Elena Ppali ([email protected])
I have an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences from The University of Manchester, where I also completed my master’s degree in Neuroscience. I have also completed a Master’s degree in Molecular cell biology with Bioinnovation, at University College Cork.
As part of the UEF-Neuro-Innovation programme (MSCA-COFUND), we are looking into the endolysosomal dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on genetic risk variants for Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia. Gaining a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of disease could lead to the development of more accurate diagnostic tools and novel therapeutic avenues, as well as the identification of novel biomarkers for earlier disease diagnosis. This will hopefully contribute towards personalised medicine, tailored to the specific needs and symptoms of patients, improving their quality of life.
Heikki Tanila ([email protected])
I am leading the Neurobiology of Memory Research group at A. I. Virtanen Institute. Our group investigates cellular mechanisms that mediate selective loss of recent memory in early Alzheimer’s Disease.
Iman Zarei ([email protected])
I completed my PhD in Human Nutrition, minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines joined with Colorado State University, USA. My PhD research focused on identification of dietary biomarkers in cereal bran using metabolomics from two human intervention studies in adults and children and determination of cereal bran property in inhibiting bacterial pathogenicity in mouse cell line. As my cognate was Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, during my PhD program, I also worked over three years as lar at the Grain Quality and Nutrition Center as well as the Genetic Transformation Laboratory of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, the most renowned rice research organization in the world. My work at IRRI included rice metabolomics, identification rice varieties with high protein content, and genetic modifications of rice for vitamin A (Golder Rice project) and iron and zinc bio-fortification. I currently work within the LongITools project (https://longitools.org) to study the effects physical activity and diet exposures on human health in determining the risks of chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Jaakko Pohjoismäki ([email protected])
I am a molecular biologist and a research group leader focused on molecular biology of mitochondria. As a side I have ongoing projects in population genetics and evolutionary biology. Through my extracurricular activities, I have wide expertise on biodiversity, species identification, dogs and hunting. Previous work experience include biomedicine and forensic biology.
Jari Tiihonen ([email protected])
Office at Niuvanniemi Hospital (Niuvankuja 65, FI-70240 Kuopio, Finland)
Present positions
• Professor, University of Eastern Finland, School of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kuopio, Finland
• Professor, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
Major research interests
• Psychiatry, psychopharmacology, functional brain imaging, autoradiography studies on dopamine and serotonin receptors and transporters in the human brain; epidemiology, genetics and neurobiology of substance dependence; violent and suicidal behavior
Johanna Laakkonen ([email protected])
I’m an Academy Research Fellow, and PI of a junior research group focusing on Vascular Biology. The goal of our team is to improve therapeutics and diagnostics of cardiovascular diseases by understanding the biology behind the diseases. The main focus is in studying vascular anomalies and aortic aneurysms. Particularly genetics, cell-cell interaction and angioparacrine mediators are studied.
Jukka Pumpanen ([email protected])
The research work of Jukka Pumpanen is focusing on greenhouse gas balances of forest soils and soil microbiology as a driver of respiration and soil organic matter decomposition and the greenhouse gas fluxes between soil and the atmosphere. His recent work has been focusing on the long-term effects of disturbances on carbon balances of forest ecosystems. He is also studying the lateral flows of carbon and nutrients between terrestrial and aquatic systems.
Kaisa Paldanius ([email protected])
Kaisa Paldanius is a Doctor of Philosophy (biochemistry, molecular neurobiology) who is the scientific coordinator of international EU-funded research projects on ageing and dementia risk prevention: AD-RIDDLE, Prominent and 2D-BioPAD. Kaisa has over 20 years of experience in academic research as well as preclinical phase research in a global CRO company. She utilizes these skills in a variety of development and communication tasks at the Brain Research Unit.
Kaisa Raninen ([email protected])
Researcher in the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition in the Faculty of Health Sciences, and in the SIB Labs (Science – Innovation – Business) team in the Department of Technical Physics in the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology.
I have knowhow in food analysis, clinical nutrition interventions, microbiology, microplastics and biorefining, and special expertise in analysis of volatile compounds (GC-MS).
I am currently working in the ELTUVA project, which investigates the effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) and freeze-drying on the microbiological quality of food in cooperation with local food companies. I am also a contact person of Food Valley network, which is promoting the local food sector.