Akseli Hemminki worked in University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2000-2002, first as a post doctoral researcher and later as a Research Assistant Professor. Soon after his return to Finland in 2002 he founded his own research group in University of Helsinki, Cancer Gene Therapy Group[1] which he is still leading. In 2007-2013 Hemminki worked as a K. Albin Johansson Research Professor.[2] In 2015 he was appointed as a Jane and Aatos Erkko Professor of Oncology for five years period.[3] Akseli Hemminki has been selected as an "Outstanding Young Person of the World" by Junior Chamber International in 2006.[4]
Besides his scientific career Hemminki has worked as a physician in 1998-1999, as a resident in 2003-2007 and as a specialist in oncology since 2007 in HUS (Hospital district of Helsinki and Uusimaa)[5] and Docrates Cancer Center.[6]
Research
Akseli Hemminki’s research focuses on cancer immunotherapy and especially on oncolytic adenoviruses.[7] The goal of his research group is to create a new oncolytic adenovirus based treatment for cancers with no available curative treatment at the moment.[8][9] The key finding of the group is that oncolytic viruses – besides lyse tumor cells by oncolysis – trigger immune response towards the tumor.[10] Recently, Hemminki’s group has focused on attempting to enable T-cell therapy of solid tumors with oncolytic adenoviruses.[11]
To facilitate setting up clinical trials Akseli Hemminki has founded two biotechnology companies: 2008 Oncos Therapeutics (merged with Targovax ASA in 2015[12][13]) and 2013 TILT Biotherapeutics.[14][15][16] Oncos completed the first oncolytic virus trial ever performed in Northern Europe in fall 2013.[17] Over 300 patients have been treated with cancer drugs developed by Hemminki.[18][19][20][21]
