Kati Elima
M.D., Ph.D., Adjunct professor
kateli@utu.fi +358 29 450 2325 +358 50 472 5500 Kiinamyllynkatu 10 Turku |
Molecular mechanisms of cell trafficking; medical education; postgraduate education
Molecular mechanisms of cell trafficking; Immunology and cancer biology
Degrees and competences
- Licenciate of Medicine, 1988, University of Turku, Finland; Doctor of Medical Sciences (M.D., Ph.D.) 1990, University of Turku; Docent in Molecular Medicine, University of Turku.
- Specialist Qualification in Management 2007; General teacher qualification (university pedagogics 60 ECTS), 2014, University of Turku; Special Competence in Medical Education, 2014; Training in practical academic leadership, 2017, TSE
Current tasks
- Clinical lecturer in Molecular Medicine
- Director of Research Track in Molecular Medicine
- Deputy director of Institute of Biomedicine (education)
Previous
- University of Turku: various research and teaching positions at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine (assistant, university teacher, clinical lecturer, associate professor, professor)
- National Institute of Health and Welfare: special investigator
- Academy of Finland: research programme coordinator
- Turku Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (TuBS): coordinator
Lymphatic and vascular endothelium plays a pivotal role in leukocyte and cancer cell migration by expressing counter-receptors for the cell-surface molecules on the migrating cells that mediate trafficking. My research focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions and studying the functional role of the individual molecules in various disease processes. Special emphasis is on the roles of the large, multi-domain cell-surface molecule CLEVER-1, and the ecto-enzymes VAP-1 and CD73 in various human cancers.
Interest areas:
- Medical education; molecular medicine; genome medicine;
Teaching responsibilities:
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
- Research Track in Molecular Medicine
- Postgraduate education (doctoral programmes and InFLAMES Flagship)
Other:
- The Finnish Medical Society Duodecim: Head of education at the Turku region
- CD44 binds to macrophage mannose receptor on lymphatic endothelium and supports lymphocyte migration via afferent lymphatics – CD44-MRC mediates migration within lymphatics (2013)
- Circulation Research
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Functional Modulation of Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 by a Novel Splice Variant (2013)
- PLoS ONE
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - PV-1 is recognized by the PAL-E antibody and forms complexes with NRP-1 (2012)
- Blood
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Altered purinergic signaling in CD73-deficient mice inhibits tumor progression (2011)
- European Journal of Immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Siglec-9 is a novel leukocyte ligand for vascular adhesion protein-1 and can be used in PET imaging of inflammation and cancer (2011)
- Blood
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Clever-1/Stabilin-1 regulates lymphocyte migration within lymphatics and leukocyte entrance to sites of inflammation (2009)
- European Journal of Immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Human Siglec-10 can bind to vascular adhesion protein-1 and serves as its substrate (2009)
- Blood
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - The oxidase activity of vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) induces endothelial E- and P-selectins and leukocyte binding. (2007)
- Blood
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Vascular amine oxidases are needed for leukocyte extravasation into inflamed joints in vivo (2006)
- Arthritis and Rheumatism
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Molecular identification of PAL-E, a widely used endothelial-cell marker (2005)
- Blood
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - CLEVER-1 mediates lymphocyte transmigration through vascular and lymphatic endothelium (2004)
- Blood
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)