Research interests

Medicinal chemistry of

• combating bacterial biofilms and Gram-negative bacteria with novel antimicrobial compounds
  
• chemical induction of cellular reprogramming and differentiation
  
• targeting intracellular protozoan parasites (Leishmania sp., Plasmodium falciparum)
  
• bioactive terpenes of marine and forest sources
  
• novel synthesis methods of bioactive compounds
  

Topics of recent publications 

• Design, synthesis and biological activity of compounds targeted to Pim and the C1 domain of PKC
• Terpene-derived compounds as antileishmanial agents
• Design, synthesis and biological activity of heterocycles and terpenoids against pathogenic parasites and Gram-negative bacteria
  
• Benzo[cd]azulenes: synthesis of azulene, heptafulvene, and tropone derivatives and activity against Pim kinases

Teaching activities

• Person-in-Charge of the organic chemistry in life sciences curriculum in the Viikki Campus
  

Recent administrative duties

• Vice Dean for Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, 2018-
• Head of the Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, 2014-2017
• President of the Finnish Chemical Society, 2016-2018
• Co-ordinator of the Marie Curie project PRINT-AID, 2017-
  
• Vice Co-ordinator of the EC-FP7 projects MAREX, 2010-14 & GLORIA, 2013-18
• Member of the CBRN Division of the Scientific Advisory Board for Defence, 2006-
• Member of the Pharmacopoeia Committee of the Finnish Medicines Agency, 2010-
• Member of the Expert Panel: FWO Research Foundation - Flanders, Belgium, 2012-2015