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Johanna Matilainen (johanna.matilainen@uef.fi)

My PhD project research focuses on the roles of hepatocyte- and adipose tissue-derived extracellular vesicles in the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Johnson Lok (johnson.lok@uef.fi)

Building a Gut Microbiome Engineering Toolbox for In-Situ Therapeutic Treatments for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (BestTreat) is a program funded by the European Commission which aims to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods for NAFLD based on gut microbiota.

Aim of my study is to investigate the association between the NAFLD progression and alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites. Correlations between metagenomics, metabolomics, imaging data and other prognostic biomarkers for NAFLD are investigated to elucidate the mechanisms behind metabolic benefits conveyed by specific functional strains of the gut microbiota to the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of NAFLD. Metagenomic and metabolomic signatures of specific gut microbiota and metabolites will be used to develop novel microbiome-based disease prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic interventions for NAFLD.

Olli Kärkkäinen (olli.karkkainen@uef.fi)

I study the effects of different exposures, e.g. alcohol and drugs, to the metabolic processes in the body using metabolomics methods. My coal is to increase our understanding of disease processes to identify novel biomarkers of exposure and to identify new targets for treatment.

Valeria Iannone (valeria.iannone@uef.fi)

Valeria is from Italy where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan (Italy) in 2015. At the same University she completed the Master degree in Molecular, Cellular and Medical Biotechnology in 2017. Her thesis project, performed at the Viral Evolution and Transmission Unit of San Raffaele Hospital under the supervision of Doctor Gabriella Scarlatti, focused on the effect of seminal plasma on human colonic mucosa and its possible role in modulating HIV infection. She completed her training as Post Graduated Student for one year on the same project.
Since 2019 she is PhD student and works at the BestTreat project on Mechanisms relating gastrointestinal microbiota with liver and adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation in the development of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, under the supervision of Professor Marjukka Kolehmainen at Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (Finland).