ENGLUNDLAB
Englund lab researchers
Johanna Englund, PhD, Group leader
Johanna earned her PhD in 2012 in Dr. Juha Klefström’s laboratory at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Medicine, where she studied how breast epithelial architecture regulates oncogenic growth. She did her postdoctoral research with Dr. Pekka Katajisto at the Institute of Biotechnology at University of Helsinki, investigating the influence of extracellular matrix on mammary lineages and stem cell function. During her post doc, she worked also at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden with Dr. Leander Blaas and Dr. Rune Toftgård, focusing on developing novel culture methods for patient-derived cells.
She is currently a group leader at the Institute of Biotechnology, vice director of the Cell and Tissue dynamics research program in Institute of Biotechnology and board member of the Finnish 3R Center. In her free time, Johanna enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, as well as outdoor activities and music.
Priyal Dhawan, MSc
Priyal joined the Englund Lab as a Master's student in the Genetics and Molecular Biosciences (GMB) programme at the University of Helsinki. Her thesis focused on exploring the role of the basement membrane (BM) in breast cancer initiation, a topic she continues to investigate as a doctoral researcher in the iCANDOC pilot doctoral programme. She is particularly interested in how the BM influences early tumorigenic processes and its potential as a therapeutic target. Outside the lab, Priyal loves heading outdoors for hikes, exploring new corners of the world, and unwinding by experimenting with new recipes.
Amy Nyberg, MSc
Amy joined Englund lab as a Master’s student in Genetics and Molecular Sciences at The University of Helsinki and is continuing in the lab as a doctoral researcher. Her project investigates the use of hydrogels as a 3D model system for studying cell-matrix interactions. She is specifically interested in how ECM influences drug resistance in breast cancer and its implications for therapeutic approaches. Outside the lab she likes to enjoy nature and experiment with baking.
Ali Hashmi, PhD
Ali Hashmi comes from Pakistan and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from GIKI (2011), Pakistan, and a master's degree in bioengineering from Stanford (2016), and another in mechanical engineering from Washington State University (2014). Ali completed his Ph.D. in biophysics, working in the lab of Pierre-Francois Lenne at IBDM Marseille (2020).
In the recent past, he has worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Sara Wickstrom (2020 - 2023) and in the lab of Hanna Seppanen (2024-2025). He also worked as a technical consultant for the computer vision/image-processing team at Wolfram Research, USA (2024-2025).
In his current work in the Englund lab, Ali combines computational methods with quantitative imaging to characterize matrix organization in breast cancer patients.
Mahsa Vosoughifar, BSc
Mahsa is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in the Genetics and Molecular Biosciences (GMB) programme at the University of Helsinki, Finland. She has joined the Englund Lab as a research trainee, where she is developing hyaluronic acid–based hydrogels as a 3D model to study breast cancer cell–matrix interactions. Her work aims to advance animal-free 3D systems that support more precise, ethical, and physiologically relevant cancer studies. Apart from academics, Mahsa enjoys walking and biking in nature, reading, and traveling to discover new places, foods, and cultures.
Laura Muukkonen, BSc
Laura is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in the Genetics and Molecular Biosciences programme at the University of Helsinki. She has joined the Englund Lab as a research trainee, investigating why DCIS progresses into IDC in some patients and how the cellular environment influences this process. Her work aims to find new factors that could improve the diagnostics and prediction of breast cancer progression. Outside the lab, Laura enjoys recharging in nature and staying active at the gym, while also valuing time with friends and taking part in student life.
Yihao Chen, BSc
Yihao is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Life Science Informatics at the University of Helsinki. He joined the Englund Lab as a research trainee, contributing to computational image analysis projects in breast cancer research. His work focuses on the analysis of histological whole-slide images and tissue architecture, with a particular interest in how computational approaches can be used to characterize extracellular matrix organization and tumor heterogeneity. He is interested in combining image analysis, machine learning, and bioinformatics to extract biologically meaningful information from complex cancer datasets. Outside the lab, he enjoys cooking, reading books, board games, and exploring Finnish nature.
Saaga Tammi, BSc
Saaga joined the Englund lab as an intern when she was completing her bachelor’s degree in biomedicine at the University of Turku, and she will be continuing her studies in the Genetics and Molecular Biosciences (GMB) master’s program at the University of Helsinki. In the lab she is investigating the role of basement membrane in breast cancer initiation, focusing especially on the role of laminins. Outside the lab, Saaga likes to unwind by baking and cooking, exercising at the gym or outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.