Research

The research profile of AIVI is on molecular medicine. Molecular medicine studies the causes and mechanisms of diseases at the molecular level and applies the gained knowledge in prevention, diagnostics and treatment of diseases. The area is vast extending from basic research to clinics, and therefore the target diseases under extensive study at AIVI are defined to diseases of high importance for the health care such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, stroke, epilepsy) and metabolism-related diseases (diabetes, pancreatitis). The strong research subareas include:

• molecular and cellular mechanisms of the diseases
• disease modelling
• prevention and therapy of the diseases: gene and cell-based therapy, pharmaceutical intervention
• in vitro and in vivo imaging

As an indication about the quality of research, AIVI

• harbors an Academy of Finland Center of Excellence for Research in Cardiovascular Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes (2002 – 2007, 2008 - 2013)
• is part of the Nordic Center of Excellence in Neurodegeneration (2004 – 2009)

The Institute is committed to external evaluation of its research activities by an international Scientific Advisory Board. Please find the latest evaluation report as a pfd file here.

The research activities of AIVI are organized into two departments:

• Department of Neurobiology

Director: Professor Heikki Tanila
Vice Director: Research Director Michael Courtney

Research Groups and Group Leaders

• Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine

Director: Professor Ari Hinkkanen
Vice Director: Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala

Research Groups and Group Leaders

In the infrastructure network of the Biocenter Finland consortium, AIVI's area of national responsibility covers gene transfer technology, imaging of small animals (especially MRI), disease models of some age-related diseases (in particular, neurological and cardiovascular diseases), production of transgenic rats and, based on the RNA interference methodology, also production of knockout rodents, and in addition phenotype characterization of certain disease models, especially that of the brain diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

• Biomedical Imaging Unit

Links:

• List of publications,  1992 -
• Core facilities
• Kuopio University Neuroscience Centre