Research program for molecular neurology
Haartmaninkatu 8
FIN-00290 Helsinki
Finland
head of the program:
anu.wartiovaara [at] helsinki.fi
+358-9-471 71965
Program secretary:
erika.weckstrom [at] helsinki.fi
+358-9-191 25719
NEWS FROM THE PROGRAM
The Academy of Finland has extended FinMIT's period as a center of excellence. FinMIT is the first unit ever to get a third period. For 2014--2019 the groups composing FinMIT will be Jacobs, Battersby, Wartiovaara and Pietiläinen. 4.6.13
Professor Anu Wartiovaara was elected an EMBO member. EMBO accepts as members only highly qualified researchers. Professor Wartiovaara is the first Finn to get EMBO membership. 27.5.13
PhD student Sofia Ahola-Erkkilä from Group Wartiovaara was recently awarded with Best student speaker price in GPBM Student Symposium: Biocentrum Helsinki Summit of PhDs in Life Sciences. We congratulate! 25.3.
Neurodays, our 2-days scientific seminari is held on Lammi biological station on 29-30th of Januray. 22.2.13
Eino Palin from group Wartiovaara defended his doctoral thesis on 18.1.2013. His opponent was professor Douglass Turnbull from University of Newcastle. The title of the thesis was " Disorders of mitochondrial DNA polymerase: a clinical, biochemical and structural study." 18.1.13
Milla Mikkola from group Otonkoski defended her dotoral thesis "Human pluripotent stem cells - glycomic approaches for culturing and characterization" on 11.1.2013. 18.1.13
The renewed research program for molecular neurology will start on 2.1.2013. Welcome to our new groups Howard Jacobs, Anna-Elina Lehesjoki, Hannes Lohi and Juha Kere! 27.12.2012
Sofia Ahola-Erkkilä was awarded with Biomedicum Helsinki Foundation Young Scientist Prize during today's Biomedicum Helsinki day. 3.10.2012
Research programs unit gathers for its annual Science day on 14th of September. Each program will present its work there. 22.8.12
Science Tea is a new opportunity to informally discuss science with your colleagues within the research program, while having a cup of tea and a snack. Science Tea is arranged every Wednesday at 3PM. Welcome! 7.7.12
Research program's website has been updated to include a frontpage in Finnish. 11.10
Docent Iiris Hovatta was awarded with European Research Council’s (ERC) highly competed Starting grant, that is aimed for emerging research leaders. Hovatta received 1,5 million € for a project that looks into the genetic background of anxiety disorders.
20.9.2011
Welcome to the research program of molecular neurology!
The Research Program of Molecular Neurology is one of the six Research
Programs of the Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki University, for 2013 - 2016.
The program coordinator is Prof. Anu Wartiovaara.
Our program's ambitious mission is to clarify disease mechanisms underlying
neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Our strong expertise in basic
research enables us to search for disease and susceptibility genes, and to
study the disease mechanisms in cultured cells, disease models and in
patients and their tissues. By gaining knowledge on the molecular disease
processes, we gain tools to search for drugs and chemical compounds that
could slow down or affect these diseases. Further, this knowledge is
utilized in patient counseling, for information on risk factors. The direct
links of our program to child and adult neurology clinics enable effective
translation of research knowledge to benefit the diagnosis and treatment of
the patients.
The Molecular Neurology Research Program consists of ten research groups,
here listed with their major interests:
Brendan Battersby: Regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis
Howard Jacobs:
Juha Kere:
Anna-Elina Lehesjoki: Human epilepsy syndromes: genes, models and mechanisms
Perttu Lindsberg: Acute brain infarction: molecular consequences & treatment
Hannes Lohi: Canine models of human inherited disorders with a specific focus on neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions
Timo Otonkoski: Human pluripotent stem cells and pancreatic beta cell biology
Pentti Tienari: Neurodegenerative diseases: genes & mechanisms, special focus in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases
Henna Tyynismaa:Translation defects in mitochondrial disease: mechanisms & model
Anu Wartiovaara: Mitochondria in degenerative diseases - mechanisms& treatment. Special focus: Parkinson's disease, inherited ataxias and children's mitochondrial diseases
Anu Wartiovaara's and Brendan Battersby's groups belong to the Centre of
Excellence of Science of the Academy of Finland, FinMIT, 2008-2013.
Please see individual links on the top of the page to read about specific projects of the groups!
Page updated February 26, 2013
Webmaster Erika Weckström firstname.lastname [at] helsinki.fi