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
Research program's website has been updated to include a frontpage in Finnish. 11.10 / EW
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/Ew
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 2007 - 2011.
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 eight research groups,
here listed with their major interests:
Brendan Battersby: Regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis
Ove Eriksson: Mitochondria in cell death and in neuroprotection
Iiris Hovatta: Neuropsychiatric traits: Genes & mechanisms
Perttu Lindsberg: Acute brain infarction: molecular consequences & treatment
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
Tiina Tyni: Mitochondrial beta-oxidation defects in children
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 October 18, 2011
Webmaster Erika Weckström firstname.lastname [at] helsinki.fi