The lead research areas

Dean's Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+ 372 737 5341

Faculty email:
hv.dekanaat [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Jakobi 2, rooms 116–121, 51005 Tartu
Institute of History and Archaeology

Faculty link:
www.flaj.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5651

Faculty address:
Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu
Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics

Faculty link:
keel.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5221

Faculty email:
keeleteadus [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu
Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics

Faculty link:
www.flfi.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5314

Faculty email:
filosoofia.semiootika [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Jakobi 2, rooms 309–352, 51005 Tartu
Institute of Cultural Research

Faculty link:
www.flku.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
(+372) 737 5223

Faculty email:
kultuuriteadused [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 16, 51003 Tartu
School of Theology and Religious Studies

Faculty link:
us.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5301

Faculty email:
us [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18–310, 50090 Tartu
College of Foreign Languages and Cultures

Faculty link:
maailmakeeled.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty email:
keeled [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Lossi 3, 51003 Tartu
Viljandi Culture Academy

Faculty link:
kultuur.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 435 5232

Faculty email:
kultuur [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Posti 1, 71004 Viljandi

Dean's Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+ 372 737 5900

Faculty email:
sotsiaalteadused [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu
Institute of Education

Faculty link:
www.ht.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 6440

Faculty email:
haridus [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Salme 1a–29, 50103 Tartu
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies

Faculty link:
skytte.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5582

Faculty email:
skytte [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Lossi 36–301, 51003 Tartu
School of Economics and Business Administration

Faculty link:
majandus.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 6310

Faculty email:
majandus [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
J. Liivi 4, 50409 Tartu
Institute of Psychology

Faculty link:
psychology.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5902

Faculty email:
psyhholoogia [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Näituse 2, 50409 Tartu
School of Law

Faculty link:
law.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5390

Faculty email:
oi [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Näituse 20–324, 50409 Tartu
Institute of Social Studies

Faculty link:
yti.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5188

Faculty email:
yhiskonnateadused [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu
Narva College

Faculty link:
www.narva.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 740 1900

Faculty email:
college [at] narva.ut.ee

Faculty address:
Raekoja plats 2, 20307 Narva
Pärnu College

Faculty link:
www.pc.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 445 0520

Faculty email:
info [at] pc.ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ringi 35, 80012 Pärnu

Dean's Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5326

Faculty email:
med [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine

Faculty link:
biomeditsiin.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 4210

Faculty email:
bsmi [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Biomeedikum, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
Institute of Pharmacy

Faculty link:
farmaatsia.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5286

Faculty email:
pharmacy [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu
Institute of Dentistry

Faculty link:
hambaarstiteadus.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 731 9856

Faculty address:
Raekoja plats 6, 51003 Tartu
Institute of Clinical Medicine

Faculty link:
clinicalmedicine.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5323

Faculty email:
kmi [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
L. Puusepa 8, 50406 Tartu
Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health

Faculty link:
tervis.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 4190

Faculty email:
dph [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy

Faculty link:
www.kk.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5360

Faculty email:
kkdek [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Jakobi 5–205, 51005 Tartu

Dean's Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5820

Faculty email:
ltt [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Vanemuise 46–208, 51005 Tartu
Institute of Computer Science

Faculty link:
cs.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5445

Faculty email:
ics [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
J. Liivi 2, 50409 Tartu
Estonian Marine Institute

Faculty link:
mereinstituut.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 671 8902

Faculty address:
Mäealuse 14, 12618 Tallinn
Institute of Physics

Faculty link:
www.fi.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty address:
W. Ostwaldi 1, 50411 Tartu
Institute of Chemistry

Faculty link:
chem.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5261

Faculty email:
chemistry [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu
Institute of Mathematics and Statistics

Faculty link:
www.math.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5860

Faculty email:
ltms [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
J. Liivi 2, 50409 Tartu
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology

Faculty link:
tymri.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5011

Faculty address:
Riia 23, 23b–134, 51010 Tartu
Tartu Observatory

Faculty link:
www.kosmos.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 4510

Faculty email:
kosmos [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Observatooriumi 1, Tõravere, 61602 Tartumaa
Institute of Technology

Faculty link:
tuit.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 4800

Faculty email:
info [at] tuit.ut.ee

Faculty address:
Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu
Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences

