Research Groups

Taija Mäkinen obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Helsinki and completed postdoctoral training at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried, Germany. She established her research group at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute (now the Francis Crick Institute) before moving to Uppsala University, where she served as a professor. She was recruited back to Finland in 2024 and currently leads the  Laboratory, serves as a principal investigator in the Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, and is the Director of the .

Research interests:

We investigate the fundamental mechanisms that govern vascular development, maintenance, and regeneration, and how vascular and lymphatic networks contribute to organ-specific physiology and disease. Using advanced genetic mouse models, imaging technologies, and bioinformatic approaches, we aim to uncover previously unrecognised vascular functions and define how their dysregulation drives pathology.  In particular, our work focuses on the expanding roles of the lymphatic vasculature beyond fluid drainage, including lymphatic endothelial cell–mediated modulation of immune responses and the secretion of ‘lymphangiocrine’ factors that regulate organ growth and regeneration. These emerging insights reveal the importance of lymphatic vessels in diverse physiological processes and diseases, and provide opportunities to develop novel therapeutic strategies.

Kari Vaahtomeri obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Helsinki and continued studies on cell interactions during his postdoctoral training in the lab of Prof. Michael Sixt at IST Austria. He heads the  and serves as a principal investigator in the Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, and Wihuri Research Institute. 

Research interests:

We are intrigued by one of the most complex biological events: how migrating cells reach their correct destination to interact with effector cells at the right time, i.e., how guidance cues are generated and interpreted. To investigate this fundamental question, we utilize lymphatics and the associated immune cells as a model system and have established a research platform that combines a multitude of microscopy approaches and innovative primary cell culture, explant, and in vivo cell migration models. To complement our strengths, we collaborate with scientists whose expertise ranges from immunology to biophysics. The chosen approach allows a multi-scale view of complex biological systems, such as lymphatics and adaptive immunity.

Cecilia Sahlgren earned her Ph.D. from Åbo Akademi University and completed postdoctoral training at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. She established her research group at the Turku Bioscience Center before moving to Eindhoven University of Technology, where she became a full professor. She was recruited back to Finland in 2017 and currently leads the CellFate lab at Åbo Akademi University. She also holds a part-time (0.2 FTE) professorship at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Research interests:

combines cell biology, engineering, and computational biology to uncover fundamental mechanisms that drive cell fate decisions. We recreate cellular niches in vitro to investigate how the physical, cellular, and mechanical microenvironment influences cell fate decisions in tissue development, regeneration, and disease. Our recent work focuses on how mechanical cues from blood flow and the extracellular matrix integrate with cell signaling to regulate the form and function of the cardiovascular system. Along with collaborators, we use this knowledge to develop material-based medical technologies to control these mechanisms for regenerative therapies.

Guillaume Jacquemet earned his PhD from the University of Manchester, UK, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Turku, Finland. He is now an Associate Professor at Åbo Akademi University. Guillaume Jacquemet leads the Cell Migration Laboratory.

Research interests:

at Åbo Akademi University researches how cancer and immune cells move and interact with their environment, especially blood vessels, during metastasis. We use advanced live-cell microscopy, microfluidic systems that simulate blood flow, and AI-driven image analysis to observe cells in action and understand how they adhere, squeeze, and travel through tissues. Along with our biological studies, we create open-source software tools that help scientists worldwide analyze complex imaging data. These methods aim to reveal how cell movement influences disease and to identify new opportunities for diagnosis and treatment.