Our group's special interests are epilepsy, problems in skull development, and syringomyelia, which is a condition involving cavities in the spinal cord. The research group is led by Associate Professor Tarja Pääkkönen (published under the name Jokinen), who completed her dissertation on epilepsy in puppies. Another veterinary neurologist in our research group, Anna-Mariam Kiviranta, conducted her dissertation research on changes in the craniovertebral junction in dogs and their connection to syringomyelia.
Currently, our major ongoing research projects include the biomarker study for epilepsy (BioEpiCa) and a study investigating the development of the skull and the mechanisms of syringomyelia in dogs. The clinical parts of our research are conducted at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Helsinki, where we are supported by skilled staff and high-quality equipment, such as a high-field MRI, video electroencephalography equipment, and a 64-slice computed tomography scanner.
Additionally, we collaborate extensively with, for example, a genetics research group and experts in human medicine, pathology, and diagnostic imaging. We also participate in international collaborative projects.