The
A.I.Virtanen Institute
The Institute concentrates on 3 main areas: Biotechnology, Neuroscience
, Molecular Medicine and Pharmacology
The organization as well as the working policy of the Institute differ
from the Finnish academic administrative tradition. The multidisciplinary
approach was structured to allow creative cooperation between the different
research groups.
It is anticipated that the Institute will generate an environment in which
highly sophisticated and front-line basic research is ultimately converted
into high-technology products. The Institute has produced practical applications
in the fields of animal biotechnology and drug development, and it is expected
that the Institute, with extensive co-operation from Kuopio University
Hospital, will soon take the leading role in human gene therapy in Finland.
The total number of staff is currently 130, 9 of which are professors.
The institute has excellent facilities for molecular biology research.
These include a DNA service unit with two automated DNA sequencers and
two DNA synthesizers, a fully equipped embryo laboratory unit for the production
of transgenic (such as: mouse, rat, rabbit and dairy cattle) and gene-disrupted
animals. The Institute also has several cell culture units, biosafety laboratories
for retrovirus and adenovirus work, NMR spectroscopy unit for noninvasive
metabolic and imaging studies, and a histology and morphometry unit including
a confocal microscope.
The A.I.Virtanen Institute is an integral part of the University of Kuopio
and the Kuopio Science Park. The Institute also houses a graduate
school with some 56 graduate students in a four year Ph.D.-program.
Ph.D. Course
The research groups
Biotechnology
Juhani Jänne,
Leena Alhonen,
Jari Koistinaho
Neuroscience
Paavo Riekkinen
Sr., Jouni
Sirviö,
Asla Pitkänen
Molecular Medicine and Pharmacology
Seppo Ylä-Herttuala,
Risto Kauppinen,
Eero Castrén
Addresses to members
of different research groups