What are your research topics?
My research focuses on deciphering how chemicals, ranging from environmental pollutants to pharmaceutical compounds, interact with biological systems across different scales of organization. The goal is to predict both toxicological risks and therapeutic potentials with greater precision and efficiency than traditional methods allow. To achieve this, I apply principles from systems theory, which views biological entities not as isolated parts but as interconnected components of complex, dynamic networks. This approach acknowledges that chemical exposures can have cascading effects across multiple biological layers, from molecular interactions and cellular signaling pathways to organ systems, whole organisms and even the whole environment. This integrated approach aligns closely with the principles of One Health, which recognizes that human health is deeply interconnected with the health of animals and the environment. By modeling these relationships in a unified framework, my work helps to anticipate and mitigate such cross-domain impacts.
Where and how does your research topic have an impact?
My work addresses critical challenges in both chemical and pharmaceutical industries. As chemical innovation accelerates, traditional safety testing becomes increasingly inadequate due to its time-consuming and resource-intensive nature. Similarly, drug development remains prohibitively expensive and slow in the face of mounting global health needs. By advancing systems toxicology, my research contributes to sustainable innovation by enabling faster, safer, and more cost-effective development of chemicals and therapeutics.
What is particularly inspiring in your field right now?
One of the most inspiring developments in my field is the rapid integration of systems-level thinking and computational modelling into toxicology and drug development. The increasing availability of biological data, combined with advances in artificial intelligence and systems biology, is enabling us to move beyond traditional reductionist approaches.
This shift opens the possibility to predict complex biological responses to chemicals more accurately and efficiently, which is crucial for both human and environmental health. It’s particularly motivating to witness how this approach not only accelerates the development of safer and more effective substances, but also supports global sustainability goals by reducing the need for extensive animal testing and resource-intensive processes. The alignment of scientific innovation with ethical and ecological responsibility is what makes this field especially exciting right now.
New Professors inaugural lectures in Spring 2025
Newly appointed University of Helsinki professors will give their inaugural lectures on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 starting at 14.30 in the University’s Main Building (Fabianinkatu 33). The lectures serve as popular introductions to the professors’ disciplines and current research topics. The programme below includes a detailed schedule for the day’s lectures, livestream links for lecture rooms and a list of the lecturers. Before each approximately 20-minute lecture, the relevant faculty’s dean or vice-dean will briefly introduce the professor.