas and some other organs.
Regulation of the immune system: Special interests include the CD40-mediated influences on the cells of the immune system, and CD40-regulated inflammation reaction mediated by endothelial cells.
Nuclear receptors and transcriptional control of gene expression: The main focus is on steroid hormone regulated gene activity in cancer and inflammatory cells.
Supervisors
A. I. Virtanen Institute
- Alhonen, Leena (PhD): Polyamine mediated mechanisms and treatment of pancreatitis; gene-modified disease models
- Hinkkanen Ari (PhD): Molecular virus research
- Koistinaho, Jari (MD, PhD): Inflammatory mechanisms of neurodegeneration; stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases; stroke; Alzheimer's disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
School of medicine
- Palvimo, Jorma (PhD): Steroid hormone-regulated transcription in normal and malignant cells
- Pelkonen, Jukka (MD, PhD): Immunology; microbiology; flow cytometry
Top of page
