Pirjo Åström

I am a researcher and teacher at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu.

I have versatile experience from varying fields of biomedical research including immunology, molecular oncology and proteases. My current research focuses on examining the cellular and molecular mechanisms of dysregulated inflammation and defects of immune system.

More specifically, my research interests include:

• identifying novel susceptibility genes / mutations causing varying defects in immune system and leading to rare but serious conditions, for example autoinflammatory symptoms, unusual presentations of encephalitis and defects in bones.
• resolving the role of altered mitochondrial function behind certain genetic variants leading to aberrant immunity.

Novel, rare mutations are found in genetically unique Northern Finnish population. By identifying novel susceptibility genes underlying the conditions of patients, we are hoping to reveal previously unidentified molecular mechanisms for diseases of immune system.