Faculty link:
www.omi.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5835

Faculty email:
om [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Vanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu

Institutions

Library

Faculty link:
utlib.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5702

Faculty email:
library [at] utlib.ee

Faculty address:
W. Struve 1, 50091 Tartu
Youth Academy

Faculty link:
teaduskool.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5581

Faculty email:
teaduskool [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Uppsala 10, 51003 Tartu
Institute of Genomics

Faculty link:
genomics.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 4000

Faculty email:
egv [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Riia 23b, 51010 Tartu
Museum

Faculty link:
muuseum.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5674

Faculty email:
muuseum [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Lossi 25, 51003 Tartu
University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden

Faculty link:
natmuseum.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
https://www.ut.ee/en/kontakt/loodusmuuseum-botaanikaaed-0

Faculty phone:
+372 737 6076

Faculty email:
loodusmuuseum [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Vanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu

Support Units

Administrative Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5606

Faculty email:
kantselei [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 6339

Faculty address:
Lossi 3, III floor, 51003 Tartu
University Office in Tallinn

Faculty link:
University Office in Tallinn

Faculty contacts link:
Employeescontacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 6600

Faculty email:
esindus [at] tallinn.ut.ee

Faculty address:
Teatri väljak 3, 10143 Tallinn
Estates Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5137

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
Finance Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5125

Faculty email:
rahandus [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Jakobi 4, 51005 Tartu
Grant Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 6215

Faculty address:
Lossi 3, III floor, 51003 Tartu
Information Technology Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 6000, IT-help: +372 737 5500

Faculty email:
itk [at] ut.ee, arvutiabi [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
Human Resources Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5145

Faculty email:
personal [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18, rooms 302 and 304, 50090 Tartu
Internal Audit Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty email:
siseaudit [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 17–103, 51005 Tartu
Marketing and Communication Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5687

Faculty email:
info [at] ut.ee, avalik [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18, rooms 102, 104, 209, 210, 50090 Tartu
Office of Academic Affairs

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5620

Faculty email:
study [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu
Procurement Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 6632

Faculty email:
tuuli.ilula [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
Rector's Office
Rector's Strategy Office

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5600

Faculty email:
rektor [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu
Student Council

Faculty link:
tyye.ut.ee

Faculty contacts link:
Employee contacts

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5400

Faculty email:
info [at] tyye.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18b, 51005 Tartu

University of Tartu Academic Sports Club

Faculty link:
sport.ut.ee

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5371

Faculty email:
info [at] tysk.ee

Faculty address:
Ujula 4, 51008 Tartu
Tartu Student Village

Faculty link:
campus.ee

Faculty phone:
+372 740 9959

Faculty email:
info [at] kyla.ee

Faculty address:
Narva mnt 25, 51013 Tartu
Tartu Students’ Club

Faculty link:
www.tym.ee

Faculty phone:
+372 730 2400

Faculty email:
tym [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Kalevi 24, 51010 Tartu
University of Tartu Press

Faculty link:
www.tyk.ee

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5945

Faculty email:
tyk [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
W. Struve 1, 50091 Tartu
Tartu University Hospital

Faculty link:
www.kliinikum.ee/eng

Faculty email:
kliinikum [at] kliinikum.ee

Faculty address:
L. Puusepa 1a, 50406 Tartu
University of Tartu Foundation

Faculty link:
sihtasutus.ut.ee/en

Faculty phone:
+372 737 5852

Faculty email:
triin.vakker [at] ut.ee

Faculty address:
Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu
View all other units

Faculty link:
www.ut.ee/en/other-units

As of 1st of March 2019 the academic staff of the Institute of Clinical Medicine is leading 27 different scientific projects. The research is in tight connection with the research of other institutes of the Faculty of Medicine, especially the Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine.

Here you may find the lead research areas of the Institute of Clinical Medicine.

Clinical Research Centre

Project's name: Development of the clinical research unit

The list of Estonian Research Infrastructures Roadmap includes the National Centre for Translational and Clinical Research (CTM). The goal of the CTM for this period is to develope a clinical research unit. In connection with that, the partners of the project (University of Tartu, Estonian University of Life Sciences and Tartu University Hospital) are developing the Clinical Research Centre. The project is supported by the European Union, European Regional Development Fund.

