People

I am a tenure-track associate professor in Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry  and the group leader of the Tracers in Molecular Imaging Group since January 2020. I have been a member of the TRIM team since the beginning of my Ph.D. studies in Radiochemistry in 2007. My Ph.D. studies were focused on the development of fluorine-18 -radiolabeled molecular imaging tools for the in vivo evaluation of porous silicon drug delivery systems, which sparked the interest to remain in the "margins" of radiopharmaceutical chemistry developing new molecular imaging tools to facilitate the translation of promising nanoscale drug delivery systems and materials from in vitro cell models to preclinical models. After my Ph.D., I trained years 2014–2016 under the mentorship of Dr. Jason S. Lewis as a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Radiology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. Upon return to Helsinki, my research has focused on the development and evaluation of multimodality imaging probes for nanocrystalline cellulose (CNC) and lignin drug delivery systems, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in cancer immunotherapy with Acedemy of Finland Research Fellowship (2018–2023). Thereafter, my lab has pursued projects on the application of nuclear imaging of lipid-based drug delivery systems co-funded by the Research Council of Finland and the NIH, USA, and latest, on the development of  alpha-emitting radioligands targeting multiorgan metastasis in cancer, funded by the Research Council of Finland. Our 2026 HiLIFE Proof-of-Concept (HiPoC) funding has allowed us to pursue the development of novel boron carriers for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). I especially enjoy the multidisciplinary nature of radiopharmaceutical chemistry, which allows me to combine radiochemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, physiology, histology, and laboratory animal science without having to pick one discipline! I am currently a supervisor of nine Ph.D. students at the Doctoral Program in Science (SciDoc), Doctoral Program of Drug Research (DPDR), and the iCANDOC doctoral pilot. I serve in steering committee roles for the M.Sc. program in Chemistry, the SciDoc Chemistry advisory group, and the iCANDOC local steering board at the University of Helsinki. I also manage the Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry services provided by our group through the Helsinki in Vivo Imaging Platform (HAIP), part of HiLIFE, and EuroBioImaging Finland.

I got my B.Sc. and M.Sc degrees at the University of Jyväskylä, testing radiation detectors. After that I started doctoral studies in the Gamma spectroscopy group at the accelerator laboratory of the Department of Physics, University of Jyväskylä. In my Ph.D. work I studied in-beam and decay spectroscopy of very neutron-deficient bismuth and astatine nuclei. After finishing the Ph.D. in 2009 I worked for one year as a laboratory engineer here in the Radiochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki. After that I did some teaching, including the spring semester in 2011 as a primary school science teacher in Vantaa. Subsequently I went to work as a researcher in the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in Geel, Belgium, measuring cross sections of inelastic neutron scattering. After almost nine years in Belgium, I returned back to Finland in February 2021 to take up the formidable task of replacing Kerttuli Helariutta as the senior laboratory engineer here at the Department of Chemistry. I am responsible for the cyclotron, radiation detectors, radiation safety, teaching nuclear spectrometry, and other support for scientific research. I am looking forward to participating in the various interesting research programs that are being conducted here!

I received my B.Eng. (Hons.) in Chemical Engineering from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand, and my M.Eng. in Bioengineering from the University of Tokyo, Japan. I completed my Ph.D. in radiochemistry at the Tracers in Molecular Imaging (TRIM) group, where my doctoral research focused on radiolabeled nanomaterials and theranostic drug delivery systems based on naturally derived materials, including cellulose nanocrystal and lignin nanoparticles. Following my Ph.D., I joined the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Bern University Hospital, Switzerland, where I worked on the radiosynthesis and preclinical evaluation of fibroblast activation protein-targeted radiopharmaceuticals for cancer imaging and radionuclide therapy. I later returned to the TRIM group, where I am now establishing my independent research line at the interface of radiopharmaceutical chemistry, molecular imaging, nanomedicine, and radiation oncology.

My current research focuses on developing image-guided approaches for cancer radiotheranostics, particularly for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and targeted radionuclide therapy. A central theme of my work is the use of PET and SPECT imaging techniques not only to visualize the in vivo distribution of new agents, but also to guide compound selection, treatment planning and optimization. My research includes small-molecule radiopharmaceuticals, peptide-based targeting agents, boron-containing compounds, and multifunctional nanosystems, with an emphasis on translating these new chemical entities into biologically validated preclinical applications. Through my work, I aim to bridge molecular design, radiopharmaceutical chemistry, quantitative imaging, and in vivo biology to develop more precise and effective approaches to cancer diagnosis and treatment. In 2026, I was awarded the University of Helsinki ERC Early Career Boost funding, which supports the continued development of this research direction.

