Research of the Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
The Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine at the University of Tartu is a research and education institute in biomedical sciences. The research areas include basic and translational medicine.The mission is to create an internationally high standard research and education institute operating in the field of biomedicine.
The specific research projects are given at homepages of each work group:
Read more about of the Department of Pharmacology.
Project: The effect of DNA methyltransferase-inhibitor treatment on aberrant DNA methylation in human leukocytes: A novel pharmacological strategy for treatment of psychostimulant-induced drug addiction (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS22063PR)
Period: 01.01.2022−31.12.2026
Contact: Professor Anti Kalda
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Targeting the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial interface as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS24041PR)
Period: 01.01.2024−31.12.2028
Contact: Professor Allen Kaasik
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Imaging and enhancing synaptic ATP in neurodegenerative disease models (Silicon Valley Community Foundation (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF), MMVBS24595)
Period: 01.12.2024 30.11.2025
Contact: Professor Allen Kaasik
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Estonian BioImaging (Estonian Research Council, SMVBS25367)
Period: 01.01.2025-31.12.2029
Contact: Professor Allen Kaasik
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Redox active peptide drug candidate (The State Shared Service Center, SMVBS25451YT)
Period: 01.09.2025-31.08.2026
Contact: Professor Allen Kaasik
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Uncovering how stress states increase risk of Parkinson's disease (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS26046PR)
Period: 01.01.2026-31.12.2030
Contact: Associate Professor Miriam Ann Hickey
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Preclinical validation of a novel drug for treating Wolfram syndrome and Type 2A Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (Estonian Research Council, SMVBS26192T)
Period: 01.05.2026-30.04.2029
Contact: Professor Allen Kaasik
E-mail: [email protected]
Read more about of the Department of Physiology.
Project: Metabolic and genetic signatures of the dynamics of first-episode psychosis: associations with adverse effects of antipsychotic treatment (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS25033PR)
Period: 01.01.2025−31.12.2029
Contact: Professor Eero Vasar
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: HIF1B as a Novel Hypothermia Response Factor with Therapeutic Benefits (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS24069PS)
Period: 01.01.2024-31.12.2028
Contact: Associate Professor Kattri-Liis Eskla
E-mail: [email protected]
The research projects of the Department of Biomedicine
Project: The Regulation and Role of mRNA N6-methyladenosine in Neurons (Estonian Research Council, SMVBS26133)
Period: 01.03.2026-29.02.2028
Contact: Research Fellow Indrek Teino
E-mail: [email protected]
Read more about the research of the Molecular Pathology Research Group.
Project: Type I interferons and their autoantibodies in autoimmunity and COVID-19 (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS21081PR)
Period: 01.01.2021−31.12.2026
Contact: Professor Kai Kisand
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Molecular mechanisms underlying impaired antiviral cytotoxic T cell responses in old age (Estonian Research Council, SMVBS21533)
Period: 01.12.2021−30.11.2026
Contact: Research Fellow Maarja Laos
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: The human genetic and immunological determinants of the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection: Towards personalised medicine (European Commission, MMVBS22163R)
Period: 01.06.2022−31.05.2026
Contact: Professor Kai Kisand
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Age-Related Changes in T Cells (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS24044PR)
Period: 01.01.2024−31.12.2028
Contact: Professor Pärt Peterson
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Preventing non-communicable diseases caused by the post-acute phase of cOvid-19 INfecTion (European Commission Horizon2020, GMVBS24044PR)
Period: 01.01.2024−31.12.2027
Contact: Professor Pärt Peterson
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Enterovirus-linked type1 diabetes exposed - mechanisms and preventions (European Commission Horizon2020, MMVBS24075R)
Period: 01.01.2024−31.12.2027
Contact: Professor Pärt Peterson
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Building Excellence in Systems Immunology and Healthy Aging Research (European Commission, MMVBS24271R)
Period: 01.09.2024−31.08.2027
Contact: Professor Kai Kisand
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Assessment of the role of IL-33 in thymic involution. Stage 3 (Tolerance Bio, Inc, VMVBS25629)
Period: 17.12.2025-31.12.2026
Contact: Professor Pärt Peterson
E-mail: [email protected]
Read more about the research of the Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine.
