Lab Members
Group Leader
Jukka Westermarck
Research Director and Professor of Cancer Biology
Turku Bioscience
jukka.westermarck [at] utu.fi
Contact Information
Turku Bioscience P.O. Box 123, BioCity
(Street addr. Tykistökatu 6 B)
FIN-20521 Turku, Finland
+358-294502880 (Jukka Westermarck)
+358-294503790 (Group members)
Laboratory Manager
Background
- Laboratory Manager, Turku Bioscience Centre, since 2012
- University Research Fellow, Animal Bioscience, University of Eastern Finland, 2010-2011
- Certificated Degree in Pedagogy (2010), Jyväskylä University of Applied Science, Finland
- Research Associate, Animal Biotechnology, University of Eastern Finland, 2000-2010
- Post Doctoral Fellow, Prostate cancer research, University of Kuopio, Finland, 2004-2007
- Post Doctoral Fellow, Prostate cancer research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA, 2001-2003
- PhD in Animal Biotechnology (2001), University of Kuopio, Finland
Postdoctoral Researchers
Background
- PhD candidate in Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
- MSc in Clinical Immunology (2019), The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Investigating the awakening mechanisms of drug-tolerant persister cancer cells
Background
- PhD in Biological Science (2020), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- MSc (Tech.) in Bioscience and Bioengineering (2015), Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), India
- MSc in Biochemistry (2012), CSJM University, Kanpur, India
Project
Cancer therapy implications of species specific difference in requirement of PP2A mediated tumor suppression
Background
- DSc (Tech) in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (2022), Tampere University, Finland
- MSc (Tech) in Bioengineering (2016), Tampere University of Technology, Finland
Project
Target mechanisms for CIP2A-mediated essentiality in homologous recombination deficiency BL-TNBC cells
Venkatram Yellapragada
Postdoctoral Researcher
venkatram.yellapragada [at] utu.fi
+358 (0)29 450 3790
Background
- PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology (2022), Research group of Prof. Taneli Raivio, Stem Cells and Metabolism (STEMM) Research Program, Research Programs Unit (RPU), Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
- MSc in Molecular Biotechnology (2014), Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
Project
RAS/PP2A targets in rRNA metabolism in RAS-driven cancers
Background
- PhD in Molecular Virology (2014), Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Finland
- MSc in Molecular Biology (2007), Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
- Training at the Molecular Biology Education centre (2005 –2007), Institute of Protein Research, Pushchino, Russia
Project
PP2A in glioblastoma therapy resistance: novel opportunities for targeted therapeutics
Background
- PhD in Pathology (2024), Turku Doctoral Program in Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland
- MSc in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (2015), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
Project
Epigenetic regulation by PP2A and RAS synergy and its implication in cancerDoctoral Candidates
Background
- MSc in Cellular and Molecular Oncology (2019), Amity University, Delhi NCR, India
- BSc in Biotechnology (2017), University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India
Background
- MSc in Molecular Biotechnology and Diagnostics, University of Turku, Finland
- B.Tech in Biotechnology, Sathyabama University, Chennai, India
Technical Personnel
Taina Kalevo-Mattila
Laboratory Technician
taina.kalevo-mattila [at] bioscience.fi
+358 (0)29 450 3758
Undergraduate Students
Alumni
PhD students
| Name | Years | Current position | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song-Ping Li | 1998-2003 | Professor | Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China |
| Melissa R. Junttila | 2001-2006 | Vice President, Head of Biology | ORIC Pharmaceuticals, San Mateo, USA |
| Antoine Mialon | 2003-2009 | Senior Associate | Neste, Espoo, Finland |
| Minna Niemelä | 2005-2012 | Global Product Manager | Revvity Inc., Turku, Finland |
| Anchit Khanna | 2007-2011 | Senior Medical Lead | Novartis, Australia & New Zealand |
| Anni Laine | 2007-2013 | Technical Support Scientist | 10x Genomics, Leiden, Netherlands |
| Amanpreet Kaur | 2009-2016 | Researcher | INSERM, Strasbourg, France |
| Otto Kauko | 2009-2017 | Group leader | University of Turku, Turku, Finland |
| Xi Qiao | 2011-2018 | Postdoctoral fellow | Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sverige |
| Eleonora Mäkelä | 2012-2021 | Medical advisor | The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Helsinki, Finland |
| Johannes Routila | 2013-2015 | Clinical specialist | University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland |
| Joni Merisaari | 2016-2021 | Medical advisor | AbbVie, Helsinki, Finland |
| Srikar Nagelli | 2016-2023 | Postdoctoral fellow | AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK |
Post-docs
| Name | Years | Current position | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Holmström | 2004-2006 | Director in Target Science | Orion Corporation, Turku, Finland |
| Pietri Puustinen | 2004-2007 | Project founder, Scientist | Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Christophe Come | 2006-2010 | Lead scientist | Adcendo Aps, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Sari Vanhatupa | 2007-2009 | Medical advisor | AstraZeneca, Espoo, Finland |
| Sami Ventelä | 2007-2010 | Group leader, Deputy Department Chief | University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland |
| Juha Okkeri | 2007-2014 | Subject teacher | Aleksis Kivi Comprehensive School, Siuntio, Finland |
| Yuba Raj Pokharel | 2009-2012 | Assistant Professor | South Asian University, New Delhi, India |
| Christian Rupp | 2013-2017 | Business Development Director | Labcorp, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Karolina Pavic | 2015-2020 | Postdoctoral researcher | University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
| Laxman Yetukuri | 2016-2018 | Senior Applications Specialist | CSC – IT Center for Science Ltd., Helsinki, Finland |
| Majid Momeny | 2017-2021 | Instructor | Texas Medical Center, Houston, USA |
| Julia Vainonen | 2018-2021 | University researcher | University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland |