@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Huge congratulations to the entire ORIC Pharmaceuticals Inc. team and for the sake of patients in many cancers with unmet needs, let´s hope that the highly promising preclinical results will be recapitulated in the results of the upcoming clinical trials. I´ll toast to that 🥂 000
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 05/10/2026The key discoveries for its critical role as cancer driver under DNA damage and in BRCA mutant cancers was led by Anni Laine Srikar Nagelli, PhD and immediately followed by many other labs. It all culminates now on this entry to the clinical phase behind which is again Melissa Junttila. 100
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 05/10/2026This is huge! First #CIP2A inhibitor entering clinical trials!! Behind this news is 20 years of research starting from the original discovery by Melissa R Junttila and Pietri Puustinen and followed by 400 papers across different cancer types and laboratories. www.globenewswire.com/news-release...globenewswire.comORIC® Pharmaceuticals Announces Agreement with Cancer Research UK to Advance a Potential First-in-Class CIP2A-Targeted Therapy Into Clinical DevelopmentORIC-259 is a potential first-in-class small molecule mRNA degrader targeting CIP2A, a previously undruggable target Cancer Research UK to fully fund,... 131
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 20/09/2026lnkd.in/p/dJcrE9Y5lnkd.inWestermarcklab goes to Tartu. Last week the majority of the research group spend 4 days in Tartu, Estonia, for a lab retreat. The days were filled with companionship, open communication about us and… ...Westermarcklab goes to Tartu. Last week the majority of the research group spend 4 days in Tartu, Estonia, for a lab retreat. The days were filled with companionship, open communication about us and o... 000
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 07/09/2026this begs a question that as FTY720 (Fingolimod) is a known pharmacological activator of #PP2A phosphatase, is this the actual mechanism by which it treats autoimmune diseases? 000
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 07/09/2026A cool collaboration study with @lahesmaalab.bsky.social demonstartes that PP2A activation by CIP2A inhibition alleviates autoimmune disease progression. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...biorxiv.orgGenetic Disruption at the CIP2A Locus Modulates T Cell Responses and Attenuates Experimental Autoimmune EncephalomyelitisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) driven by pathogenic T cell-mediated inflammation. Fingolimod (FTY720), an approved therapy for MS, is an es... 110
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Summerish lunch get-together with old and new @westermarcklab.bsky.social lab members celebrating the recent and yet-to-be announced successes. Thanks everybody. 000
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 12/05/2026We have a PhD student position open focusing on yet mysterious isoform of CIP2A NOCIVA that is clinically very relevant in AML, but whether this is true in breast cancer, and how, this is the question? ats.talentadore.com/apply/vaitos...ats.talentadore.comDoctoral researcher position at Westermarck laboratory, Turku FinlandA doctoral researcher position (PhD student) is available in the laboratory of Professor Jukka Westermarck at the Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland (https://bioscience.fi/re... 011
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 30/04/2026Today was a day for celebrations and farewells. Toasting for Jane and Aatos Erkko foundation grant and saying farewells to long term postdoc Oxana. New beginnings for both the group and her. Check out the fancy poster pillow as a farewell present by Tiina! 000
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 18/01/2026Skiteam #CIP2A demonstrated admirable attitude and performance on yesterday´s training session. Some of the bravest with training background from the past years already approached the 3 km track with up and downhills. #lifeinfinland @westermarcklab.bsky.social #lifeoutsidethelab 120
Reposted by @WestermarcklabEACR - European Association for Cancer Research @helloeacr.bsky.social · 07/01/2026Registration is now OPEN for the cancer research community to join us for the #EACR2026 Congress! 🥳 Don't miss the opportunity to take advantage of our discounted early registration rate to attend, available until 21 April. 2026.eacr.org 036
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 18/12/2025Santa Claus paid a surprise visit to our last lab development meeting and brought nice @westermarcklab.bsky.social mugs as a gift to everyone, also to the naughty boy. With these images we wish everyone happy holidays and merry Christmas. 120
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 16/12/2025We have a group leader position open surrounded by fantastic core facilities and great science @turkubioscience.bsky.social. 020
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 05/12/2025Farewell to @muksha.bsky.social. a proud recipient of the first @westermarcklab mug. Huge thanks for all your contributions and best of luck on your new adventures @mdanderson.bsky.social 040
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 20/11/2025Great fun yesterday celebrating the recent Tillandz prize with the lab and collaborators. Also remotely joining the man of the hour, Majid Momeny aka the first author of the paper. 030
