Micrornas in neurodegeneration

We aim to identify novel molecules targeting pro-survival pathways in dopamine neurons, which can be used as potential therapies for Parkinson’s disease treatment. For example, we have shown that microRNA biogenesis pathways play a crucial role in dopamine neuron maintenance and its pharmacological stimulation promotes survival of dopamine neurons.

We have expertise in developing transgenic rodent models, as well as in design, production, and application of lentiviral vectors for specific expression of transgenes and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in brain cells and neuronal progenitors.

Our main research directions are:

• Identification of pro-survival pathways protecting neurons from pathological protein aggregation and development of compounds activating these pathways
• Identification and characterization of neuroprotective and neurorestorative microRNAs and compounds stimulating microRNA biogenesis
• In vivo application of genetically enhanced human neuronal progenitors, resistant to pathological protein aggregation, to restore the dopaminergic system in Parkinson’s disease

Andrii Domanskyi, PhD, Docent
Visiting Scholar  
Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE

Biocenter 2, room 6028b
P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 5D)
00014 University of Helsinki
Finland

Office: +358 2941 59654 / +358 50 4484545
Email: andrii.domanskyi@helsinki.fi

Andrii is a Visiting Scholar at BI.