Mechanisms of fibrosis in respiratory diseases
Research group information
Unit and faculty
Contact information
Research group leader
- Professor
Researchers
Research group description
Interstitial lung diseases include numerous types of fibrotic disorders like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, connective tissue disease associated interstitial lung diseases and sarcoidosis. Fibrotic mechanisms relate also to the pathogenesis of other lung diseases such as lung cancer and airway diseases. Our study group investigates clinical and epidemiological features as well as pathogenesis of lung diseases using multiple methods. We aim to investigate the prevalence and clinical features of different types of interstitial lung diseases in Finland with special emphasis on familial pulmonary fibrosis. We are especially interested in the role of lung stromal cells such as fibroblasts, myofibroblasts and lipofibroblasts as well as extracellular matrix proteins.
Where are we headed
To study biomarkers and associate results with clinical features of patients.
Our main collaborators
- Docent, PhD Siri Lehtonen, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu
- Professor Magnus Sköld, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Terezia Pincikova, MD, PhD, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Professor Marjukka Myllärniemi, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki
- Docent, MD, PhD Minna Purokivi, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio
- Professor Arto Mannermaa, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
- Professor Johanna Uusimaa, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital
- Docent, PhD Reetta Hinttala, University of Oulu, Oulu
- Professor Juhani Junttila, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu
- Docent, MD, PhD Jussi Koivunen, Oulu University Hospital
- Docent, MD, PhD Elisa Lappi-Blanco, Oulu University Hospital
- MD, PhD Johanna Mäkinen, Oulu University Hospital
How to find us
Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine
riitta.kaarteenaho[at]oulu.fi