My research group Psychobiology focuses on characterizing how psychological phenomena and the physiology of the human body interact, and discovering new ways to modulate the observed interactions. Our goals are to identify mechanisms for common mental disorders such as depression and to use this knowledge to develop or optimize treatment applications. We work with different populations ranging from healthy volunteers to individuals affected by mental disorders.
Academic and Professional Degrees
- Special Competence in Medical Education, Finnish Medical Association, 2013
- Clinical Specialist in Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, 2012
- Ph.D., University of Kuopio, 2009
- M.D., University of Kuopio, 2006
Major Positions and Appointments
- Professor, University of Oslo, 2020– present
- Senior researcher, Akershus University Hospital, 2020– present
- Research Director, University of Helsinki, 2018–2020
- Docent (senior researcher) in Biological Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, 2017–present
- University Researcher, University of Helsinki, 2016–2017
- Professor in Psychiatry (acting), University of Eastern Finland, 2016
- Visiting academic, University of Oxford, 2014–2015
- Professor in Psychiatry (acting), University of Eastern Finland, 2013–2014
- Clinical lecturer in Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, 2010–2013
- Docent (senior researcher) in Experimental Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, 2010– present
Major Positions of Trust
- The National Committee on Medical Research Ethics in Finland, deputy member, 2018–2022
- Research Ethics Committee of the North Savo Hospital District, Committee Chair, 2013–2015
- Several positions in committees organizing continuous medical education events and conferences (Finnish Psychiatric Association, Finnish Medical Association Duodecim), 2008– present
Major Research Interests
- Mechanisms underlying common mental illnesses and the efficacy of their treatments
- Utilizing information on novel illness and treatment mechanisms to develop or optimize treatment applications
Collaboration
- In order to achieve our goals, we collaborate with several institutions both nationally and internationally, including the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, King’s College London, University of Bern, and University of Kent.
- PhD students co-supervised with collaborators:
- Päivi Ronkainen, MD (together with Professor Ilona Luoma and Professor Emerita Kirsti Kumpulainen, Department of Child Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland)
- Tuomas Mikola, BM (together with Dr Anu Ruusunen, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, and Professor Minna Valkonen-Korhonen, Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland).
- Ulla-Greta Mikkonen, MD (together with Professor Pekka Mäntyselkä and Dr Anu Ruusunen, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland)