Janna Saarela takes up the challenge: The best possible equipment for researchers to use

Janna Saarela, MD, PhD, who started as Research Director of the Genome and Technology Center at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), is enthusiastic about her new assignment.

— This is indeed a challenging assignment, since the expectations are high. In addition, the merging of several quite independent units into a single one will take its time. Even the official name of the unit has not yet been decided, says Saarela.

It has been planned that the new centre would consist of genomics, screening, bioinformatics and biobank & biomarker units. Genotyping and capillary sequencing have been in operation for a long time already, and powerful next-generation sequencing has now been introduced as well. New mass screening devices have also recently been installed, but their deployment is still partially in progress. And many matters are still at the planning stage.

— The main mission of this centre is to support Finnish molecular medicine studies by providing research teams with the necessary up-to-date technology services – not only for the FIMM, but also for other researchers on the campus area, and for the international partnership network, says Saarela.

The long-term plan is to function as a part of the European research infrastructure, which is set up through participation and cooperation in several ESFRI projects.

— Besides technology services, however, we also carry out scientific cooperation with research teams, Saarela points out. She continues her own research related to the genetics of the MS disease, and, along with Professor Leena Palotie, guides five dissertation students.

Experts in many fields work at the FIMM’s genome and technology center.
— There are geneticists, engineers, doctors, laboratory analysts, bioinformation specialists, laboratory technicians, IT specialists... Sometimes you need to look for a shared means of communication!

Fascinated by technology

Before this assignment, Saarela worked as a researcher and the Head of the Biotechnology Unit at the Department of Molecular Medicine in the Finnish National Public Health Institute. She is a medical doctor by education. Already when she was preparing her dissertation, she became interested in technology and new research methods.

— In 1998, I started as a postdoctoral researcher on Leena Palotie's team and spent three years with her at the University of California in Los Angeles. There I familiarised myself with microarray technology. After I returned to Finland, my intention was to take on clinical work, but I was encouraged to set up a microarray unit in Biomedicum, and I ended up as some kind of technology expert in many research projects. And this is what all that has led to.

Text: Päivi Lehtinen