Marko Lehtonen

I specialize in mass spectrometry–based metabolomics and pharmaceutical analytical chemistry, with over 25 years of experience in analytical method development and research infrastructure leadership.

My research focuses on analytical chemistry in life sciences, with a particular emphasis on metabolomics, lipidomics, and LC‑MS and GC‑MS methodologies. My research interests include metabolic liver disease (MASLD), central nervous system (CNS)–related research, obesity, and early-life development. My aim is to develop and apply advanced analytical solutions to better understand biochemical processes and to support drug discovery and translational research.

I serve as Group Leader of the Pharmaceutical Analytics and Mass Spectrometry group at the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland. In addition, I act as Head of the LC‑MS Metabolomics Center at Biocenter Kuopio, where I oversee research infrastructure and provide analytical services across the full workflow, from study design to data interpretation. My work also covers pharmaceutical analytical chemistry, particularly method development and validation in accordance with regulatory requirements.

My goal is to bridge advanced analytical chemistry with practical applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical research, enabling the generation of high-quality and reliable data to support scientific discovery.