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Neuroscience
Finland
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Neuroscience

D-Index
90
Citations
35231
World Ranking
1101
National Ranking
7

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
92
Citations
35739
World Ranking
2191
National Ranking
13

Medicine

D-Index
91
Citations
35632
World Ranking
11631
National Ranking
128

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Neuroscience in Finland Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Neuroscience in Finland Leader Award
  • 2015 - 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)
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
  • 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

Mart Saarma is affiliated with the University of Helsinki in Finland and has made substantial contributions in the fields of biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, neuroscience, and medicine. Their research spans multiple subfields including cellular and molecular neuroscience, molecular biology, neurology, cell biology, and developmental neuroscience.

The scientist's research topics cover a diverse range of biological and neurological processes. Notable areas include nerve injury and regeneration, endoplasmic reticulum stress and disease, Parkinson's disease mechanisms and treatments, neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms, RNA regulation and disease, RNA modifications and cancer, as well as autophagy in disease and therapy.

Frequent publication venues for Mart Saarma include:

  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Journal of Parkinson s Disease
  • International Journal of Molecular Sciences
  • iScience
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry

The scientist's recent papers demonstrate active engagement in neurobiology and neurodegenerative disease research. Selected recent works include:

  • Antidepressant drugs act by directly binding to TRKB neurotrophin receptors (2021, Cell)
  • Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB (2023, Nature Neuroscience)
  • GDNF and Parkinson's Disease: Where Next? A Summary from a Recent Workshop (2020, Journal of Parkinson s Disease)
  • Neurotrophic Factors in Parkinson's Disease: Clinical Trials, Open Challenges and Nanoparticle-Mediated Delivery to the Brain (2021, Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience)
  • Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor protects and repairs dopamine neurons by novel mechanism (2021, Molecular Psychiatry)

Mart Saarma has collaborated frequently with several researchers, including:

  • Päivi Lindholm
  • Mati Karelson
  • Maria Lindahl
  • Merja H. Voutilainen
  • Vera Kovaleva

Recognition of the scientist's work includes election as a Member of Academia Europaea in 2015 and membership in the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).

Best Publications

  • The K+/Cl- co-transporter KCC2 renders GABA hyperpolarizing during neuronal maturation.

    Claudio Rivera;Juha Voipio;John A. Payne;Eva Ruusuvuori

  • The GDNF family: Signalling, biological functions and therapeutic value

    Matti S. Airaksinen;Mart Saarma

  • Regulation of cell fate decision of undifferentiated spermatogonia by GDNF.

    Xiaojuan Meng;Maria Lindahl;Mervi E. Hyvönen;Martti Parvinen

  • Defects in enteric innervation and kidney development in mice lacking GDNF

    José G. Pichel;Liya Shen;Hui Z. Sheng;Ann-Charlotte Granholm

  • GDNF signalling through the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase

    Pascale Durbec;Camelia V. Marcos-Gutierrez;Carol Kilkenny;Maria Grigoriou

  • Functional receptor for GDNF encoded by the c-ret proto-oncogene.

    Miles Trupp;Ernest Arenas;Michael Fainzilber;Ann-Sofie Nilsson

  • Multiple promoters direct tissue-specific expression of the rat BDNF gene

    Tõnis Timmusk;Tõnis Timmusk;Kaia Palm;Kaia Palm;Madis Metsis;Madis Metsis;Tõnu Reintam

  • Novel functions and signalling pathways for GDNF

    Hannu Sariola;Mart Saarma

  • BDNF-induced TrkB activation down-regulates the K+–Cl− cotransporter KCC2 and impairs neuronal Cl− extrusion

    Claudio Rivera;Hong Li;Judith Thomas-Crusells;Hannele Lahtinen

  • GDNF Family Neurotrophic Factor Signaling: Four Masters, One Servant?☆

    Matti S. Airaksinen;Alexey Titievsky;Mart Saarma

  • Antidepressant drugs act by directly binding to TRKB neurotrophin receptors

    Plinio C. Casarotto;Mykhailo Girych;Senem M. Fred;Vera Kovaleva

  • Mechanism of Activity-Dependent Downregulation of the Neuron-Specific K-Cl Cotransporter KCC2

    Claudio Rivera;Juha Voipio;Judith Thomas-Crusells;Hong Li

  • Novel neurotrophic factor CDNF protects and rescues midbrain dopamine neurons in vivo

    Päivi Lindholm;Merja H. Voutilainen;Juha Laurén;Juha Laurén;Johan Peränen

  • Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB

    Unknown

  • Development and plasticity of meningeal lymphatic vessels.

    Salli Antila;Sinem Karaman;Harri Nurmi;Mikko Airavaara

  • Rescue of hearing, auditory hair cells, and neurons by CEP-1347/KT7515, an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation.

    Ulla Pirvola;Liang Xing-Qun;Jussi Virkkala;Mart Saarma

  • Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor is required for bud initiation from ureteric epithelium.

    Kirsi Sainio;Petro Suvanto;Jamie Davies;Jorma Wartiovaara

  • Expression patterns of neurotrophin and their receptor mRNAs in the rat inner ear.

    Jukka Ylikoski;Jukka Ylikoski;Ulla Pirvola;Maxim Moshnyakov;Jaan Palgi;Jaan Palgi

  • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin 3 mRNAs in the peripheral target fields of developing inner ear ganglia.

    Ulla Pirvola;Jukka Ylikoski;Jaan Palgi;Eero Lehtonen

  • Mesencephalic Astrocyte-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Is Neurorestorative in Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

    Merja H Voutilainen;Susanne Bäck;Eeva Pörsti;Liisa Toppinen

  • Retarded Growth and Deficits in the Enteric and Parasympathetic Nervous System in Mice Lacking GFRα2, a Functional Neurturin Receptor

    Jari Rossi;Keijo Luukko;Dmitry Poteryaev;Antti Laurikainen

Frequent Co-Authors

Mikko Airavaara
Mikko Airavaara University of Helsinki
Hannu Sariola
Hannu Sariola University of Helsinki
Johan Peränen
Johan Peränen University of Helsinki
Matti S. Airaksinen
Matti S. Airaksinen University of Helsinki
Tõnis Timmusk
Tõnis Timmusk Tallinn University of Technology
Mati Karelson
Mati Karelson University of Tartu
Andres Merits
Andres Merits University of Tartu
Claudio Rivera
Claudio Rivera University of Helsinki
Pekka T. Männistö
Pekka T. Männistö University of Helsinki
Nisse Kalkkinen
Nisse Kalkkinen University of Helsinki

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