About Mikko

PhD, Professor of Cell and Tissue Biology, has identified novel AD-related genes and characterized their molecular mechanisms in in vitro and in vivo models and human brain. His group has been part of the recent GWA, meta-analysis and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based endophenotype studies identifying several novel AD risk gene variants. Prof. Hiltunen is a site PI in EADB project focusing on deciphering the missing heritability of AD using to date the largest GWA-based data analysis of tens of thousands AD patients and control subjects. Some of the identified targets are potential new early biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease progression of AD. Prof. Hiltunen belongs to significant national and international discovery networks, such as EADB and International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project. Furthermore, Prof. Hiltunen has established collaboration with leading AD research groups at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE).

Bibliographic data

Over 190 Publications

  • Decreased plasma β-amyloid in the Alzheimer’s disease APP A673T variant carriers.
    Martiskainen H, Herukka SK, Stančáková A, Paananen J, Soininen H, Kuusisto J, Laakso M, Hiltunen M.
    Ann Neurol. 2017 Jul;82(1):128-132. doi: 10.1002/ana.24969.
    PubMed

  • Rare coding variants in PLCG2, ABI3, and TREM2 implicate microglial-mediated innate immunity in Alzheimer’s disease.
    Sims R, van der Lee SJ, Naj AC, Bellenguez C, …Hiltunen M,.. et al, Schellenberg GD.
    Nat Genet. 2017 Sep;49(9):1373-1384. doi: 10.1038/ng.3916. Epub 2017 Jul 17.
    PubMed

  • Loss-of-function variants in ABCA7 confer risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
    Steinberg S, Stefansson H, Jonsson T, Johannsdottir H, Ingason A, Helgason H, Sulem P, Magnusson OT, Gudjonsson SA, Unnsteinsdottir U, Kong A, Helisalmi S, Soininen H, Lah JJ; DemGene, Aarsland D, Fladby T, Ulstein ID, Djurovic S, Sando SB, White LR, Knudsen GP, Westlye LT, Selbæk G, Giegling I, Hampel H, Hiltunen M, Levey AI, Andreassen OA, Rujescu D, Jonsson PV, Bjornsson S, Snaedal J, Stefansson K.
    Nat Genet. 2015 May;47(5):445-7. doi: 10.1038/ng.3246. Epub 2015 Mar 25.
    PubMed

  • Family-based association between Alzheimer’s disease and variants in UBQLN1.
    Bertram L, Hiltunen M, Parkinson M, Ingelsson M, Lange C, Ramasamy K, Mullin K, Menon R, Sampson AJ, Hsiao MY, Elliott KJ, Velicelebi G, Moscarillo T, Hyman BT, Wagner SL, Becker KD, Blacker D, Tanzi RE.
    N Engl J Med. 2005 Mar 3;352(9):884-94.
    PubMed

Supervision

  • 14 PhD students
  • 7 postdocs

Currently:

  • 1 Academy Postdoctoral Fellow
  • 2 postdocs
  • 5 PhD students
  • 1 technician

Funding

  • Academy of Finland
  • JPND-funding
  • H2020 PANA
  • MSCA COFUND
  • Sigrid Juselius Foundation
  • academic collaboration funding with pharmaceutical industry

Leadership

  • Vice-Director of UEF Program in Neurosciences 2016-2020
  • Director of Doctoral Program for Molecular Medicine
  • UEF (2016-2020)
  • Director of GenomMed Doctoral Program
  • MSCA COFUND
  • UEF (2017-2022)