Period: 2017-2020
Contact: Katrin Kaarna Katrin.Kaarna [ät] ut.ee

Anestesiology and intensive care

Project's name: The effect of milrinone on central and regional blood flow in preterm neonates undergoing patent ductus arteriosus ligation

Administration of milrinone to premature neonates after patent arterial duct (PDA) ligation prevents postoperative cardiorespiratory instability (post ligation cardiac syndrome). The pharmacokinetics (PK) of milrinone is not known in this particular population. The aim of our study is to describe the PK and pharmacodynamics (PD) of milrinone in preterm neonates after PDA ligation. The study will include 20 to 30 neonates aged up to 90 days, requiring PDA ligation. Patients with cardiac output less than 200 ml/kg/min evaluated 1 hour after operation will be treated with milrinone for 24. To describe the haemodynamic effect of milrinone arterial blood pressure, heart rate, peripheral arterial oxygen saturation, cardiac output, myocardial contractility and diastolic function, cerebral regional oxygen saturation and skin microcirculation is measured. Based on the results the PK and PD of milrinone in preterm neonates will be described and optimal dosing regimen recommended. Read more.

Period: 2016-2019
Contact: Associate Professor Tuuli Metsvaht Tuuli.Metsvaht [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Effect of Allopurinol in addition to hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury on Neurocognitive

This project aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of allopurinol administered immediately after birth to near-term infants with HIE in addition to hypothermic treatment. Beyond this primary objective, the project will provide information on the effect of ypothermia on pharmacokinetics of drugs with a similar metabolism as allopurinol in neonates. Furthermore it will give the opportunity to further develop and validate biomarkers for neonatal brain injury using advanced magnetic resonance imaging, biochemistry, and electroencephalogramms, which will then be available for future studies testing neuroprotective interventions. Finally, this trial will extend our knowledge about incidence of and risk factors for perinatal asphyxia and HIE possibly enabling generation of more preventive strategies for the future. Read more.

Period: 2016-2020
Contact: Associate Professor Tuuli Metsvaht Tuuli.Metsvaht [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Humanins – new therapeutic possibilities in cardiovascular pathology and disease

Atherosclerosis remains important burden for healthcare accounting for about 30% of global mortality. Humanins belong to a family of polypeptides with possible cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic properties. Being initially described in Alzheimer disease, evidence suggests their possible involvement in atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease. Despite promising preliminary observations, the role of humanins in pathology of cardiovascular diseases is still poorly understood. The program aims at to fulfil this gap of knowledge. Specifically, the genotype-phenotype associations of humanins in cardiovascular disease and their importance in ischemia-reperfusion injury and myocardial protection will be explored. The program represents translational research combining clinical medicine (cardiac surgery) with basic science (physiology, molecular biology, and genetics), thus resulting in important innovation in healthcare. Read more.

Period: 2016-2019
Contact: Professor Joel Starkopf Joel.Starkopf [ät] ut.ee

Dermatology

Project's name: The creation of chronic inflammatory dermatoses’ disease models, their genetic and metabolomic profiling for the assessment of treatment effectiveness

The project will focus on two of the most common chronic inflammatory dermatoses (CISD) such as psoriasis (Ps) and atopic dermatitis (AD). Ps and AD are the lifelong conditions. So far, the underlying mechanisms of Ps and AD are still unclear and no useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers exist based on clinical type, course and severity of disease. In addition, there are no good biomarkers to monitor the effect of treatment. The aim of the project is to create in vitro disease models for CISD i.e. Ps and AD and to apply the established models for the investigation on the pathogenesis of the diseases and the assessment of the effectiveness of biological treatment using genetic and metabolomic profiling methods. Additionally our aim is to test whether biomarkers captured from the skin of patients using FibroTx Transdermal Application Patches (TAP) correlate qualitatively and/or quantitatively with clinical scores for Ps and AD intensity as well as response to therapy. Read more.

