Education:
- MSc Bioorganic chemistry (1983) University of Tartu, Estonia
- PhD Biochemistry (1987) Institute of Chemistry, Tallinn, Estonia
- PhD Medicinal and physiological chemistry (1996) University of Uppsala, Sweden
- Postdoctoral studies University of Tokyo, Japan (1990-1992), Uppsala University, Sweden (1992-1996), Karolinska Institutet, Sweden (1997-2000);
Societies:
- International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN): Council member (2019 -), chairman of the Advanced School Committee, member of Career Development Committee; member of Travel Grant Committee;
- European Society for Neurochemistry (ESN): Council member (2009 – 2021), treasurer (2013-2017), president (2017-2019)
- Council member of the Estonian Society for Biochemistry (2012 – ) and the Estonian Society for Chemistry (2016 – )
Meeting organization:
During the last 10 years, I have been a member of a program or organizing committee of 14 different international scientific conferences. Among them the chairman of the ESN 21st Biennial Conference: Molecular Mechanisms of Regulation in the Nervous System, June 14-17 2015, Tartu, Estonia and chairman of the ISN Advanced School, August 3-7, 2023 Caminha Portugal.
Research Interest:
Biochemistry of neural signal transduction. Studies on the regulation of ligand binding to G protein-coupled receptors. Development of novel fluorescent methods and tools for the characterization of dynamics of biomolecular interactions involved in different steps of signal transduction. Development and implementation of biosensing systems applicable in different cell systems to study neuronal signal transduction.
My research activity is documented in 125 scientific papers, more than 180 communications at scientific meetings and 17 supervised PhD theses.
My vision for ISN:
Widening ISN as a global scientific organization. Focusing on the involvement of the younger generation, and representatives of smaller countries and extending representation of the chemical side of neuroscience.