What I particularly enjoy about radiopharmaceutical science is seeing ideas develop across different stages of research. With my multidisciplinary training background, I find it especially rewarding to see our newly developed molecules progress from an initial design on paper, through synthesis and radiolabeling, to biological evaluation and in vivo imaging. Following that journey from chemistry to a living system is what continues to keep me curious and excited about the field.

Alongside my research work at TRIM, I also serve as a nuclear imaging specialist at the Helsinki In Vivo Animal Imaging Platform (HAIP), Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), where I support and coordinate preclinical PET/SPECT/CT imaging and related research activities for both internal and external users.

I originally come from Albania, a beautiful country in  Southeast Europe. After high school, I moved to Italy to pursue a single-cycle Master´s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology  at University of Siena. This degree  focuses on chemical, biochemical and chemical-pharmaceutical disciplines, with particular emphasis on practical laboratory activities. Due to this multidisciplinary approach I have a solid background not only in organic and medicinal chemistry but also in biology and other related disciplines. On the last year of my Master's degree I carried out my experimental thesis in the Drug Research Program at the University of Helsinki under the guidance of Prof. Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma as an Erasmus student. My thesis work  focused on the synthesis of novel nature-inspired compounds as quorum sensing inhibitors capable of tackling the bacterial biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading multi-drug resistant pathogen. During this experience I fell in love with Finland.

I am currently finalizing my doctoral studies on the development of bioorthogonal radiolabeling tools for the imaging of transplanted cells in cancer immunotherapy.

I graduated from the University of Urbino in Italy with a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology. During my studies, I moved to Helsinki for my experimental thesis in the Drug Research Program, where I worked on the synthesis of marine alkaloid derivatives. I enjoyed both the research environment and life in Helsinki, which eventually brought me back for my PhD. I started my PhD in Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry in 2021 under the supervision of Dr. Mirkka Sarparanta. My research focuses on molecular imaging, targeted approaches for cancer, and how molecular design and formulation influence pharmacokinetics and in vivo behavior. My work brings together radiochemistry, chemical biology, drug delivery, and preclinical imaging, and has included different cancer- and immune-related targets, radiometal chemistry, and a range of platforms from small molecules and antibody-based systems to polymeric nanomedicines.

So yes, my PhD has taken me through quite a few different areas — which is also what I enjoy most about radiopharmaceutical chemistry. I like being able to follow a project all the way to animal studies and see how molecular properties and formulation influence pharmacokinetics and biological behavior in vivo.I am currently in the final stage of my PhD, working on my publications and thesis, with the aim of defending in spring 2027.

I obtained B.Sc. (Hons) in Molecular and Cell Biology from the National University of Singapore in 2018. I have started my doctoral studies in Doctoral Program in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences (CHEMS-DP) at the department of chemistry, University of Helsinki in September 2019. As I am keen on the multidisciplinary aspects in radiochemistry, my doctoral studies are in collaboration between TRIM and Radionuclide Fate and Reaction groups under the supervision of Dr. Mirkka Sarparanta and Prof. Gareth Law. My projects focus on the studies of radioactive cesium-rich microparticles (CsMP) released by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) incident in 2011 and their behavior as well as the biological responses triggered in respiratory system.

I have a M.Sc. degree (2023) in Chemistry and Molecular sciences from the Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki. During my studies I focused especially on organic chemistry and radiopharmaceutical chemistry. My Ph.D. is a collaboration between Translational Neuropharmacology research group with Dr. Tuomas Lilius and Tracers in Molecular Imaging research group with Dr. Mirkka Sarparanta and will focus on the development of new radiolabeled tracers for the nuclear imaging of the glymphatic system and intrathecal drug delivery. 