Period: 2017-2020
Contact: Professor Külli Kingo Kylli.Kingo [ät] ut.ee

Cardiology

Project's name: Functional, metabolomics and genetic profiling of the arterial atherosclerosis. Scientific elaboration of novel risk assessment algorithms to the clinical practice

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are the leading cause of death in the world, as well as in Estonia. The main objectives of the present project is to improve the CV risk prediction by integration of metabolomic and genetic profile with novel arterial functional and structural parameters, and scientific elaboration of novel integrated evidence-based strategies to the clinical practice. The importance of understanding the mechanisms and developing new risk scores of CV disease is a new promising area in translational medicine and the key point of the present project. The current project is closely linked to our previous projects where we started for the first time in Estonia the biochemical and functional assessment of arterial damage in different disease models, created the specialised Endothelial Research Centre, the Estonian Myocardial Infarction Registry, and a cohort of CV risk assessment of athletes to target prevention measures and translate basic research to the clinical practice. Read more.

Period: 2019-2023
Contact: Professor Jaan Eha Jaan.Eha [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Remote ischaemic preconditioning: from metabolomic phenotyping to clinical applications

Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a novel, easily performable, non-invasive, and inexpensive method with high applicability in several clinical scenarios. However, the mechanism by which RIPC could attenuate end-organ damage has remained poorly understood. No data is available about the metabolomic and arterial phenotypes of RIPC, or about its clinical benefits for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). As arterial impairment with systemic changes in metabolomical markers is a key point for cardiovascular complications, we hypothesised that RIPC-mediated improvement in these parameters would serve as a preclinical basis for clinical efficiency. Within this project of translational medicine we plan to carry out for the first time: 1) metabolomic and arterial functional phenotyping of RIPC; and 2) testing of the hypothesis that targeted improvement in the metabolomic and arterial functional phenotypes is responsible for clinical benefits of RIPC in patients with PAD. Read more.

Period: 2016-2019
Contact: Associate Professor Jaak Kals Jaak.Kals [ät] ut.ee

Surgery

Project's name: Metabolomic profiling of abdominal aortic aneurysm and extracranial carotid artery disease

Period: 2015-2019
Contact: Associate Professor Jaak Kals Jaak.Kals [ät] ut.ee

Clinical genetics

Project's name: The diagnostics and prevalence of rare congenital myopathies and neurometabolic disorders.

A disease is defined as rare when it affects less than 1 in 2000 and about 80% of them are genetic diseases. A diagnostic test is available only for more than 3000 rare diseases and majority of them lack a specific test. A multi-omics approach and international collaborations are needed for increasing their diagnostic efficacy. Firstly, we focus on the identification of new rare muscular and neurometabolic disorders using combined genomic, transcriptomic, histopathological and metabolomics approaches. Secondly, we correlate the clinical phenotype, muscle morphotype and genotype of patients with congenital and mitochondrial myopathies. Based on these data we evaluate the diagnostic and economic effectiveness of different diagnostic approaches for these disorders: traditional diagnostics and modern diagnostics pipeline. Thirdly, we estimate the prevalence of rare genetic diseases, mainly treatable disorders, with the aim to propose measures how to improve the detection rate. Read more.

Period: 2019-2023
Contact: Professor Katrin Õunap Katrin.Ounap [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Near-coding DNA variations as the causal factors for rare genetic disorders

Rare disorders are defined by population prevalence of 1 in 2000 or less, but as there are thousands of rare disorders, mostly genetic in origin, they collectively affect 6-8% of population. The majority of disease causing mutations are discovered in protein-coding DNA regions (i.e. exome), but current exome approaches have a diagnosis rate of just about 30%. This mainly computational project aims at exploring and characterizing human genetic variation in the untranslated regions that flank coding regions of genes and their possible contribution to rare disease. Large patient cohorts in whom genomic sequencing has been performed are analysed for near-coding DNA variants, which are often left out from initial analysis due to challenging interpretation. The aim is to increase diagnostic rates of sequencing studies and detect novel genetic disorders as well as disease mechanisms. Read more.

