Prof. Pasi Virta, Group Leader
Pasi Virta became professor of Organic Chemistry at Department of Chemistry, University of Turku 1.9.2016.
Main interests: Synthesis of biomolecular conjugates (oligonucleotides, carbohydrates and peptides), Transitions of higher order secondary structures of oligonucleotides, Biodistribution studies of oligomeric biomolecules, DNA-templated ligation, DNA-templated glycosylation, Glycosylation in aquosus media, Chemical modification of rare nucleosides.
Asst. Prof. Tuomas Lönnberg
Tuomas Lönnberg was appointed Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, University of Turku in Oct 2016.
Main research interests: Synthesis and properties of oligonucleotides incorporating organometallic nucleobase surrogates, Metal mediated base pairing, Mechanisms of biologically relevant phosphate-transfer reactions.
Dr. Satu Mikkola, Senior Lecturer
Satu Mikkola has been working as a senior lecturer in organic chemistry since 2001.
Main interests: Dr. Mikkola has long worked on mechanisms and kinetics of hydrolytic reactions of RNA, related phosphodiesters and other biological phosphates, such as dinucleoside oligophosphates and sugar nucleotides.
Dr. Mikko Ora, Senior Lecturer
Mikko Ora has worked as Senior lecturer at Department of Chemistry, University of Turku since 2006.
Main interests: Prodrug strategies of nucleotides and biologically active phosphate esters as goal to develop the degradable lipophilic carriers, the protecting groups, which are used to improve the cellular membrane penetration. The kinetic studies of the prodrugs to obtain mechanistic information on the chemical hydrolysis and enzymatic cleavage of the protecting groups. Syntheses of structurally modified nucleoside analogues.
Dr. Heidi Korhonen, University Lecturer
Heidi Korhonen has worked as a University lecturer at the Department of Chemistry, University of Turku since autumn 2006. Currently she is working as an University lecturer.
Main interests: Mechanistic studies, including metal-ion catalyzed reactions, of RNA phosphodiester bond and other biologically active phosphate esters. Nucleoside phosphorylation. Enzyme-free, DNA-templated ligation reactions.
M. Sc. Tommi Österlund
Research interests: Nucleic acid templated chemistry and glycosylation in aqueous solutions.
M. Sc. Afari Mark
Research interests: Rational design of palladated oligonucleotides
M. Sc. Hanni Haapsaari
Research interests: Spherical nucleic acids and combining their good drug delivery properties with artificial nucleases
M. Sc. Heidi Kähkölä
Research interests: Chimeric DNA-MOANA aptamers
M. Sc. Verneri Saari
Research interests: Liquid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotide dendrons aiming to greener gene-based therapeutics
M. Sc. Marika Karskela Research interests: Synthesis of oligonucleotide carbohydrate conjugates
M. Sc. Vyacheslav Kungurtsev Research interests: Large sacle liquid phase synthesis of oligonucleotides