FIMM

P.O. Box 20
FI-00014
University of Helsinki
Finland

Contacts

2012 © Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM

PI Sirpa Jalkanen

Principal Investigator:FIMM Jalkanen_2.jpg

Academy Professor Sirpa Jalkanen, MD, PhD

Primary Affiliation:

Center of Excellence , University of Turku

Title of the FIMM-Specific Research Project:

Role of trafficking molecules in cancer spread and harmful inflammations

Abstract:

Jalkanen's interests are in mechanisms mediating leukocyte trafficking to sites of inflammation and metastatic spread of cancer cells in the body. The final goal of the research is to identify target molecules to be used in drug development against harmful inflammations and cancer spread. The FIMM related work tackles two specific questions (depicted also in Figure 1):

 

  • Which are the trafficking molecules behind cancer spread?
  • Which are the molecules mediating cell migration via lymphatics?

 

Lymph Node Jalkanen2.jpg

Figure 1. The road map for cancer cells to spread. Many of the tumor cells escape the primary tumor via afferent lymphatics and enter the draining lymph nodes. From there they get further access throughout the body via the efferent lymphatic vessel. The trafficking molecules on lymphatics are largely unknown and marked here by question marks. These are the targets of the proposed projects.

The above-mentioned projects will be performed in close collaboration with FIMM and its associates. Besides the expertise in multitude of modern molecular and cellular biology methods, imaging and animal models within the Jalkanen group, the data banks, high through put screening methods and carefully controlled clinical materials within FIMM and its associates are the corner stones for the success of these projects.

Contact information:

Sirpa Jalkanen, MD, PhD

Professor of Immunology

Director of the Center of Excellence in Host Defence Research

MediCity Research Laboratory

University of Turku

Tykistökatu 6A

FI-20520 Turku, Finland

Tel: +358-2-333-7007

Fax: +358-2-333-7000

e-mail: sirpa.jalkanen(at)utu.fi

home page: http://research.utu.fi/receptor/projects/sjalkane/sjalkane.html