Project: Precision targeting of infiltrative glioblastoma (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS23048PR)
Period: 01.01.2023−31.12.2027
Contact: Professor Tambet Teesalu
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Glioblastoma targeting using peptide-functionalized nanoparticles loaded with nucleic acids (Estonian Research Council, SMVBS24514YT)
Period: 01.12.2024-30.11.2026
Contact: Professor Tambet Teesalu
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Homing peptides for modulation of the peripheral nervous system (Estonian Research Council, SMVBS25329YT)
Period: 01.06.2025-30.11.2026
Contact: Professor Tambet Teesalu
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Reaching the heterogeneous vascular landscape of glioblastoma with multifunctional nanomedicines (Estonian Research Council, SMVBS23514)
Period: 01.11.2023-31.10.2026
Contact: Professor Tambet Teesalu
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Programmable Bionanomaterials with Protein-Controlled Behavior (European Commission, MMVBS25006R)
Period: 01.01.2025-31.12.2028
Contact: Professor Tambet Teesalu
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Unlocking the neurovascular interface of peripheral nerves in homeostasis, disease and repair (European Commission, MMVBS26182R)
Period: 01.03.2026-29.02.2032
Contact: Professor Tambet Teesalu
E-mail: [email protected]
Read more about the research of the RNA Biology Research Group.
Project: Evaluation of the therapeutic potential and safety of METTL3/14 activators in human primary keratinocyte cultures and in a mouse model of psoriasis (OÜ Chemestmed, LMVBS26078)
Period: 01.01.2026-31.12.2026
Contact: Professor Ana Rebane
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Technology platform of anti-inflammatory mRNA-nanoparticles (SA Tartu Teaduspark, SMVBS261511)
Period: 23.03.2026-22.03.2027
Contact: Professor Ana Rebane
E-mail: [email protected]
Read more about the research of the Chair of Human Genetics.
Project: Genetic insights into gonadal dysfunction and its broader health consequences (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS26029PR)
Period: 01.01.2026–31.12.2030
Contact: Professor Maris Laan
E-mail: [email protected]
Read more about of the Department of Immunology.
Dissertation under supervision: The health and immunological status of the children of mothers with gestational diabetes
Contact: PhD student Anu Bärenson
Supervisors: Raivo Uibo, Aili Tagoma, Heili Varendi
E-mail: [email protected]
Dissertation under supervision: Heterogeinity of immunological endotypes in diabetes
Contact: PhD student/Junior Research Fellow Kristi Alnek
Supervisors: Raivo Uibo, Aili Tagoma
E-mail: [email protected]
Dissertation under supervision: B-cells and follicular T-helper cells in clinical subtypes of autoimmune diabetes: associations with anti-islet autoantibodies and diabetes gene polymorphisms
Contact: PhD student/Junior Research Fellow Brita Laht
Supervisors: Aili Tagoma, Raivo Uibo, Marina Šunina
E-mail: [email protected]
Read more about the research of the Department of Anatomy.
Project: Human histology (Institute of the Estonian Language, DMVBS21510)
Period: 16.09.2021–31.08.2026
Contact: Associate Professor Marina Aunapuu
E-mail: [email protected]
Read more about the research of the Department of Microbiology.
Project: Delivering a Unified Research Alliance of Biomedical and public health Laboratories against Epidemics (European Commission, MMVBS23022)
Period: 01.02.2023–31.01.2027
Contact: Professor Irja Lutsar
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Health-promoting whey products with high added value (Estonian Research Council, SMVBS24436YT)
Period: 01.01.2024–30.09.2028
Contact: Professor Reet Mändar
E-post: [email protected]
Project: Seroepidemiologic Study (Health Board, LMVBS24547)
Period: 01.11.2024-31.03.2027
Contact: Lecturer Kai Truusalu
E-post: [email protected]
Project: Infrastructure of Food Innovation Technologies (Estonian Research Council, SMVBS25308)
Period: 01.01.2025-31.12.2029
Contact: Professor Reet Mändar
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: The Role of Virome in Development of Microbiota and Sepsis in Preterm Neonates (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS25098PR)
Period: 01.01.2025-31.12.2029
Contact: Associated Professor Kristi Huik
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: Untapping the potential for improved female reproductive healthcare: diagnosing and reinforcing the status of UTERINE-associated fertility (European Commission)
Period: 01.01.2026–31.12.2029
Project: Reducing Gastrointestinal Side Effects of GLP-1 Analogues with a New Combination Therapy (The State Shared Service Center, SMVBS25464YT)
Period: 01.09.2025-31.08.2026
Contact: Professor Mario Plaas
E-mail: [email protected]
Project: A New Frontier in Wolfram Syndrome Research: Unraveling Pathophysiology and Pioneering Targeted Therapies (Estonian Research Council, GMVBS26022PR)
Period: 01.01.2026-31.12.2030
Contact: Professor Mario Plaas
E-mail: [email protected]
