We are interested in molecular and cellular mechanisms of brain repair, focusing on neurons, microglia, and their translational applications in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
Dopaminergic neurons are the most vulnerable cells in Parkinson's disease. Starting with human stem cells, we generate dopaminergic neurons in a dish. These cells are a handy proxy to study how human dopaminergic neurons develop, function, and respond to external stimuli. Our research focuses on generating human dopaminergic neurons that mimic pathophysiological features of ageing and human dopaminergic neurons.
Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain. They are constantly active performing versatile tasks during development and in steady state. Upon any brain disease, microglia react sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. To make these cells even more exiting, microglia are heterogenous, especially during development. Understanding the contribution of this microglial heterogeneity can open new avenues of how we understand brain pathophysiology.
Microglial subtypes: diversity within the microglial community. Vassilis Stratoulias, Jose Luis Venero, Marie-Ève Tremblay & Bertrand Joseph. EMBO Journal (2019) 38: e101997 (review).
Arg1+microglia are critical for shaping cognition in female mice. Vassilis Stratoulias, Rocío Ruiz, Shigeaki Kanatani, Ahmed M Osman, Jose A Armengol, Antonio Rodríguez-Moreno, Adriana-Natalia Murgoci, Irene García-Domínguez, Lily Keane, Guillermo Vázquez-Cabrera, Isabel Alonso-Bellido, Nathalie Vernoux, Dario Tejera, Kathleen Grabert, Mathilde Cheray, Patricia González-Rodríguez, Eva M Pérez-Villegas, Irene Martinez-Gallego, David Brodin, Javier Avila-Cariño, Mikko Airavaara, Per Uhlén, Michael T Heneka, Marie-Ève Tremblay, Klas Blomgren, Jose L Venero, Bertrand Joseph. bioRxiv.
Project: Bridging for bringing research to human brain.
Favourite TV series: Breaking bad
Favourite color: Purple
Favourite cell type: Microglia
Project: Function of the neurotrophic factor MANF and its role in human dopaminergic neuron development and function.
Favourite TV series: Friends, Grey's Anatomy and Suits
Favourite color: Blue
Favourite cell type: Love-hate relationship with stem cells
Project: Improving lysosomal function to reduce pathological alpha synuclein protein aggregation associated with Parkinson's disease
Favourite TV series: "Lost" and "Rick and Morty"
Favourite color: blue
Favourite cell type: astrocytes
Project: Exploring human features of Parkinson disease and their connection to cellular organelles.
Favourite TV series: On the Road (by Jack Kerouac; book, because why not!)
Favourite color: Blue
Favourite cell type: CD8⁺ (Killer T) cell, because they have a clear mission and work efficiently
Project: Novel ways to utilize microglia in treatments against glioblastoma.
Favourite TV series: The Great British Bake Off
Favourite color: Pastel
Favourite cell type: Microglia
Ella Himanka, MSc thesis student
Project: Lysosomal profile of different cells
Favourite TV series: Konflikti
Favourite color: Forest green
Favourite cell type: Microglia
Are you an Erasmus or Master student or more senior? We are always looking for motivated and passionate individuals to join us! Planning exciting projects that have a meaningful impact takes time and collaboration. Therefore, we encourage you to contact us well in advance to explore potential opportunities and develop innovative projects together.
Let’s work towards advancing brain research and making a difference!
vassileios.stratoulias@helsinki.fi
Faculty of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 5)
University of Helsinki, Finland
Interested in microglia? Check our Brain and Mind sponsored microglia course:
2024 Miriam Agosti (Erasmus student/MSc thesis)
2023 Umasankar Umamaheswari (Trainee -> 2024/MSc thesis)
2023 Doraisamy Suhashini (Trainee -> 2024/MSc thesis)
2023 Silvia Orsini (Erasmus student/MSc thesis)
2023 Huai Hui Wang (Trainee)
2023 Ali Tsaous Achmet (Trainee -> 2024/MSc thesis)
2023 Anu Haapala (MSc thesis)
2023 Arianna Arbona (Erasmus student/MSc thesis)
2022 Siiri Hyvärinen (Trainee)
2022 Fanny Bunn (Trainee)
2022 Nea Ojala (Trainee)
2021 Amanda Sandelin [Trainee -> 2022/MSc thesis -> Ph.D. researcher (current)]
2022 Lauri Hella (MSc thesis)
2022 Lilja Lahtinen (MSc thesis)
2021 Helen Chen Ren (Erasmus student)
2021 Anna Their (Trainee)
2021 Elsi Tuominen (MSc thesis)
2019 Simas Janutenas (Erasmus student) -> Ph.D. researcher (current)]
2019 Efstathia Trypila (Erasmus student)
2018 Leevi Lehtonen (Trainee)
2018 Guillermo Cabrera (Erasmus student)