Senior Research Officer

Cellular & Molecular Neurodegeneration

+61 7 3362 0375

lotta.oikari@qimrberghofer.edu.au

CAREER HISTORY

Dr Lotta Oikari obtained her BSc and MSc degrees at University of Turku, Finland after which she moved to Australia to undertake PhD studies. She completed her PhD at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2017 specialising in human neural stem cell models. Following her PhD studies, Dr Oikari started as a post-doctoral researcher in Associate Professor Anthony White’s Cellular and Molecular Neurodegeneration group at QIMR Berghofer where her research focuses on using patient-derived pluripotent stem cells to study neurodegenerative diseases. She has used these cell models to identify Alzheimer’s disease-related changes in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as well as demonstrated focused ultrasound-mediated therapeutic antibody delivery across the BBB in vitro.

CURRENT APPOINTMENTS

• 2023 – current: Senior Research Officer, Cellular and Molecular Neurodegeneration Laboratory

PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS

• 2016 – 2022: Research Officer, Cellular and Molecular Neurodegeneration Laboratory
• 2013 – 2016: PhD Student, Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
• 2014 : IHBI Postgraduate Student Committee and Postgraduate Student Conference Organising Committee Representative, Brisbane, Australia
• 2011: Intern, Genomics Research Centre, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
• 2010 – 2012: Trainee, Molecular Systems Immunology, Turku Centre for Biotechnology, Finland

ORCID NUMBER

0000-0001-7821-8622

RESEARCHER ID

AAZ-2508-2020

CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH

Dr Oikari is a human stem cell researcher and her work specifically focuses on using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to model neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, ALS and childhood dementia. Her work currently focuses on developing 3D models of the neurovascular unit (blood-brain barrier and brain cells) to identify disease-specific changes and model drug delivery. Her key expertise and skillsets include hiPSC expansion and differentiation (to neural cell types and brain endothelial cells), the use of 3D culture platforms (including hydrogel-based and microfluidic platforms), co-culture models of stem cell-derived neural cells, molecular biology techniques, microscopy and studying the effects of focused ultrasound on drug delivery in cellular models.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Identified key differences between healthy and familial Alzheimer’s patient-derived brain endothelial cells, including tight junction protein and efflux transporter expression and function highlighting disease-specific effects on the blood-brain barrier
• Identified differences between healthy and sporadic Alzheimer’s risk brain endothelial cells and astrocytes in focused ultrasound response
• Demonstrated the ability to use focused ultrasound as a means for therapeutic antibody delivery and amyloid clearance in blood-brain barrier in vitro models of Alzheimer’s disease
• Demonstrated the safety of focused ultrasound treatment at a cellular level in patient-derived brain endothelial cells and astrocytes

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• 2021 – current: Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR), Member
• 2020 – current: Member of the Mental Health and Neuroscience Education Committee, QIMR Berghofer
• 2017 – current: Brain foundation, Member
• 2016 – Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR), Queensland Branch, Co-Chair Postgraduate Student Conference Organising Committee
• 2015 – Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR), Queensland Branch, Postgraduate Student Conference Organising Committee Representative
• 2014 – 2016 Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR), Member

AWARDS RECOGNITION

• 2016: People’s Choice for Best Oral Presentation, ASMR Postgraduate Student Conference
• 2015: People’s Choice for Best Oral Presentation, IHBI Inspires Postgraduate Student Conference
• 2013: Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology Travel Bursary
• 2013: QUT Higher Degree Research Tuition Fee Scholarship
• 2013: QUT Postgraduate Student Award

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• 2017: PhD, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
• 2012: MSc, University of Turku, Finland
• 2011: BSc, University of Turku, Finland