On this page you can find out more about our group and its mission, vision, values, and history. At the end of the page, you can find our member profiles and get to know us. You’ll also find a link to our collaborators at the bottom.
Our group works at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) in Kuopio. It is located in the heart of Finland and is surrounded by beautiful nature. The Finnish Lakeland offers our researchers ample opportunities to unwind and recover, which lets us do our best in the research we do. Our university is young, having only just reached its tenth anniversary in 2020 after a merge between two older universities, but it has already climbed high on the rankings of the world’s universities. In addition to what’s shown below, it was also ranked 49th amongst the world’s young universities in 2019.
EMPLOYEES
DEGREE STUDENTS
ADULT EDUCATION STUDENTS
QS WORLD UNIVERSITY
RANKINGS 2023
TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION
WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS (2023)
ACADEMIC SUBJECTS RANKED IN THE TOP 500 IN THE WORLD, ARWU (2022)
The researchers and staff of our lab, as well as our collaborators, are all united by shared commitment to new scientific discovery on Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). We seek to uncover and answer key questions in basic and preclinical research, allowing us to find novel therapies and cures for AMD for the benefit of tomorrow.
Our Mission
Our AMD research laboratory at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is dedicated to conducting cutting-edge medical and clinical ophthalmic research aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of AMD, as well as generating knowledge and information crucial for the development of AMD-related medical cures and treatments. The Kaarniranta Lab is also committed to providing high level education and international training to students, clinical researchers, and scientists, who will then perpetuate and drive future AMD research worldwide.
Our Vision
Our vision is to bring together top-notch scientific teams around the globe that can combine molecular biology and applied medical research to create novel approaches to understand and decipher causes of AMD. Using this knowledge, we forge onwards in our AMD research to bring about advancements in preclinical applications, therapeutics, and cures. To this end, our laboratory and our collaborative research teams aim to encourage an environ of creativity, effectiveness, and open sharing of data and research. Finally, the Kaarniranta Lab constantly tries to seek out and establish new collaborative efforts within UEF, the Nordics, and worldwide in our mission to combat AMD.
Our Values
Our group strives to uphold many types of values as we work to stave off the effects of AMD on both individuals and our world at large.
- Cherish the understanding of the basics of age-related macular degeneration while doing groundbreaking, foundation-laying research and clinical investigation.
- Stimulate teamwork and collaboration institutionally, as well as nation- and worldwide, to combat AMD and build a well-meshed research community.
- Share ideas, data, and knowledge to drive progress in AMD therapeutics and cures.
Brief History of the Group
Our group has been led by Professor Kai Kaarniranta since 2004. Over the last decades, he has been at the forefront of basic medical and clinical research of AMD. He is regarded as a leading figure in the field of ophthalmology internationally. During the existence of our group, we have published and been part of hundreds of scientific articles regarding AMD and its mechanics.
Our Group
(Click on the profile photo to visit the member’s UEF Connect profile, if one is available.)
Leader
Kaarniranta, Kai
MD, PhD, Professor, Chief Physician,
Chief Editor of Acta Ophthalmologica,
President of the EVER Board 2019-2020
Focus: Medical retina consultant.
Skills: Molecular biology.
Senior Members
Felszeghy, Szabolcs
DDS, PhD, Dr. Habil.
Focus: Biological imaging, teaching (anatomy, histology, etc.).
Skills: Image analysis, education.
Hyttinen, Juha
Reinisalo, Mika
PhD
Focus: Retinal cell models, ocular melanin pigment, eye targeting peptides (vehicles for ocular drugs and diagnostic agents).
Skills: Cell culture (cell lines, primary cell cultures, and stable cell lines), molecular biology, gene delivery, cell imaging.
Sridevi Gurubaran, Iswariyaraja
PhD
Focus: Mitophagy in AMD, retinal pigment epithelium cell-based AMD models, inflammasomes in AMD.
Skills: Molecular biology techniques, data analysis and analytics.
Junior Members
Koskela, Ali
MSc
Focus: The role of oxidative stress and autophagy in AMD.
Skills: Cell culture, western blot, immunocytochemistry, cell models of AMD, qPCR, SNP analytics, data analysis.
Liukkonen, Mikko
MSc
Focus: EMT markers in relation to AMD, website maintenance and other IT duties.
Skills: Western blot, ELISA, data analysis.
Ruuth, Johanna
MSc
Focus: Retina as a window for neurodegenerative diseases.
Skills: Cell culture, western blot, ELISA, immunocytochemistry, immumohistochemistry, ERG, OCT, behavioral tests, data analysis.
Tamminen, Toni
MD-PhD Candidate, MSc (Tech.)
Focus: Electrophysiology in AMD.
Skills: ERG, data science, cell culture, in vivo work.
Staff
Mönttinen, Kati
Registered Nurse, Study Nurse
Focus: General study nurse duties, contact point between the hospital and research group.
Skills: Qualified Clinical Research Nurse and Associate (CRA).
Seppänen, Anne
Senior Laboratory Technician
Focus: Making sure the labs keep running smoothly, staff orientation and aid, labwork, general assistance.
Skills: Everything* laboratory related.
* within reason 🙂
Alumni
Helin-Toiviainen, Minna
MD, PhD, Ophthalmologist
Focus: Glaucoma, cataract surgery, strabismus.
Kivinen, Niko
MD, PhD, Ophthalmologist
Focus: Medical retina, AMD.
Paterno, Jussi
MD
Focus: An ophthalmology resident doctor, physician-researcher.
Skills: Clinical work.
Ryhänen, Tuomas
Viiri, Johanna
PhD
Focus: Proteostasis and autophagy in retinal pigment epithelial cells and AMD.
Skills: Cell culture, western blot, ELISA, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry, cell models of AMD, in vivo work, ERG, OCT, microscopy (e.g. TEM), data analysis.