Senior Lecturer in Cell Biology and Metabolism

Docent in Cell Biology 2012

Bone and energy metabolism

Bone is not only a structural organ but interacts with other cells in the bone marrow microenvironment and exerts endocrine functions. Our reserach group is interested in the crosstalk between bone metabolism and energy metabolism.

Our current research topics include the role of bone-derived hormones, or osteokines, in local and whole body energy metabolism, and the interactions between bone cells and bone marrow adipocytes in bone microenvironment. We are also interested in the effects of type 2 diabetes on bone metabolism and bone metabolic markers.. Our long term goal is to understand how changes in energy metabolism affect bone cells, bone-derived hormones, bone turnover and bone microenvironment. We use cell culture and cell-based methods, in vivo models and patient samples obtained from our clinical collaborators.

Group members: Milja Arponen (PhD student), Niki Jalava (PhD student), Nicko Widjaja (PhD student), Ronja Ojala (PhD student, Turku PET Centre)

Funding: Academy of Finland

• Cell biology and histology for students in Medicine (first year) and Biomedicine (Bachelor’s Degree Programme).
  
• Textbooks we use: Alberts et al. Essential Cell Biology, Alberts et al. Molecular BIology of the Cell, Young et al. Wheater's Functional Histology.
  
• Laboratory course "Cell and Molecular Biology (laboratory work)" for students in Biomedicine
  
• Laboratory course "Methods in Cell Biology" and for medical students selected for Molecular Medicine Research Track (2-yr programme).
  
• Mentoring students in biomedicine (3-yr Bachelor’s Degree Programme).
  
• Participating actively in the planning of the curriculum (in particular, first year BSc studies).