The group led by Carina Wallgren-Petterson, in the Departments of Medical Genetics, performs research to elucidate the clinical picture, molecular causes and pathogenetic mechanisms of hereditary disorders of the muscle sarcomere, especially nemaline myopathy.

The group is working towards practically-applicable diagnostic methods based on mutation detection and studies of protein expression. Together with the groups of Prof Olli Carpén at the Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Dr Bjarne Udd at the Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, and Dr Katarina Pelin at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, the research group has formed the Finnish Consortium for Neuromuscular Disorders. The group is involved in multidisciplinary international collaboration on nemaline myopathy within the ENMC International Consortium on Nemaline Myopathy, coordinated by Dr. Wallgren-Pettersson and Prof. Nigel G. Laing from Perth, Australia.

The international database on nemaline myopathy is based in Helsinki. Another research interest within the group is myotubular (centronuclear) myopathy.

Website

http://www.helsinki.fi/english

 

Carina Wallgren-Pettersson (MD), has studied nemaline myopathy since 1984 and published original articles, book chapters and recommendations for the care of patients with this disorder. Together with Professor Nigel G Laing in Perth, Australia, she has initiated the formation of the ENMC International Consortium on Nemaline Myopathy, whose research activities they co-ordinate together. Similarly, she has worked on another congenital myopathy, myotubular myopathy and co-ordinated the activities of the ENMC International Consortium on Myotubular Myopathy from 1993 to 2000. Under the auspices of the ENMC, she has organised a total of 12 international workshops on congenital muscle disorders.