Terhi Heino is a University Lecturer in the Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Turku. In this role, she combines teaching with active research and contributes to curriculum development in medical education. Her scientific interests span stem cells, bone and vascular biology, biomaterials, and translational approaches in regenerative medicine.

She earned her PhD in Cell Biology from the University of Turku in 2005. Following post‑doctoral training at the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit of the Department of Women and Child Health at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, she returned to the University of Turku in 2008. She was awarded the title of Docent (Adjunct Professor) in Cell Biology in 2013.

Her research focuses on understanding the role of various cell types, including mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in bone and vascular biology. The group is particularly interested in cell–cell and cell–biomaterial interactions and their potential applications in regenerative medicine.

The work relies primarily on in vitro cultures of human bone marrow-derived primary MSCs and peripheral blood–derived cells, complemented by cell lines, various biomaterials, and clinically relevant patient samples.

Overall, the research provides new insights into cellular interactions and key molecular mechanisms regulating angiogenesis and osteogenesis, contributing to the development of improved regenerative approaches for bone and soft tissue healing.

Terhi Heino has extensive experience in university‑level teaching, with over two decades of work in both undergraduate and postgraduate education. Her teaching focuses on histology, cell biology, anatomy, pharmacology, regenerative medicine, and cancer biology. She contributes actively to curriculum planning, implementation, and pedagogical development, supported by her formal pedagogic qualification (60 ECTS, University of Turku). She has served as a mentor in the Biomedicine BSc programme (2013–2022) and has international teaching experience through the Molecular Medicine course at Karolinska Institutet (2013–2018). In addition, she has worked as a partner and mentor in an EU‑funded multidisciplinary entrepreneurial education project (IDEATE, 2013–2016).