Doc programme combines academic research
Julia Lindqvist and Henrik Paavilainen, who both joined Orion following their postdoctoral research period, want to highlight the fact that lowering boundaries between academia and the corporate world is a win-win for all. Among other things, it helps to develop new drugs more quickly than before.
Julia Lindqvist, Ph.D. in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology, started as a postdoctoral researcher at Orion in 2017, soon after completing her doctorate.
“My dissertation was related to oncology research. I had been wanting to work for a pharmaceutical company for a long time and to see how the research findings in my field could be put into practice,” she says.
Lindqvist drew up her research plan in collaboration with Orion.
“I set out to investigate how a molecule developed by Orion affects breast cancer cells and how the efficacy of the treatment can be improved by combining different medications.”
New research methods, new therapies
Henrik Paavilainen, Ph.D. in Virology, started his post doc period shortly after Lindqvist. Encouraged by Orion researcher Ari-Pekka Koivisto, Paavilainen took a leap into the unknown, and entered a field he was not previously familiar with.
“I studied the way in which a new method could be used in drug development. In the new method, stem cells are differentiated into nerve cells, which makes it possible to study pain. This area had not been previously investigated in this way at Orion.”
During the postdoctoral research period, he was able to determine the possibilities and limitations of the method.
“We also discovered completely new paths, and things that would be worth a closer look.”
Building a career at Orion
Both postdoctoral researchers joined Orion as permanent employees following their post doc period. Lindqvist has continued her work on oncology research:
“My job involves assessing new drug targets and configuring cellular models and methods around new ideas. Our Head of Oncology Research is Anu Moilanen, who was also my supervisor during my post doc period,” she says.
Paavilainen works in Orion’s New Therapies unit.
“I research how, for example, gene therapy or cell therapy could be used in new drug development, particularly in therapies for cancer and rare central nervous system diseases.”
