Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program (STEMM)

Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program (STEMM) brings together eleven research groups and four associated clinical researchers interested in cellular metabolism as a driving force in tissue homeostasis, cellular differentiation and degenerative diseases.

Many of the groups take advantage of the possibilities of stem cell and genome editing technologies to understand molecular disease mechanisms in order to develop innovative treatments. Close ties to pediatric and neurology clinics enable efficient use of our research findings for diagnosis, patient care and counselling.
Program director

Anu Wartiovaara

Biomedicum Helsinki 1

PO Box 63, 00014 University of Helsinki
Tel. +358 9 471 71965
Prin­cipal in­vest­ig­at­ors
  • Diego Balboa -
  • Ping Chen -
  • Elina Ikonen - 
  • Emmi Helle
  • Jukka Kallijärvi -
  • Juha Kere - 
  • Riikka Kivelä - 
  • Satu Kuure - 
  • Thomas McWilliams - 
  • Timo Otonkoski 
  • Taneli Raivio -  
  • Henna Tyynismaa - 
  • Sanna Vuoristo -
  • Kirmo Wartiovaara
  • Sara Wickström - 
Associated Principal Investigators
  • Nahid Khan
  • Rubén Torregrosa Munumer
As­so­ci­ated clin­ical re­search­ers
  • Pirjo Isohanni 
  • Risto Lapatto 
  • Niklas Pakkasjärvi
  • Emil Ylikallio 
Key Pub­lic­a­tions from STEMM
  • Pirinen E, Auranen M, Khan NA, Brilhante V, Urho N, Pessia A, Hakkarainen A, Kuula J, Heinonen U, Schmidt MS, Haimilahti K, Piirilä P, Lundbom N, Taskinen MR, Brenner C, Velagapudi V, Pietiläinen KH, Suomalainen A:  Cell Metab. in press.
  • Nava MM, Miroshnikova YA, Biggs LC, Whitefield DB, Metge F, Boucas J, Vihinen H, Jokitalo E, Li X, García Arcos JM, Hoffmann B, Merkel R, Niessen CM, Dahl KN, Wickström SA:  Cell. in press.
  • Purhonen J, Grigorjev V, Ekiert R, Aho N, Rajendran J, Pietras R, Truvé K, Wikström M, Sharma V, Osyczka A, Fellman V, Kallijärvi J:  Nat Commun. 11:322, 2020.
  • Hämäläinen RH, Landoni JC, Ahlqvist KJ, Goffart S, Ryytty S, Rahman MO, Brilhante V, Icay K, Hautaniemi S, Wang L, Laiho M, Suomalainen A:   Nat Metab. 1:958–965, 2019.
  • Forsström S, Jackson CB, Carroll CJ, Kuronen M, Pirinen E, Pradhan S, Marmyleva A, Auranen M, Kleine IM, Khan NA, Roivainen A, Marjamäki P, Liljenbäck H, Wang L, Battersby BJ, Richter U, Velagapudi V, Nikkanen J, Euro L, Suomalainen A: . Cell Metab. 30:1040-1054, 2019.
  • Li S, Prasanna X, Salo VT, Vattulainen I, Ikonen E: . Nat Methods. 16:866-869, 2019.
  • Salo VT, Li S, Vihinen H, Hölttä-Vuori M, Szkalisity A, Horvath P, Belevich I, Peränen J, Thiele C, Somerharju P, Zhao H, Santinho A, Thiam AR, Jokitalo E, Ikonen E:  Dev Cell. 50:478-493, 2019.
  • Varimo T, Huopio H, Kariola L, Tenhola S, Voutilainen R, Toppari J, Toiviainen-Salo S, Hämäläinen E, Pulkkinen M-A, Lääperi M, Tarkkanen A, Vaaralahti K, Miettinen PJ, Hero M, Raivio T:  Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 3:109-120, 2019.