Research group
The project PI is Professor Jukka Partanen, PhD, whose publication profile can be found in https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YJj5OqIAAAAJ&hl=fi&oi=ao
The project co-PIs are Kati Hyvärinen, associate professor, PhD, whose publication profile can be found in: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HT5RuzEAAAAJ&hl=fi&oi=ao and Jarmo Ritari, PhD, with the profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KN2cqloAAAAJ&hl=fi&oi=ao
The group also includes data scientist Jari Kätsyri, PhD (genomics of transplantation complications), and three doctoral researchers:
- Silja Tammi, MSc, whose PhD project focuses on non-classical HLA,
- Julia Nihtilä, MSc, who is studying on genomics of stem cell transplantation, and
- Maria Semenova, MSc, who focuses on genomics of liver transplantation.
In addition, Kati Sulin, MSc, and Inna Sareneva, MSc, specialists in the clinical service laboratory, are pursuing PhD projects related to blood group genetics.
Salla Markkinen (kidney transplantation genomics), Tiira Johansson (HLA expression), and Jonna Clancy (blood donor genomics) are alumni PhD researchers now moved to the next stages of their careers.
Our team is further strengthened by expertise and collaboration of Blood Service specialists:
- Jouni Lauronen, PhD, MD (clinical transplantation)
- Juha Peräsaari, PhD (HLA typing), and
- Katri Haimila, PhD (blood groups).
We maintain an extensive network of national and international collaborators.
In stem cell transplantation, we work closely with Drs Urpu Salmenniemi (Helsinki), Maija Itälä -Remes (Turku), David Gallardo (Spain), Katarzyna Bokunia-Kubik (Poland), and Rachel Crossland (UK), who provide samples, data and clinical expertise.
In kidney transplantation genomics, our collaboration include Drs Ilkka Helanterä (Helsinki), Marko Lempinen (Helsinki), Timo Jahnukainen (Helsinki), the international iGeneTRAiN, and Peter Conlon (Ireland).
Our liver transplantation studies are conducted in collaboration with Drs Fredrik Åberg (Helsinki), Arno Nordin (Helsinki), Martti Färkkilä (Helsinki), Ville Liukkonen (Joensuu), and Vincent De Meijer (Groningen).
Heart transplant studies are conducted in collaboration with Drs Karl Lemström and Emil Holmström of Helsinki University Hospital.
Thymus function studies are led by the Eliisa Kekäläinen research group, and virome studies by the Maria Perdomo group, both of University of Helsinki.
The Blood transfusion Genomics Consortium is an international initiative developing genome array -based methods for routine blood bank applications.
We collaborate with Professor Jukka Kekäläinen (University of Eastern Finland) on research exploring the role of HLA matching in the function of the gametes.
FinnGen, led by Professor Aarno Palotie, of University of Helsinki, provides an essential resource and environment to our genomics methodology. We also have an active role in immunogenetic studies of FinnGen.