Period: 2019-2020
Contact: Senior Research Fellow Sander Pajusalu Sander.Pajusalu [ät] ut.ee

Pulmonology

Project's name: Rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis with concomitant detection of resistance

Tuberculosis (TB) should be curable with anti-TB medicines. With the rise of MDR-TB cases and the delay in diagnosis the world still faces TB as a deadly threat. A timely diagnosis with the correct treatment is the prerequisite for a successful cure of all forms of TB. WHO has emphasized the need for new, inexpensive and rapid techniques to lessen the TB burden worldwide. The Colour Test is an in-house diagnostic method that can simultaneously detect MTBC and resistances to anti-tuberculous drugs. It requires basic microbiological techniques that can be found in any diagnostic laboratory. We will implement this novel and affordable technique into routine settings to detect pulmonary TB. This would be faster than the conventional methods and could improve treatment outcomes. The characterization of mutations causing resistance to unconventional second line drugs in TB strains would provide the basis for developing new molecular diagnostics for rapid drug susceptibility testing. Read more.

Period: 2017-2020
Contact: Professor Alan Altraja Alan.Altraja [ät] ut.ee

Pediatrics

Project's name: DIABIMMUNE follow-up study: the impact of first years of life on the development of type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease

We have shown that the incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes (T1D) and coeliac disease (CD) has increased significantly over the last decades in Estonia. DIABIMMUNE study was set out to assess the role of hygiene hypothesis in the development of T1D and CD in 3 countries. More than 2000 children have been studied in Tartu. We are now planning to study a cohort of this study again at the age of 9 years. We aim to study the impact of early childhood gut microbiome and early infections on the development of T1D and CD in subjects with HLA-conferred susceptibility to T1D. We also study the role of mid-childhood growth, vitamin D and GH-IGF axis on disease progression and compare the differences in the incidence of CD between Estonian and Finnish children paying special attention to early feeding and infections. Our results should reveal possible risk and protective factors from early childhood in the development of T1D and CD and reasons that may modify the progression of disease. Read more.

Period: 2017-2020
Contact: Professor Vallo Tillmann Vallo.Tillmann [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Orphanet Network

Rare diseases (RD) have been considered a challenge for Europe, for they have been identified as one of the paradigmatic fields in which actions conducted at the European level constitute the adequate response to their specific problems: poor recognition leading to diagnostic delay and inappropriate management including adapted social services, poor health outcomes, social burden, limited knowledge on natural history and pathophysiology leading to an insufficient development of new therapies. To provide the RD community with interoperability tools, in particular around an inventory of RD, to allow for semantic interoperability between countries and between domains (health, research) 2. To provide high-quality information on RD, in particular through an encyclopedia in several languages, 3. To provide a directory of expert services in order to help patients, physicians and stakeholders finding the expertise on a particular disease in Europe and beyond, and to produce data needed to support policy actions. 4. To further develop and sustain Orphanet as the reference knowledge base on RD, by establishing and consolidating collaboration within the Orphanet pan-European network and with European Reference Networks (ERNs) for the production, improvement and dissemination of knowledge on rare diseases. It will allow for the creation of a consistent expertise ecosystem for rare diseases in Europe. Read more.

Period: 2018-2020
Contact: Professor Vallo Tillmann Vallo.Tillmann [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: REsearch on Children and Adults born Preterm

The overall aim of this project is to improve the health, development and quality of life of children and adults born very preterm (VPT, < 32 weeks of gestation) or very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1500g birth weight) across the life. This aim will be achieved by integrating, harmonizing and exploiting the wealth of data from the major European cohorts of VPT/VLBW children and adults and their families constituted initially in the early 1980s, when medical advances enabled significant gains in survival for these children, up until the present. Novel methodologies and tools for data management will be developed to strengthen research on current and future VPT/VLBW cohorts. Read more.

Period: 2017-2021
Contact: Associate Professor Heili Varendi Heili.Varendi [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Drug resistant epilepsy in childhood: prevalence, stricture and etiology in Estonia

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disease in childhood. Approximately 30% of children with epilepsy develop drug resistant epilepsy (DRE). Epileptic activity itself may lead to regression of psychomotor development and contribute to severe cognitive and behavioral impairments leading to development of epileptic encephalopathies (EE). EE refer to disorder group where epileptic syndromes vary in their age of onset, developmental outcome, etiologies, neuropsychological deficits, electroencephalographic patterns, seizure types and prognosis. The aim of the study is to investigate incidence, prevalence, structure and aetiology of DRE in Estonia. The most important aim is to determine the underlying genetic or structural cause for DRE. Early etiological diagnosis can avoid unnecessary investigations. Also it may aid selection of the best treatment, provides accurate genetic information to the family, gives advice on the recurrence risk and allows for the option of prenatal testing. Read more.

