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

Email

annakaisa.haapasalo@uef.fi

Phone

+358 40 355 2768

Keywords

#uefneuroinno astrocyte autophagy dendritic spines in vitro models in vivo models neurocenter Finland neurodegeneration neuroinflammation neuron pluripotent stem cell proteasome synapse synaptic dysfunction UEF Neuroscience Research Community

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.