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 31/10/2025@srikarnagelli.bsky.social back on the crime scene. Always good to have alumni visiting the lab and sharing their new knowledge 010
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 27/10/2025Congrats @shrutibhardiya.bsky.social @westermarcklab.bsky.social for winning the best poster prize at 7th @fibtra.bsky.social annual Brain Tumor meeting. Excellent meeting, thanks to all organisers 💪 021
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 24/10/2025Very exciting talk by Alberto Ballestin on acute impact of surgery on glioblastoma tissue @fibtra.bsky.social annual symposium in Turku. 021
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 15/10/20252/2 These results potentially facilitate development of CIP2A inhibitor molecules for therapies in #BRCA mutant cancers, other CIP2A-dependent cancers and in #Alzheimer disease. Very exciting collaboration with groups of Olli Pentikäinen and Ulla Pentikäinen and led by Karolina Pavic. 000
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 15/10/2025#CIP2A has a druggable pocket. I am thrilled to announce that the last of my #CIP2A bucket list items, established 2007 has finally been accomplished. The work now out in BioRxiv reports a small molecule druggable pocket on CIP2A 1/2 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...biorxiv.orgModulation of CIP2A dimerization and protein stability via druggable pocketCancerous inhibitor of PP2A (CIP2A) supports malignant growth across several cancer types. CIP2A is also a synthetic lethal therapy target for BRCA-mutant cancers. In addition, CIP2A causes Alzheimer'... 120
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 14/10/2025Have you heard of #CIP2A, a hot new kid on the block of genome integrity and DNA repair? Funny enough, most of these papers hardly mention CIP2A as PP2A inhibitor covered by about 400 papers. This is really exciting developments for sure, an eventually these oncogenic arms of CIP2A will merge. 030
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 12/09/2025#careergoals after all these years I was finally rewarded by a whiteboard in my office.😁 Had to start using it immediately. 030
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 28/08/2025Elias Tillandz Prize awarded at the BioCity Symposium to scientific publications on breast cancer recurrence and cancer gene overactivation www.utu.fi/en/news/pres...utu.fiElias Tillandz Prize awarded at the BioCity Symposium to scientific publications on breast cancer recurrence and cancer gene overactivationThe Elias Tillandz prize for the best scientific publication of 2024 was presented for two groundbreaking cancer studies. 042
Reposted by @WestermarcklabEMBO Molecular Medicine @embomolmed.org · 11/08/2025August issue now online! ➡️ www.embopress.org/toc/17574684... The cover highlights the study by X Qiao, J Routila, J Westermarck, S Ventelä & al @westermarcklab.bsky.social showing that LIMA1 detection can be used for #HNSCC patients stratification Scientific image by M. Peltola, Thestra Oy, Turkuembopress.orgEMBO Molecular Medicine: Vol 17, No 8EMBO Press is an editorially independent publishing platform for the development of EMBO scientific publications. 021
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 11/08/2025The beautiful image was taken by senior scientist Mari Peltola as part of Thestra´s R&D process to introduce the EPLINEx (the trade name for proprietary LIMA1 assay) IHC assay for clinical #HNSCC diagnostics. Stay tuned: thestra.fithestra.fiCancer diagnostics company | ThestraWe are a cancer diagnostics company which translates high quality academic research results to patient specific companion diagnostics and therapy stratification solutions. 010
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 11/08/2025We are on the cover! Or what is in the cover is way more important than we, it's evidence that simple IHC assay could be used for recognising #HNSCC patients based on their outcome after surgery-only therapy. The actual cover and the article can be found here: www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.... 161
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 23/07/2025The results are currently to be turned to a routine IHC diagnostic assay by our Start-up company Thestra Ltd. and we aim to bring the assay to clinical use by 2026. Stay tuned! thestra.fi/scientific-b...thestra.fiScientific background of Thestra´s EPLINEx™ method in HNSCC diagnosis reported in EMBO Molecular Medicine | ThestraScientific background of Thestra´s EPLINEx™ method is reported in EMBO Molecular Medicine, a leading medical journal. The findings were validated across all Finnish university hospitals on the use of... 000
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 23/07/2025Based on two prospective cohorts, none of the LIMA1-alpha negative HNSCC patients with non-metastatic disease upon diagnosis died during the follow-up. 100
