
ANNAKAISA HAAPASALO
Research Director
I lead the Molecular Neurodegeneration Research Group at A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland.
I have a PhD and Adjunct Professorship in neurobiology. My current research interests are: Potential synaptic dysfunction, contribution of microglia and inflammation, and alterations in protein degradation and cellular energy metabolism in the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) as well as fluid biomarkers in FTD and other early onset dementias.
The aim of our studies is to provide new insights into the molecular basis of genetic (especially C9orf72 repeat expansion-associated) and sporadic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and translate our findings for the benefit of the patients by discovering novel biomarker or therapeutic candidate targets.
Contact info
Organization
Faculty of Health Sciences, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences
annakaisa.haapasalo@uef.fi
Phone
+358 40 355 2768
Keywords
Teaching Activities
We actively train different level students in our group by supervising thesis projects (BSc, MSc, PhD) and hosting training periods of our own university’s as well as international Erasmus students.
In addition, I participate in teaching at the Functional Genetics of Brain Diseases and Disease Models courses in the Biomedicine MSc program at the University of Eastern Finland.
Societal Activities
I am one of the founding members of the Finnish FinFTD research network and our group is an active member in the network. Our network received the “Communicator of the Year” award from the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland in 2019.
Research groups and research projects
Leader of Molecular Neurodegeneration research group
PI in UEF Doctoral Programme in Molecular Medicince (DPMM) ja MSCA cofund GenomMed and Neuro-Inno Doctoral Programmes
Coordinator of the EU JPND SynaDeg project (2022-2025)
Research groups - UEF
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Annakaisa Haapasalo Group (Molecular Neurodegeneration)
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Neuro-Innovation
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Finnish FTD Research Network (FinFTD)
Links
Publications
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Kenvin, Sebastian; Torregrosa-Muñumer, Ruben; Reidelbach, Marco; Pennonen, Jana; Turkia, Jeremi J; Rannila, Erika; Kvist, Jouni; Sainio, Markus T; Huber, Nadine; Herukka, Sanna-Kaisa; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Auranen, Mari; Trokovic, Ras; Sharma, Vivek; Ylikallio, Emil; Tyynismaa, Henna. 2022. Threshold of heteroplasmic truncating MT-ATP6 mutation in reprogramming, Notch hyperactivation and motor neuron metabolism Human molecular genetics [Corrected proof 19 Nov 2021]: 1 - 46. 2022
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Leskelä, Stina; Huber, Nadine; Hoffmann, Dorit; Rostalski, Hannah; Remes, Anne M; Takalo, Mari; Hiltunen, Mikko; Haapasalo, Annakaisa. 2021. Expression of C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion leads to formation of RNA foci and dipeptide repeat proteins but does not influence autophagy or proteasomal function in neuronal cells Biochimica et biophysica acta: molecular cell research 1868 7: 119021. 2021
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de Rojas, I; Moreno-Grau, S; Tesi, N; Grenier-Boley, B; Andrade, V; Jansen, IE; Pedersen, NL; Stringa, N; Zettergren, A; Hernández, I; Montrreal, L; Antúnez, C; Antonell, A; Tankard, RM; Bis, JC; Sims, R; Bellenguez, C; Quintela, I; González-Perez, A; Calero, M; et al; [incl. Haapasalo, A; Soininen, H; Lehtisalo, J; Kivipelto, M; Kuulasmaa, T; Hiltunen, M]. 2021. Common variants in Alzheimer's disease and risk stratification by polygenic risk scores Nature communications 12 1: 3417. 2021
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Solje, Eino; Benussi, Alberto; Buratti, Emanuele; Remes, Anne M; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Borroni, Barbara. 2021. State-of-the-Art Methods and Emerging Fluid Biomarkers in the Diagnostics of Dementia-A Short Review and Diagnostic Algorithm Diagnostics 11 5: 788. 2021
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Rostalski, H; Korhonen, V; Kuulasmaa, T; Solje, E; Krüger, J; Gen, F; Kaivola, K; Eide, PK; Lambert, JC; Julkunen, V; Tienari, PJ; Remes, AM; Leinonen, V; Hiltunen, M; Haapasalo, A. 2021. A Novel Genetic Marker for the C9orf72 Repeat Expansion in the Finnish Population Journal of Alzheimer's disease 83 3: 1325-1332. 2021
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Niiranen, Marja; Kontkanen, Aleksi; Jääskeläinen, Olli; Tertsunen, Hanna-Mari; Selander, Tuomas; Hartikainen, Päivi; Huber, Nadine; Solje, Eino; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Kokkola, Tarja; Lohioja, Tarja; Herukka, Sanna-Kaisa; Simula, Sakari; Remes, Anne M.. 2021. Serum GFAP and NfL levels in benign relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis and related disorders 56: 103280. 2021
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Martiskainen, Henna; Takalo, Mari; Konttinen, Henna; Malm, Tarja; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Leinonen, Ville; Hiltunen, Mikko. 2021. Alzheimerin taudin uudet riskigeenit - keskiössä mikrogliasolut Duodecim 137 13: 1375- 1382. 2021
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Wittrahm, Rebekka; Takalo, Mari; Marttinen, Mikael; Kuulasmaa, Teemu; Mäkinen, Petra; Kemppainen, Susanna; Martiskainen, Henna; Rauramaa, Tuomas; Pike, Ian; Leinonen, Ville; Natunen, Teemu; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Hiltunen, Mikko. 2021. MECP2 Increases the Pro-Inflammatory Response of Microglial Cells and Phosphorylation at Serine 423 Regulates Neuronal Gene Expression upon Neuroinflammation Cells 10 4: 860. 2021
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Leskelä, S; Hoffmann, D; Rostalski, H; Huber, N; Wittrahm, R; Hartikainen, P; Korhonen, V; Leinonen, V; Hiltunen, M; Solje, E; Remes, AM; Haapasalo, A. 2021. FTLD Patient-Derived Fibroblasts Show Defective Mitochondrial Function and Accumulation of p62 Molecular neurobiology 58 11: 5438-5458. 2021
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Klionsky, Daniel J; Abdel-Aziz, Amal Kamal; Abdelfatah, Sara; Abdellatif, Mahmoud; Abdoli, Asghar; Abel, Steffen; Abeliovich, Hagai; Abildgaard, Marie H; Abudu, Yakubu Princely; Acevedo-Arozena, Abraham; Adamopoulos, Iannis E; Adeli, Khosrow; Adolph, Timon E; Adornetto, Annagrazia; Aflaki, Elma; Agam, Galila; Agarwal, Anupam; Aggarwal, Bharat B; Agnello, Maria; Agostinis, Patrizia et al. [Incl. Ha. 2021. Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition) Autophagy 17 1: 1-382. 2021