Welcome to the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Helsinki!

Pharmacy is a multidisciplinary field of science. It specialises in medicinal treatment and studies drugs, medicines and their development, use and effects mainly from the point of view of natural sciences, health sciences, as well as social sciences.

The Faculty of Pharmacy offers Bachelor's, Master's and postgraduate programmes. The Faculty also provides professional postgraduate education in industrial pharmacy for those with a Bachelor or Master's degree in pharmacy and plays an active part in the continuing education in the field.

The Faculty is also nationally responsible for the Swedish-language Master's programmes in Pharmacy.

 

News

Professor Marja Airaksinen chosen as the Pharmacist of the Year 2013 (25.9.2013)

Professor Marja Airaksinen has been chosen as the Pharmacist of the Year 2013 by the Finnish Pharmacists' Association.

Finnish Pharmacists' Association: press release (in Finnish) »»

 

Polymer and lipid based nanocarriers are suitable for drug and gene delivery

The composition and architecture of nanocarriers have a crucial impact on DNA condensation, stability of the complexes and transfection efficacy. In liposomal cancer drug targeting, PEG shield may hinder the targeting efficiency of small molecular peptides. Julia Lehtinen states in her doctoral dissertation that Intraperitoneal administration of liposomal drugs seems to be promising route for targeting to tumors located in the peritoneal cavity.

Julia Lehtinen's doctoral dissertation in E-thesis»»

 

SPR and QCM excellent techniques for nanoparticle characterization

When in vitro characterization and evaluation of the targeting of nanoparticle drug delivery systems is needed, surface sensitive non-labelled surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensors are excellent choices, says Huamin Liang.

Huamin Liang's doctoral dissertation in E-thesis»»

 

Feeling of pain has also a genetical background

People carrying a certain mutation of COMT gene can tolerate pain longer than the others. Substances preventing the COMT action can alleviate neuropathic pain which is generally difficult to treat.

Oleg Kambur's doctoral dissertation in E-thesis»»

 

Betulin derivatives: antiviral and antibacterial effects in vitro

Outer birch bark has up to 30% dry weight triterpene betulin which can easily be isolated. Sami Alakurtti synthesized and screened two sets of betulin derivatives for antiviral, antileishmanial and antibacterial agents for his doctoral dissertation. Several derivatives proved effective against Semliki Forest virus and Chlamydia pneumoniae in vitro. Most of the derivatives also weren't toxic to the host cell lines.

Sami Alakurtti's doctoral dissertation in E-thesis»»

 

Professor Arto Urtti receives an EUFEPS award

European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences (EUFEPS) has given for the first time the Distinguished Service Award.

The award was given to professor Arto Urtti for exhibiting exceptional and valuable
professional service to EUFEPS, also demonstrating initiative and dedication in their roles.  Arto Urtti was the editor-in-chief of European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the journal of EUFEPS, for 10 years.

Arto Urtti in research database Tuhat »»

 

Aniket Magarkar amongst the 30 under 30 in Scientific American

PhD student Aniket Magarkar from CDR is attending the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting together with PhD Tiina Sikanen. Aniket Magarkar, dealing with drug delivering liposomes, was chosen by the Scientific American to be amongst the 30 under 30 to be presented in the magazine.

Aniket Magarkar in Scientific American »»

Aniket Magarkar in research database Tuhat »»

CDR pages »»

 

Hélder A. Santos receives the Faculty's Young Researcher's Award

This year's Faculty of Pharmacy Young Researcher's Award goes to Hélder A. Santos. The EUR 10,000 award was given now for the second time. Altogether six applications were sent to the nomination committee.
Doctor Hélder A. Santos has previously been awarded for example with the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant for five years.

Hélder A. Santos's web page »»

Interview (ERC Starting Grant) »»

 

Doctoral dissertation 7th March 2013: The research of metabolic enzymes may enhance the development of new medicines

Many medicines and body's own molecules are soluble in fats. That's why they cannot easily be exctreted and may accumulate in the body. The human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs ) are able to modify fat-soluble substances towards being more soluble in water.
– The development of new medicines may be speeded up by results gained from the UGT research, says Nenad Manevski.

Nenad Manevski's thesis »»

Dissertations and other events on Viikki Campus »»

 

Doctoral dissertation: A rare sugar is suitable for protecting protein-structured drugs

Melibiose is a disaccharide that can be extracted out of sugar beet commonly grown in Finland. In the future it may keep rheumatism and cancer drugs longer in good working order.

More »»

 

Doctoral dissertation: Nanofibrillar cellulose quarantees an even drug delivery

 

Nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) is becoming an effective tool when slow and even release of medicinal substances is needed. NFC can be used for example in transdermal patches or gynaecological devices, says Ruzica Kolakovic in her thesis.

More »»

 

Two 1.5 million euro ERC starting grants to the Faculty of Pharmacy researchers

This year, first time ever, two of the researchers in the Faculty of Pharmacy get an ERC starting grant. Hélder A. Santos is focusing on nanovectors prepared of porous silicone. Tiina Sikanen received her grant for producing micro total analysis systems for chemical analysis.

More »»

 

New associate professor Vincenzo Cerullo: Personalized drugs are on the way

Vincenzo Cerullo started in the beginning of September as a tenure track associate professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy. He focuses on personalized drugs – drugs that work only for a specific tumor in a specific patient.

More »»