Docent  Šárka Lehtonen works as a Sigrid Jusélius Senior Research Fellow. The research done by her group Human Brain Disease Modelling focuses on developing novel human-based models to study the mechanisms of neurological diseases. The group works at the A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland. 

“We focus mainly on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Parkinson`s disease and the prediction of drug transport into the brain”, describes Šárka. Her lab uses patient-derived brain cells in 2D and 3D culture systems to accurately mimic the pathological conditions in the diseased brain more accurately.

The key projects focus on studying  

– Midbrain organoids as Parkinson’s disease models
– LRRK2-mutation and glial cells in Parkinson’s disease
– Blood-brain barrier on a chip for disease modelling and drug testing
– Generation of Lewy bodies in dopaminergic neurons
– Microglia in α-synucleinopathies.  

Human Brain Disease Modelling research group (Lehtonen Lab): https://sites.uef.fi/human-brain-disease-modelling-group/  

More information: https://www.uef.fi/en/article/sigrid-juselius-foundation-grant-boosts-brain-disease-modelling