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 23/07/2025Particularly proud of this collaboration with Sami Ventela and all Finnish #HNSCC clinics revealing LIMA1-alpha as translatable biomarker for selection of HNSCC patients for surgery-only therapies. www.utu.fi/en/news/pres... www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....utu.fiNew diagnostic breakthrough predicts which head and neck cancer patients can be cured with surgery aloneResearchers developed a diagnostic test based on the LIMA1-alpha protein to distinguish patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who can be cured with surgery alone, without the need for 131
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 22/07/2025 Very nice bioinformatics analysis of the role of #CIP2A in ovarian cancer by @karteris.bsky.social rdcu.be/exid3rdcu.beEmerging roles of the cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) in ovarian cancerScientific Reports - Emerging roles of the cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) in ovarian cancer 030
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 26/06/2025Ps. Some PIs can brag about their 1 million € sequencers, I only got a 100€ sticker printer😅 010
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 26/06/2025Lab cleaning day is one of the important @westermarcklab.bsky.social traditions. This year the after-cleaning pizzas were enjoyed in sunny Kupittaa park. Thanks Tiina for organization and everyone for your efforts 230
Reposted by @WestermarcklabJohanna Joyce @johannajoyce.bsky.social · 23/06/2025Are you looking to start your #lab in a fantastic scientific 🧪environment, with great colleagues, and in a spectacular place to live? Then check out our open #junior #faculty position at the Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland: www.unil.ch/dof/en/home/... ⏰ Deadline 27 June 39150
Reposted by @WestermarcklabEACR - European Association for Cancer Research @helloeacr.bsky.social · 23/06/2025We’ve just marked a major milestone - our community of cancer researchers now numbers 14 000 members, working across 117 countries worldwide 🎉 Thank you to you, our members, for your ongoing support and commitment to advancing cancer research. Your passion and dedication inspire everything we do. 0184
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 18/06/2025Fantastic EACR @helloeacr.bsky.social annual congress in Lisbon. Great talks Great atmosphere Great to meet all old and new friends 011
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 03/06/2025Lukijoilta | Tohtorintutkinto tulisi ottaa OKM:n ylimmän johdon pätevyysvaatimukseksi www.ts.fi/lukijoilta/6...ts.fiLukijoilta | Tohtorintutkinto tulisi ottaa OKM:n ylimmän johdon pätevyysvaatimukseksiOKM:n kansliapäällikön pätevyysvaatimusten korottaminen siten, että tiedepolitiikkaamme johdettaisiin vähintäänkin tohtoritutkinnon antaman tutkimuskokemuksen tuella, olisi mielipidekirjoittajien muka... 100
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 02/06/2025Absolutely catapulting quadrable WEKK (Westermarck, Elenius, Kurppa, Kauko) retreat @Villa Wolax. Fantastic science, discussions, sauna, food, wine, colleagues @turkubioscience.bsky.social @medicity.bsky.social 053
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 23/05/2025Stunning work! Huge Congrats @kusterlab.bsky.social 000
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 21/05/2025Want to relocate to Finland as a professor in the fields of basic, clinical, or translational medicine. An exciting funding opportunity. Please be on contact if I can be of any help. www.sigridjuselius.fi/en/apurahat/...sigridjuselius.fiProfessorship (5 years) - Sigrid Jusélius FoundationWith the overall aim of supporting Finnish medical research to combat diseases that are devastating to humankind, the Sigrid Jusélius […] 000
Reposted by @WestermarcklabEACR - European Association for Cancer Research @helloeacr.bsky.social · 20/05/2025Early-stage, curiosity-driven cancer research is the cornerstone of future medical breakthroughs. Let's #KeepResearchCurious ✨ 064
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 20/05/2025Thanks Guillaume for your very valuable contribution. 010
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 18/05/2025The work involves very important contributions from several collaborating laboratories of Saverio Minucci, Andrea Mattevi, Matti Nykter, guillaume Jacquemet, Otto Kauko, Tiziana Bonaldi and others. You can also listen the main conclusions: sciencecast.org/casts/51duqt...sciencecast.orgScience CastIncrease your recognition in the scientific world with short video-casts 000
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 18/05/2025The results both solve the longstanding enigma how LSD1 can function in gene activation in non-hormonal cancers but more generally demonstratehow a single phosphorylation site in a non-histone protein can control epigenetic landscape and thereby shape even tumour immune microenvironment. 100
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 18/05/2025 New preprint from us. The study led by Mukund Sharma demonstrates how #PP2A mediated dephosphorylation of serine 166 of LSD1 functions as a phosphorylation switch between gene repression and activation by LSD1 and how this shapes tumor microenvironment. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 142
@Westermarcklab @westermarcklab.bsky.social · 16/05/2025Very exciting program for the next year @helloeacr.bsky.social "Signaling Circuits in Cancer" virtual meeting just published. Scientific programme | Signalling Circuits in Cancer | The European Association for Cancer Research url:https://eacr.org/conference/signallingcircuits2026/sc 010