Team
The Teesalu Laboratory is composed of bright, curious, and creative scientists with cross-disciplinary expertise in biology, chemistry, and materials science. Our team is united by a drive to innovate and collaborate in addressing complex biomedical challenges. In addition to our core members, we regularly host visiting researchers and trainees through international grant networks and mobility programs, including MSCA, EuroNanoMed, TRANSCAN, and the Estonian Research Council.
Tambet Teesalu, PhD
Professor of Nanomedicine at the University of Tartu and Academic Affiliate at UC San Diego. His research centers on tumor-homing and tissue-penetrating peptides, targeted nanomedicines, and translational strategies for cancer and brain diseases. He has published over 100 scientific papers, is an inventor on 15 international patents, and is a founder of 3 biotech companies including Lisata Therapeutics.
Research Scientists/Postdocs
Luca Marchetti, PhD
Postdoc researcher
Phage engineering, in vivo phage display, glioblastoma, solid tumor targeting
luca.marchetti@ut.ee
Karlis Pleiko, PhD
Postdoc researcher
Phage display, high throughput DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, AI, development of novel display formats
karlis.pleiko@ut.ee
Vladimirs Pilipenko, PhD
Postdoc researcher
Lipid nanoparticles, affinity targeting of nanoparticles, advanced reporter systems, neurological diseases
vladimirs.pilipenko@ut.eePhD students
Kristina Põšnograjeva, MSc
PhD student
Blood brain barrier, in vivo phage display, affinity targeting of nanoparticles
kristina.poshnograjeva@ut.ee
Jhalak Sethi, MSc
PhD student
Nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, affinity targeting of nanoparticles
jhalak.sethi@ut.ee
Agnes Vaht, MSc
PhD student (industrial–academic program with Icosagen)
Protein engineering, antibody selection and development
agnes.vaht@icosagen.com
Ana Shahpazir, MSc
PhD student (industrial–academic program with Icosagen)
CAR-T, development of new targets for cellular immunotherapy
ana.shahpazir@icosagen.comBSc and MSc students
Adjunct members
Hélder A Santos, PhD
Visiting Professor of University of Tartu
Primary position/affiliation: Full Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Head of Department of Biomaterials & Biomedical Technology at The University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands
Research interests: nanomedicine, controlled drug delivery, regenerative medicine
Kazuki N Sugahara, MD, PhD
Visiting Professor of University of Tartu
Primary position/affiliation: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University Department of Surgery, New York, USA
Research interests: solid tumor targeting, homing peptides, phage display, cancer immunotherapy
Support staff
Alumni
Below is a chronological list of people who worked, studied, or were otherwise affiliated with the Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine (previously Lab of Cancer Biology).
- Ingrid Liiv, 2012-2013, Laboratory assistant
- Tarmo Mölder, 2012-2017, Researcher
- Pille Säälik, 2012-2018, PostDoc
- Anne-Mari Anton Willmore, 2012-2018, PhD Student
- Kadri Toome, 2013-2020, PhD student
- Liilia Verev, 2013, Laboratory assistant
- Kairit Kukk, 2013-2014, MSc student
- Vidrik Teder, 2013-2014, MSc student
- Vipin Kumar Singh, 2013-2014, PhD Student
- Markko Salumäe, 2013-2015, MSc student
- Hideki Ikemoto, 2013-2016, Research fellow
- Hedi Hunt, 2013-2019, PhD Student
- Annika Jürimäe, 2014, MSc student
- Koit Aasumets, 2014-2016, Laboratory assistant
- Kuldar Kõiv, 2014-2016, Laboratory specialist
- Kairit Šor, 2014-2016, Executive administrative assistant
- Aleksander Sudakov, 2014-2016, Bioinformatician
- Aleksei Brjalin, 2015, Laboratory specialist
- Anna Erika Lindh, 2016, Research fellow
- Maria Ines Diaz Bessone, 2016, Guest researcher
- Ksenia Kuznetsova, 2016-2017, Laboratory assistant
- María de los Ángeles Ramírez, 2017, Guest researcher
- Anett Laarmann, 2017-2019, MSc student
- Vilma Petrikaite, 2021, Visiting professor
- Prakash Lingasamy, 2013-2021, PhD student, researcher
- Luca Marchetti, 2022, Visiting PhD student
- Giulia Torrieri, 2022, Visiting PhD student
- Maarja Haugas, 2015-2024, Researcher
- Valeria Sidorenko, 2017-2024, MSc > PhD student
- Anni Lepland, 2017-2023, MSc > PhD student
- Lorena Simon Gracia, 2012-2023, Researcher > associate professor
- Pablo David Scodeller, 2015-2024, Researcher > associate professor
- Claudia Griselda Cardenas Leon, 2022-2024, Postdoc
- Kristina Kiisholts, 2022-2023, PhD student
- Allan Tobi, 2015-2024, MSc > PhD student
- Antonella Rocchi, 2023-2025, Visiting PhD student