Anna-Liisa Nieminen

Anna-Liisa Nieminen, Ph.D.


Professor
Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences
Cancer Focus:

Characterization of the pathophysiology of single living cells, including the assessment of ion homeostasis, and other biochemical parameters

Research Interest

I am a Professor of the Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). I have a long-standing interest in research related to mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction employing various models of oxidative stress, photodynamic therapy, sensitization of pancreatic cancer to conventional chemotherapy, and applying nanoparticles to treat head and neck cancers. My role is to serve as a Senior Imaging Specialist of the Cell & Molecular Imaging (CMI) Shared Resource. Together with Dr. Lemasters I will share responsibility for facility oversight and ensure that the facility continues to provide high quality biological imaging of quantitative laser scanning confocal, intravital multiphoton and super-resolution microscopy, and maintains a sound business plan. When needed, I advise the users on their experiments. I also participate in planning and teaching at a biennial one-week Charleston Workshop on Light Microscopy for the Biosciences that provides training in the principles of different optical imaging modalities, as well as extensive hands-on training with state-of-the-art equipment at the MUSC.

Positions and Scientific Appointments

2022-Present: Professor (with tenure), Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Medical University of South Carolina 2007-2022: Associate Professor (with tenure), Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Medical University of South Carolina 2003-2007: Associate Professor, General Medical Sciences (Oncology), Case Western Reserve University 2001-2007: Associate Professor (with tenure), Department of Anatomy, Case Western Reserve University 2000-2007: Director, Confocal Microscopy Shared Resource, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center 1997-2003: Assistant Professor, Secondary Appointment, Division of General Medical Sciences (Oncology), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland 1994-2001: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland 1993-1994: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill 1992-1993: Research Instructor, Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill 1986-1992: Visiting Scientist, Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill 1984-1986: Research Scientist, Eflab Ltd., Helsinki, Finland 1978-1984: Research Scientist, Farmos Group Ltd., Turku, Finland

Education

PhD
January 1991
Biochemistry
University of Kuopio, Finland
MS
January 1978
Chemistry
University of Turku, Finland
BS
January 1975
Chemistry
University of Turku, Finland