Our group members include;
Principal Investigator
Kari obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Helsinki in 2011. In his doctoral research, Kari investigated mesenchymal and epithelial cell interactions in the context of gastrointestinal tumorigenesis. Kari continued studies on cell interactions during his postdoctoral training in the lab of Prof. Michael Sixt (2012-2015) and investigated dynamic interactions during antigen-presenting dendritic cell transmigration across lymphatic endothelium. To expand these studies to molecular mechanisms, Kari moved back to Finland for a second postdoctoral period in the lab of Prof. Kari Alitalo (2015-2018). In September 2018 Kari was nominated as principal investigator in the Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki. Current research interests are focused on, how migration of single or collectively moving cells is guided, i.e. how migration cues are created in space and time.
Undergraduate student
Emmi received her Bachelor of Engineering in Biotechnology in 2015 and did her engineering thesis on extracellular matrix stiffness and intestinal stem cell interaction in Pekka Katajisto lab. She continued as a master’s student under supervision of Kari Vaahtomeri and studied lymphatic endothelial cell polarity during the expansion of lymphatic capillary networks. She is completing her MSc in the University of Helsinki in 2019. In Vaahtomeri lab, Emmi is continuing her research on lymphatic vessel sprouting and branching morphogenesis.
PhD student
Inam is a PhD student investigating dendritic cell transmigration across the lymphatic endothelium with a special focus on chemokine CCL21 positive vesicles. Inam did his Master’s in protein chemistry and biotechnology from University of Oulu, Finland. During his master’s thesis, he studied the molecular characterization of microsomal triglyceride transport protein. During his master’s studies he was also awarded the innovations award 2017 at University of Oulu for proposing an immune system for refrigerators. Inam also has another Master's degree in Chemistry from Forman Christian College, Lahore, Pakistan.
Undergraduate student
Ida received her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2020 and did her bachelor's thesis about complement system-based therapies in antibiotic resistance infections. She is completing her MSc in Cell and developmental biology at the University of Helsinki in 2024. Ida is currently working on dendritic cell migration and secretion of chemokine CCL21-positive vesicles.
Undergraduate student
Maria completed her BSc in Molecular Biosciences in 2022 and did her thesis on intracellular mechanisms of lipid-induced insulin resistance. With a major interest in immunobiology and cell signaling, she continued as a master’s student in Vaahtomeri lab and has contributed to studies in both lymphatic endothelial cell chemokine secretion and antigen processing. Maria is completing her MSc in Translational Medicine in 2024, at the University of Helsinki. After completing her thesis project, Maria is continuing her research on lymphatic endothelial cell antigen processing mechanisms and immunomodulation, in Vaahtomeri lab.
Undergraduate student
Jeremia received a Bachelor’s degree in molecular bioscience from the University of Helsinki in 2022. The subject of his bachelor’s thesis dealt with the migration of neural crest cells. While pursuing a master’s degree in cell and developmental biology Jeremia’s interest in the cues of cell movement led him to Vaahtomeri lab, where he studies sprouting lymphangiogenesis.
Emmi Tiilikainen M.Sc.
Sonja Granroth, M.Sc.
Emma Jakobsson, M.Sc.
Otto Litkey
Jasmin Haltilahti