CARDIORENAL DIABETES
Daniel Gordin, M.D., Dr.Med.Sci., Associate Professor
email: daniel.gordin@helsinki.fi
The goal of our group is to gain deeper understanding on the mechanisms behind renal and cerebrovascular complications in diabetes, with an emphasis on studying the relationships between these complications. READ MORE
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN THE YOUNG
Taisto Sarkola, M.D., Dr.Med.Sci., Docent
email: taisto.sarkola@helsinki.fi
Our focus is to study cardiovascular diseases presenting in the young as well as early cardiovascular disease progression of diseases commonly observed in adult life. This includes prospective studies using novel technologies for the assessment of the development of the cardiovascular system extending from early childhood to adolescence and young adulthood and how this is influenced by the fetal stage, different diseases, treatments, and cardiovascular risk factors. READ MORE
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
Päivi Lakkisto, M.D., Dr.Med.Sci., Docent
email: paivi.lakkisto@helsinki.fi
The group studies mechanisms of end-organ damage and repair in cardiovascular and renal diseases, notably local expression and regulation of vasoactive factors and apoptosis in hypertension, heart failure, and progression of renal damage. In addition, properties of new cardiovascular drugs are being evaluated. READ MORE
CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
Pirta Hotulainen, Ph.D., Docent
email: pirta.hotulainen@helsinki.fi
The research in the group focuses on the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton in neurons, and particularly its disturbances in neuropsychiatric diseases. READ MORE
Visit the group’s own website “Hotulainen Lab“.
FATTY LIVER DISEASE AND DIABETES
Panu Luukkonen, M.D., Dr.Med.Sci., Docent
email: panu.luukkonen@helsinki.fi
The main goal is to study the causes and consequences of insulin resistance in humans with a special focus on the role of fat accumulation in the liver. READ MORE
Visit the group’s website at the University of Helsinki.
LIPID SIGNALING AND HOMEOSTASIS
Vesa Olkkonen, Ph.D., Professor
email: vesa.olkkonen@helsinki.fi
The research group investigates new regulatory mechanisms that our cells employ to maintain their lipid balance and to integrate their lipid status with other vital functions such as vesicle transport and cell signaling. The work aims at the identification of novel mechanisms that impact the development of cardiovascular diseases and fatty liver/metabolic syndrome, the long-term aim being to find new approaches for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. READ MORE
MEMBRANE BIOLOGY
Elina Ikonen, M.D., Dr.Med.Sci., Professor
tel: +358 2941 25277
email: elina.ikonen@helsinki.fi
We aim to learn how cholesterol and related sterols move in the intracellular milieu and the sterol compartmentalization in cells is maintained. We also want understand how changes in cellular cholesterol homeostasis lead to human diseases, and what can be done to improve their detection and treatment.The main targets of our study are the molecular machineries of intracellular cholesterol transport and the mechanisms controlling distribution of cholesterol and related sterols in distinct membrane domains. We approach these questions by employing a variety of molecular cell biological, in vitro biochemical/physical, and advanced imaging approaches. READ MORE
METABOLISM
Heikki Koistinen, M.D., Dr.Med.Sci., Docent
email: heikki.koistinen@helsinki.fi
The main interest of the group is to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. We are particularly interested in how lipid excess contributes to skeletal muscle insulin resistance, and how lipid-induced insulin resistance can be reversed. READ MORE
Associated group: NEURONAL SIGNALING
Dan Lindholm, M.D., Dr.Med.Sci., Professor
e-mail: dan.lindholm@helsinki.fi
We study basic mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases and nerve cell damage in the brain. Our specific areas of focus are protein ubiquitination and the role of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways as well as autophagy in the pathogenesis and models of brain diseases. Furthermore, we examine neurotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and their tyrosine kinase receptors, Trk and p75, in regulation of cell-specific events. We employ various proteomic and gene expression methods, cell culture and animal models of disease and genetically modified mice. Although the majority of the group is housed in the Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, the group is actively engaged in research at Minerva. READ MORE
Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research 