Period: 2019-2022
Contact: Klari Noormets Klari.Noormets [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Expanding the profile of continuous glucose monitoring usage in clinical practise

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is coming an everyday clinical practice in patients with type one diabetes. However, there are several other clinical conditions such as patients receiving intensive care, newborns, patients receiving high doses of glycocorticosteroids (HDGC), where the data about the dynamics of blood glucose is important, but the experience on the CGM use is very low and clinical value is unclear. In the current study, we plan to recruit 2 study cohorts: newborns with an increased risk for hypoglycaemia (NIRH), and children receiving HDGC due to their disease. The primary goal of the study is to analyse the data coming from CGM and the use of obtained information in different clinical settings and in decision making processes. In newborns, we will use CGM to evaluate the efficiency of current routine treatment approach for neonatal hypoglycaemia. In patients treated with HDGC we will describe the dynamic changes in blood sugar levels after the start of treatment. Read more.

Period: 2019-2022
Contact: Aleksandr Peet Aleksandr.Peet [ät] ut.ee

Neurology and neurosurgery

Project's name: Retinal periphlebitis as a prognostic and subphenotype marker in multiple sclerosis

The concept of retinal periplebitis (RP) in multiple sclerosis (MS) has not been revisited in the context of recent developments in MS pathogenesis. In addition to cellular immune responses, B cell component is recognized in MS and may be more prevalent in some patients. Knowledge on mechanisms is relevant in making treatment choices that are currently lacking clinical clues. RP is easily and inexpensively detected at the back of the eye and may be a potential clinical marker for immunopathological subphenotype of MS. The project aims at studying RP as a marker of MS activity, type of immune responses involved, including a proposed B cell mechanism, and investigating possible associations of RP with MS systemic immune responses and with recently described MS leptomeningeal lesions. Additionally, it would be of interest to study RP as a prognostic marker in conversion of clinically and radiologically isolated syndromes (CIS and RIS respectively) into clinically definite MS. Read more.

Period: 2019-2022
Contact: Janek Vilisaar Janek.Vilisaar [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Biomarkers for diagnosis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases: Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by a selective loss of neurons: in substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease, and in motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Early diagnosis and prognosis on progression of these diseases is complex, as in clinical practice, selective and evidence based biomarkers are not yet available. This project aims to study clinical, radiological and laboratory biomarkers in patients who have been identified in epidemiologic studies on Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The objective scales will be used for clinical assessments; magnetic resonance imaging and sonography will be performed as imaging markers; and laboratory tests (growth factors, endoplasmatic reticulum stress signaling markers, transcriptomics) will be investigated in blood, skin and cerebrospinal fluid, with an aim to identify possible biomarkers or their combinations for early diagnosis and disease progression. Read more.

Period: 2016-2019
Contact: Professor Pille Taba Pille.Taba [ät] ut.ee

Personalized medicine, Genomics, Biobanks, Life sciences

Project's name: Clinical pilot projects of personalized medicine in the precise prevention of breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

We propose to carry out pilot projects with two types of diseases using the principles of personalised medicine. One project is the implementation of a model for personalised risk-based breast cancer screening, early detection and prevention. The study is aimed to demonstrate the usability of personalised approach for adjusting screening recommendations, based on predicted genetic and cumulative risk estimates for breast cancer including both the detection of moderate and high hereditary breast cancer risk carriers as well as high risk polygenic risk score carriers among healthy individuals. The other project is the implementation of a model for personalised PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES (CVD) AND MORTALITY. The project is aimed to demonstrate the usability of personalised approach for stratification, adjusting screening recommendations, based on predicted genetic and cumulative risk estimates for CVD among healthy individuals by risk factors calculation and genetic testing. Read more.

