Tutkinnot

• Dosentti, farmakogenetiikka, Itä-Suomen yliopisto, 2006 -
• FT (Lääketiede), Turun yliopisto, 1993
• FM (Biokemia), Turun yliopisto, 1987

Nykyiset työtehtävät

• Farmakologian ja lääkekehityksen professori
• Farmakologian, lääkekehityksen ja lääkehoidon oppialan vastuuprofessori
• Lääkekehityksen maisteriohjelman koulutusohjelmajohtaja (MDP/DDD)
• Lääketieteellisen tiedekunnan johtokunnan jäsen

Aiempi työkokemus

• Johtava tutkija (CNS), Orion yhtymä, 2007-2017
• Useita tutkimus- ja opetustoimia, Turun yliopisto, 2001-2006
• Vieraileva vanhempi tutkija University of Glasgow, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics (Glasgow, UK),  2001-2002 
• Useita tutkimus- ja opetustoimia, Turun yliopisto, 1988-2000
• Vieraileva tutkija 1993-1994 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Laboratory of Neurogenetics (Bethesda, MD, USA)

Defects in insulin signalling and insulin resistance seems to be one of the major hallmarks in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a well-known risk factor for AD, and already very early events in AD pathogenesis include both insulin resistance and altered glucose utilization and metabolism. To study the insulin pathways in periphery and CNS we use transgenic animal model and in vitro studies.

Since pathology of AD seems have a major metabolic component, the development of secondary interventions for persons with higher risk to develop AD is crucial. Activating centrally insulin signalling pathway with insulin-sensitizing CNS penetrating drugs could be an effective strategy to protect neurons and synapses from Aβ toxicity in a preventive manner.

Currently I am the Head of the Drug Discovery and Development MSc programme at the University of Turku.

I have been teaching pharmacology for medical students since 1995 and additionally for students of Master of Biomedical Sciences (former Health Biosciences) curriculum since 2001. I am also teaching PhD students as well as students of other curricula in my expertise area Pharmacology and Drug Development. I have also visited as a guest lecturer Universities of Eastern Finland and Helsinki. In addition to university level courses, I have given lectures and examinations in pharmacology at Nursery School of Turku (currently Turku University of Applied Sciences), Turku, Open University (Turku) and courses of continuing education and training (University of Eastern Finland).

My teaching includes/have included various courses on different areas of pharmacology, physiology and drug development, both lectures and experimental work as well as seminars. My specialty areas of teaching are vascular physiology and neuropharmacology as well as pharmacogenetics and drug development.