Areas of expertise
Biography
I obtained my master's in organic chemistry in 2007 and my Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology in 2011, both from the University of Jyväskylä. After finishing my doctorate, I moved to Oulu where I worked as a researcher for over ten years. I have been a research manager of InFLAMES Flagship since January 2022.
I have good industrial and academic networks in different fields, varying from high-content screening to cancer research. I have been preparing big international applications, seeking new partners, commenting on the application texts, and participating in other tasks related to compiling the funding applications. I am familiar with many national and international foundations, MSCA, Horizon Europe, Business Finland, and Academy of Finland calls.
Teaching
I have been teaching biochemistry and medical students for over a decade. Teaching tasks have included laboratory courses and lectures about metabolism, matrix biology, structural biology, and cell biology. Additionally, I have been preparing and grading the entrance exam for biochemistry students and developing laboratory courses and a data management course.
I have supervised three doctoral theses to completion and I am a co-supervisor of two doctoral researchers. I have supervised six Master’s and three bachelor theses to completion.
Research
I did my master’s degree in organic chemistry and my Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology in collaboration with Biotie Therapies Corporation. My Ph.D. thesis was based on integrin research using multiple methods from molecular modeling to cellular assays.
For the past ten years, my research focus has been on matrix biology, especially in tissue homeostasis, fibrosis, and cancer. My methodological know-how includes mouse work including bone marrow transplants, confocal and electron microscopy, Crispr/Cas9, lentiviral transduction, high-content imaging, cancer biology, organ-on-a-chip, and organ cultures. In addition to matrix biology, I have been involved in many drug discovery projects targeting different cancers.