Period: 2018-2020
Contact: Associate Professor Peeter Padrik Peeter.Padrik [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: ERA Chair - Center for Genomics, Evolution and Medicine (cGEM)

The ERA Chair aims to apply advancements in genomic medicine in an evolutionarily-aware framework to account for different evolutionary pathways of populations which have led to differences in susceptibility to common diseases. This requires the knowledge about the genetic risk factors for diverse ethnic groups and the tools to highlight the underlying genetic predisposition to diseases in complex human populations. For this reason, we will bring together the scientific expertise in two institutions: the Institute of Genomics and the Institute of Clinical Medicine at the University of Tartu. The synergy between the two scientific hubs will create the research capacity for tackling the abovementioned aim. This capacity will be built to apply a holistic approach to understand the evolutionary driving forces that have led to common diseases; develop disease risk prediction models applicable in different populations, and explore the means for translating these findings into suitable input for everyday clinical practice. For these purposes we shall estimate the mutation rate across molecular pathways during the evolution, migration and mixing of the human populations, and study the roles of demographic history and local adaptation in the global patterns of mutation processes in humans exploring regional differences in the accumulation of mutations predisposing individuals to common complex diseases. The cGEM will utilize its international collaborations and in-house biobanks to advance the personalized medicine solutions for admixed populations for predicting risk of certain complex diseases, including metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. Read more.

Period: 2018-2023
Contact: Professor Andres Salumets Andres.Salumets [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Innovative anticancer drug candidates based on a novel cytotoxic compound, Utorubicin

The goal of the project is to develop innovative anticancer drug candidates based on a novel cytotoxic compound, Utorubicin. Utorubicin will be utilized as a novel warhead for affinity targeted moieties (antibodies, peptides) and nanoparticles. Read more.

Period: 2018-2019
Contact: Professor Andres Salumets Andres.Salumets [ät] ut.ee

Psychiatry

Project's name: Neurobiological, genetic and psychological markers of the treatment response in schizophrenia and mood disorders

The psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression and panic disorder, are the major health problems and are among the leading causes of disability and global disease burden due to young age of onset and chronicity. The individuals with psychiatric disorders have also an increased risks of morbidity and mortality compared with the general population, with a 13- to 30-year shorter life span due primarily to premature physical illness. While the antipsychotics and antidepressants are widely used drugs in the pharmacological management of psychiatric disorders, response to these medications varies substantially between patients. There is strong belief that the identification of pre-treatment markers of subsequent response to medication will help to uncover the biological mechanisms of clinical recovery and will be of great benefit in the development of personalized pharmacotherapy for psychiatric disorders. Read more.

Period: 2014-2019
Contact: Professor Eduard Maron Eduard.Maron [ät] ut.ee

Obstetrics and gynecology

Project's name: Basic and translational approaches for female reproductive medicine: continuum from oocyte maturation to delivery

Our research group focuses on basic and translational research of female reproductive medicine and biology, with the ultimate goal to advance infertility treatment as one of the major fields in reproductive medicine. The high prevalence of infertility makes it a notable health concern both at family and social level. We focus on the prevalence of infertility, the spectrum of factors influencing fertility and notably on the welfare of children. In addition, we provide novel knowledge on the predisposition and mechanisms contributing to the development of several infertility-associated diseases by focusing on critical stages of the female reproduction in a continuum from the maturation of the oocyte to the birth of a child. The single-cell genomics and stem-cell technologies developed facilitate the discovery of mechanisms underlying the different diseases and help to bring infertility diagnostics and treatment to a higher-quality level. Read more.

Period: 2015-2020
Contact: Professor Helle Karro Helle.Karro [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Innovative Training Network in Female Reproductive Care

The MATER consortium is a proposal for an innovative training network including academic and industry partners from seven European countries. The consortium plans basic and translational research in female fertility by improving the basic-science knowledge and the quality of care and safety in female reproductive medicine. The targeted delicate issues include infertility, miscarriages, the origin of newborn diseases, as well as devising novel ways to treat infertility, avoid miscarriages and implement genetic technologies to prevent birth of children with severe diseases. The consortium emphasises the continuum of reproductive processes starting from maturation of an oocyte to embryo development, which are vulnerable processes, and may lead to implantation failure, miscarriage, or even birth of a sick child. These studies are critical to the general population of women in childbearing age, and particularly to pregnant women. However, the largest impact is expected on women experiencing infertility, as a substantial part of the research aims at more reliable, safe and cost-effective tools for infertility treatment. These goals will be achieved via joint supervision of 12 doctoral students by five academic (University of Tartu, Estonia; Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; University of Helsinki and University of Oulu, Finland) and five industry (Blueprint Genetics, Finland; Igenomix, Spain; Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Estonia; Sismer, Italy and Invicta, Poland) partners. The partners show excellent and unique expertise in diverse fields of reproductive medicine, and form a strong, coherent, stimulating network ensuring boosting research excellence, effective training, clinical innovation and industrial impact, leading to increased European economic and academic competitiveness.

