Group Leader

Ilkka Paatero
Head of Zebrafish Facility

Contact Information

Turku Bioscience P.O. Box 123, BioCity
(Street addr. Tykistökatu 6 B)
FIN-20521 Turku, Finland
Phone: +358 (0)29 450 3789
E-mail: ilkka.paatero@bioscience.fi

The Disease Models research group, led by Ilkka Paatero, focuses on understanding the cellular and tissue‑level mechanisms underlying human diseases using in vivo model systems, with a primary emphasis on zebrafish (Danio rerio). The group develops and applies disease models to study cancer, cardiovascular and vascular disorders, and genetically defined human rare diseases.

Research in the group combines genetic manipulation, live and high‑resolution imaging, and functional phenotyping to capture disease‑relevant processes in the context of a living organism. These approaches enable the analysis of dynamic phenomena such as cell–cell interactions, tissue remodeling, and signaling responses that are difficult to resolve in vitro.

A particular focus of the group is the translational use of zebrafish models for functional validation of human disease variants, especially in the context of rare diseases, as well as for investigating drug responses and mechanisms of action and assessing developmental and mechanistic toxicity. By integrating disease modeling with applied pharmacology and toxicology, the group aims to bridge basic biological insight with medically relevant questions.

The Disease Models group is closely connected to the Zebrafish Core Facility, contributing to method development, advanced imaging approaches, and collaborative projects across disciplines. The overarching goal is to provide robust in vivo models that support disease mechanism discovery, rare disease research, and early translational studies.