I, originally from Leipzig Germany, graduated from my master's studies in chemistry in the year 2023. During these studies, I went on an exchange semester to Finland and got to know the TRIM group. With my newfound interest for radiopharmaceutical chemistry, I proceeded to do my master's thesis work here, which was then extended into doctoral studies. Since Feb 2024, I am under supervision of Dr. Mirkka Sarparanta and co-supervision of Dr. Michael Jeltsch here in the TRIM group. I am conducting my research in the site-specific enzymatic protein radiofluorination to access high quality biomolecular fluorine-18 radiotracers for PET.

I received my BSc degree in Chemistry from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. After graduation, I moved to Finland to pursue a Master’s degree in Radiochemistry at the University of Helsinki as an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow. During my Master’s thesis, under the supervision of Prof. Gareth Law, I became interested in the behaviour and potential health implications of radioactive “hot” particles following inhalation, with a particular focus on particles released during nuclear accidents such as the Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan in 2011. As part of my IAEA fellowship, I had the opportunity to undertake an internship at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, where I worked with Prof. Satoshi Utsunomiya. There, I received training in the collection, isolation, and characterization of cesium-rich microparticles (CsMPs) from Fukushima, as well as in the laboratory handling of radioactive particulate materials.

I started my PhD in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences at the University of Helsinki in 2025, continuing this line of research with a focus on the fate of CsMPs after they enter the body. My work aims to understand how these particles interact with biological systems, including their potential retention in the lungs, translocation to other organs, and alteration under biological conditions. I am also interested in how the distinct chemical and physical properties of these particles influence their behaviour and potential biological effects. To address these questions, my research brings together radiochemistry, particle characterization, and biological approaches. I am part of the Radionuclide Reaction and Fate and Tracers in Molecular Imaging (TRIM) research groups at the University of Helsinki, under the supervision of Prof. Gareth Law and Prof. Mirkka Sarparanta

I am a student at the University of Helsinki, where I previously completed my B.Sc. (Hons) in an interdisciplinary physical sciences program. I am currently in the second year of my master’s studies in the Master's Programme in Chemistry, specializing in radiochemistry.  I am currently working on my thesis under supervision of Prof. Mirkka Sarparanta and Dr. Sofia Otaru from HUS Cyclotron Unit. My thesis focuses on comparing fluorine-18-labeled prosthetic group conjugation chemistry effects on PSMA-targeted radiotracers.

I have B.Sc. degree (major in Chemistry, minor in pharmacy, 2024) from here University of Helsinki. I wrote my Bachelor’s thesis about regioselective substitution reactions of quercetin under the supervision of Dr. Petri Heinonen. After majoring in Radiochemistry in my Master's studies and with interest in pharmacy, I started my research project here under the supervision of Dr. Mirkka Sarparanta and M.Sc. Jan Brokemper. My Master’s thesis will concentrate on fluorine-18 radiolabelled substrates for enzymatic radiofluorination of biomolecules catalyzed by Sortase A and VyPAL enzymes.

I am a Spanish exchange student from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). I am spending my senior year at the University of Helsinki to complete my bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Throughout my studies, I have developed a strong interest in neuroscience, and to deepen my knowledge in this field, I am taking courses from the Master’s Programme in Neuroscience at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences. This year, I will carry out my two bachelor’s theses in the Tracers in Molecular Imaging research group, under the supervision of Dr. Mirkka Sarparanta and doctoral researcher Martta Peltoniemi. My projects will focus on investigating the effects of protein charge and size on transport across the central nervous system (CNS).

I joined the TRIM group as a postdoctoral researcher funded by the Instrumentarium Foundation on a project aimed at PET imaging of multiple sclerosis, and have since worked on multiple neuroscience-related projects. I am originally from New Delhi, India, where I completed my B.Sc and M.Sc in Organic Chemistry from the University of Delhi. After this, I joined the University of Delhi for my Ph.D. under the mentorship of Prof. M. Thirumal, in collaboration with Dr. Anupama Datta from the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (DRDO). There, I was introduced to and got interested in working on development of targeted systems (small molecules/multifunctional nanoparticles) with application in non-invasive imaging of neurodegenerative disorders and tumors.  Being from an organic chemistry background, my main focus was on the design and synthesis of targeted systems which were then studied for efficacy in biological systems as targeted systems for SPECT modality. Chemistry. The multidisciplinary aspect of radiopharmaceutical chemistry is an exciting field for me to explore and I look forward to continuing it here.