Period: 2019-2023
Contact: Professor Andres Salumets Andres.Salumets [ät] ut.ee

Traumatology and Orthopedics

Project's name: Baltic Fracture Competence Centre

Bone fractures are a major public health problem in the Baltic Sea Region. More than one third of the population suffers from a fracture at least once in a lifetime. In addition, ageing society leads to an even increasing number of age-related fractures. Baltic Sea countries are challenged to improve the outcome of fracture treatment regarding functioning, co-morbidities, health, socio-economic costs and occupational health. The project's objectives are: • New fracture registries implemented in 3 hospitals (DE, LT, PL) • Transnational fracture registry platform integrating data from 5 hospitals including existing registries in Sweden and Denmark  • Providing access to fracture registry data to forster innovation  • Transnational organisational platform for research and innovation collaboration between hospitals, health authorities, companies from the pharmaceutical, medical technology and biotechnology industry in the BSR • Associated reports analyzing transnational registry data as well as including a benchmark of fracture management and health outcome across Baltic Sea countries • Highlighting innovation potentials of complete pathway of fracture treatment based on registry data • Involvement of international stakeholder from all kind of relevant sectors • Facilitating collaboration between hospitals, health authorities, companies from the pharmaceutical, medical techno- logy and biotechnology industry in the BSR • Education and training of fracture clinicians and other health professionals • R&I pilot study with hospitals and companies • Policy recommendations. Read more from ETIS and BFCC homepage.

Period: 2016-2019
Contact: Professor Aare Märtson Aare.Martson [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Translational studies on bone and muscle pathologies

Diseases of muscles and bones are one of the largest groups of disorders and they have significant impact on disease burden for society. These disorders are highly prevalent in elderly people and have significant impact for societies with aging population. Despite their high prevalence, the pathophysiology behind these disorders is not well known and for many conditions neither existing therapy nor prophylaxis is perfect. Better understanding about the pathophysiology and translational approach is needed. General goal of our research is to describe novel pathogenetic pathways (energy metabolism, endoplasmatic reticulum (ER) stress) and to discover genetic networks of these disorders. We continue with currently ongoing activities of cellular bioenergetics on aging muscle and heart. We also analyze diseased bones and joints (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis). During research activities we combine systems genetics analysis with more focused studies on cellular bioenergetics and ER stress. Read more.

Period: 2014-2019
Contact: Professor Aare Märtson Aare.Martson [ät] ut.ee

Project's name: Mapping the biomarkers: comprehensive evaluation of pathophysiology and nutraceutical intervention for improved knee Osteoarthritis

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is estimated as the fourth leading cause of disability. According to the World Health Organization, more than 150 million (± 2.5%) people suffer from OA worldwide (WHO 2004). This figure even rises to 10% for population above the age of 60 years (Symmons et al., 2003). In almost 30% of these cases, OA leads to moderate to severe disability. Diseases of muscle and bone tissues are the most common causes why patients seek for the medical aid and their impact for society is substantial. Thereby, it is the most common joint disease for the middle-aged and older population (Buckwalter and Martin 2006). Over the next 10-20 years the aging population will increase significantly, escalating the number of OA. Taken together, these factors are the main contributors to the progressive loss of quality of life in the most of the countries and musculoskeletal diseases are global health care problem. Overall Aim: To set up an international collaboration with the effort to perform mechanistic comprehensive analysis of knee OA for effective diagnosis and intervention. Read more.

Period: 2016-2019
Contact: Professor Aare Märtson Aare.Martson [ät] ut.ee

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The lead research areas

New professors at the Institute of Clinical Medicine

Defended PhD

Code of Conduct and Guideline

Patient Safety Terms