Prof. Anu Wartiovaara, University of Helsinki, Finland

host: Eeva-Liisa Eskelinen (eeva-liisa.eskelinen@utu.fi)

Mitochondrial dysfunction has shown out to be a common cause of human inherited disease, with amazing clinical variability, from neonatal fatal multisystem disorders to diabetes, neurodegeneration, dysfertility or tumorigenesis of adult age. Mitochondrial disorders show a wide variation in individual disease severity and progression. Up to date, only few therapy options are available to a limited number of patients. Wartiovaara research group focuses in clarifying the molecular basis of mitochondrial disorders, with a special emphasis on neurodegeneration. The group searches for disease genes in human sample materials, characterizes disease phenotypes and sets up DNA-based diagnosis, creates disease models based on identified gene defects and utilizes these models to study molecular pathogenesis and to test potential treatments. The specific focus is the disorders involving mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance.

Genral info regarding the Frontiers of Science eTALKs

• Registration is obligatory and links to register to all Frontiers of Science Autumn 2020 seminars are available in BioCity Turku webpage (https://biocityturku.fi/biocityevents/frontiers-of-science-seminars/programme-autumn-2020/) and in our news feed.
• Registration closes two days before the event and link to join zoom will be sent to the participants one day in advance.
• Microphones and cameras need to be turned off during the presentation, but the audience is welcome to ask questions after the talk, preferably with video turned on to make the discussion as interactive as possible.
• If you are a student and need a certificate for your attendance, please fill in your student number when registering to the events. After the seminar season is over, please contact BioCity Turku coordinator biocityturku@bioscience.fi.

If you have any questions regarding our Frontiers of Science eTALK seminar series, please don’t hesitate to contact BioCity Turku coordinator biocityturku@bioscience.fi