Our research unit (FinMIT), an Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence, includes four closely integrated research teams. Two of them, led by Professor Howy Jacobs and Professor Hans Spelbrink are based in the Institute of Medical Technology of the University of Tampere. The others led by Professor Anu Wartiovaara and Dr. Brendan Battersby, are housed in Biomedicum Helsinki (the biomedical research institute of the University of Helsinki) . The four teams have overlapping interests and complementary expertise. Howy Jacobs’ team uses both mammalian cell and fruit fly models to analyse mitochondrial gene expression and disease. Hans Spelbrink studies the genetic apparatus of mitochondrial DNA maintenance in mammalian cells, and collaborates closely with Anu Wartiovaara’s team to investigate the clinical and molecular consequences of mutations in these genes. Anu Wartiovaara’s main interest is to identify disease-causing genes and to clarify the disease pathogenesis in defects of the mitochondrial energy-generating system. Brendan Battersby uses genetic approaches to study the control of mitochondrial division and mitochondrial DNA segregation to daughter cells. FinMIT aims to use the knowledge gleaned from its basic research to develop novel strategic for therapy of mitochondrial disorders.

All FinMIT groups are highly international. Most members of the teams have either relocated to Finland from abroad, or have conducted part of their own research training abroad. Doctoral graduates from FinMIT typically go on to postdoctoral training in other European countries or the USA, aiming to develop their own research careers. The research of FinMIT is supported by many national and international agencies including, notably, the Academy of Finland, the Juselius Foundation and the European Union.