Keyword: Institute of Biomedicine

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), also known as the squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, is the most common form of metastatic skin cancer. The incidence of cSCC is increasing worldwide with millions of new cases diagnosed each year. The prognosis of metastatic cSCC is poor as there are currently no effective targeted treatments available. New study conducted at the University of Turku, Finland, shows that plixorafenib, a new drug developed for treating melanoma and lung cancer, can also stop the progression of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

A research group from the University of Turku and Turku Bioscience Centre together with Misvik Biology Ltd in Finland have developed a new method for studying how cancer cells function in softer and stiffer tissue environments. This insight challenges the existing paradigm, opening up new possibilities for research in cancer biology and tissue engineering.

Combined effort of six European universities, the ENVISION_2027 Erasmus+ project had its final meeting in Turku on 30 May–1 June. The project focused on digital education in bioscience studies, addressing both the current need of transitioning from conventional classroom teaching into digital remote teaching, as well as improving the current status of online teaching and e-learning course modules across Europe.

The first Turku Imaging Day will take place in Turku on October 3rd. The day will bring together the imaging community of Turku's universities, which may be unexpectedly large. "Almost 100% of researchers in life sciences use imaging in their work," says Research Manager Pasi Kankaanpää of the Turku Faculty of Medicine.

Registration to BioCity Symposium is open until 11 August 2023. BioCity Symposium is one of the most important meetings in Turku region for researchers working in the fields of bio- and molecular medicine. This year the event is arranged with title Sculpting tissues – Cells, matrix and forces.

Folate-based radiopharmaceuticals can be used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to detect folate receptors in brain tumours. The discovery of folate receptors and their exploitation potential with respect to brain tumours is a new and significant finding in the field.

Researchers from Turku Bioscience Centre and InFLAMES Flagship at the University of Turku in Finland, have identified a gene expression signature that can predict the progression of type 1 diabetes.

Docent Pekka Postila and Professor Olli Pentikäinen from the Institute of Biomedicine and InFLAMES Flagship have received 100,000 dollars in funding from the SynGAP Research Fund (SRF) for SynGAP syndrome research.

The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Turku is organising a ceremonial conferment of doctoral degrees on 26 May 2023. The Conferment Ceremony starts at noon at the Turku Concert Hall. The Academic Procession to the Cathedral can be followed starting from 3.30pm (if weather permits).