Research areas

Genomics

Genomics training and research focuses on utilizing state-of-the art high-throughput –“omics” technologies, such as genetics, transcriptomics, epigenetics, proteomics and metabolomics approaches to study genomics in an integrative manner. Data produced with these technologies will be analyzed using modern bioinformatics and big data analysis methods and integrated with public knowledge databases. These methods will be used to perform target and pathway analysis to identify key genomic mechanisms relevant to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and neurosciences.

Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases

Cardiovascular (CVD) and metabolic diseases comprises the most common form of fatal lifestyle diseases in high-income countries, and their incidence is also increasing in developing countries. Research at UEF forms an especially broad framework in this field covering pathophysiology, genetics, molecular mechanisms, disease prevention and development of novel treatments for CVD. The research makes use of cutting-edge methods in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, nutrition research, translational medicine and clinical gene transfer technology. The research area comprises of experts from the fields of internal medicine, clinical nutrition, molecular medicine, vascular biology and cardiology.

Neurosciences

The research objective of Neurosciences is to understand the disease-specific and common molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) in order to identify biomarkers and novel intervention approaches for their prevention and cure. Focusing on these three major debilitating brain diseases is based on well-established data showing interactions between phenotypes and pathogenic mechanisms:
a) TBI is a risk factor to both AD and epilepsy,
b) about 10% of patients with AD or TBI have epilepsy,
c) several molecular pathologies are common between AD, TBI and PTE, such as amyloidogenesis, tauopathy, and neuroinflammation.