2026 Kari Alitalo: Medicine Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Best Scientists	211	188	176	2	2	944	163245
Medicine	214	112	101	2	2	917	166828

Research.com Recognitions

2026 - Research.com Medicine in Finland Leader Award
2025 - Research.com Best Scientists Award
2025 - Research.com Medicine in Finland Leader Award
2023 - Research.com Medicine in Finland Leader Award
2022 - Research.com Medicine in Finland Leader Award
2013 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
2011 - Member of Academia Europaea
Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

Overview

Kari Alitalo is affiliated with the University of Helsinki in Finland and focuses on research primarily within the fields of Medicine and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Their extensive work covers several subfields including Oncology, Molecular Biology, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Surgery, and Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience.

The research topics frequently addressed by Alitalo include:

Lymphatic System and Diseases
Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer
Cerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus
Cancer Cells and Metastasis
Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
Cardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling
Lipid metabolism and disorders

Several recent publications showcase Alitalo's work across various venues, including:

"VEGF-C-driven lymphatic drainage enables immunosurveillance of brain tumours" (2020), published in Nature
"Counteracting age-related VEGF signaling insufficiency promotes healthy aging and extends life span" (2021), published in Science
"NOTUM from Apc-mutant cells biases clonal competition to initiate cancer" (2021), published in Nature
"Lymphatic Malformations: Genetics, Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies" (2021), published in Circulation Research
"Pericyte-specific vascular expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 - implications for microvascular inflammation and hypercoagulopathy in COVID-19" (2020), published in bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Alitalo's publications frequently appear in the following venues:

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Cancer Research
Nature Cardiovascular Research
Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
Nature Communications

Frequent co-authors of Kari Alitalo include:

Riikka Kivelä
Karthik Amudhala Hemanthakumar
Pauliina Kallio
Salli Antila
Andrey Anisimov

Over the course of their career, Alitalo has been recognized by election to several prestigious organizations, including being named a Member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2013, a Member of Academia Europaea in 2011, and a Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).

Best Publications

VEGF guides angiogenic sprouting utilizing endothelial tip cell filopodia

Holger Gerhardt;Matthew Golding;Marcus Fruttiger;Christiana Ruhrberg

3466
Citations
Molecular regulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.

Ralf H. Adams;Kari Alitalo

2636
Citations
A novel vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF-C, is a ligand for the Flt4 (VEGFR-3) and KDR (VEGFR-2) receptor tyrosine kinases.

V Joukov;K Pajusola;A Kaipainen;D Chilov

2572
Citations
Induction of tumor lymphangiogenesis by VEGF-C promotes breast cancer metastasis

Mihaela Skobe;Thomas Hawighorst;David G. Jackson;Remko Prevo

2456
Citations
Amplified DNA with limited homology to myc cellular oncogene is shared by human neuroblastoma cell lines and a neuroblastoma tumour.

Manfred Schwab;Kari Alitalo;Karl Heinz Klempnauer;Harold E. Varmus

1935
Citations
A dural lymphatic vascular system that drains brain interstitial fluid and macromolecules

Aleksanteri Aspelund;Salli Antila;Steven T. Proulx;Tine Veronica Karlsen

1926
Citations
Expression of the fms-like tyrosine kinase 4 gene becomes restricted to lymphatic endothelium during development.

Arja Kaipainen;Jaana Korhonen;Tuija Mustonen;Victor W. M. van Hinsbergh

1824
Citations
Vascular endothelial growth factor C is required for sprouting of the first lymphatic vessels from embryonic veins.

Marika J Karkkainen;Paula Haiko;Kirsi Sainio;Juha Partanen

1746
Citations
Hyperplasia of lymphatic vessels in VEGF-C transgenic mice

Michael Jeltsch;Arja Kaipainen;Arja Kaipainen;Vladimir Joukov;Vladimir Joukov;Xiaojuan Meng;Xiaojuan Meng

1724
Citations
Vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) is a ligand for the tyrosine kinases VEGF receptor 2 (Flk1) and VEGF receptor 3 (Flt4)

Marc G. Achen;Michael Jeltsch;Eola Kukk;Taija Mäkinen

1685
Citations
Clinical applications of angiogenic growth factors and their inhibitors.

Napoleone Ferrara;Kari Alitalo

1650
Citations
Control of vascular morphogenesis and homeostasis through the angiopoietin–Tie system

Hellmut G. Augustin;Gou Young Koh;Gavin Thurston;Kari Alitalo

1606
Citations
Lymphangiogenesis in development and human disease

Kari Alitalo;Kari Alitalo;Tuomas Tammela;Tuomas Tammela;Tatiana V. Petrova;Tatiana V. Petrova

1555
Citations
Lymphangiogenesis: Molecular Mechanisms and Future Promise

Tuomas Tammela;Kari Alitalo

1541
Citations
Vascular endothelial growth factor‐C‐mediated lymphangiogenesis promotes tumour metastasis

Stefano J. Mandriota;Lotta Jussila;Michael Jeltsch;Amelia Compagni

1372
Citations
Angiosarcomas Express Mixed Endothelial Phenotypes of Blood and Lymphatic Capillaries: Podoplanin as a Specific Marker for Lymphatic Endothelium

Silvana Breiteneder-Geleff;Afschin Soleiman;Heinrich Kowalski;Reinhard Horvat

1348
Citations
The lymphatic vasculature in disease

Kari Alitalo

1179
Citations
The biology of vascular endothelial growth factors

Tuomas Tammela;Berndt Enholm;Kari Alitalo;Karri Paavonen

1165
Citations
Cardiovascular Failure in Mouse Embryos Deficient in VEGF Receptor-3

Daniel J. Dumont;Lotta Jussila;Jussi Taipale;Athina Lymboussaki

1138
Citations
A novel vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF-C, is a ligand for the Flt4 (VEGFR-3) and KDR (VEGFR-2) receptor tyrosine kinases (vol 15, pg 290, 1996)

V Joukov;K Pajusola;A Kaipainen;D Chilov

409
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

Seppo Ylä-Herttuala University of Eastern Finland

Marc G. Achen St Vincents Institute of Medical Research

Tuomas Tammela Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Taija Makinen Jenny ja Antti Wihurin Rahasto

Steven A. Stacker Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Tomi P. Mäkelä University of Helsinki

Tatiana V. Petrova University of Lausanne

Juha Partanen University of Helsinki

Ulf Eriksson AstraZeneca (United Kingdom)

Antti Vaheri University of Helsinki

External Links

Wikipedia of Kari Alitalo Personal website of Kari Alitalo

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