When Dr. Lari Häkkinen was first working as a dentist, he noticed something intriguing—oral wounds seemed to heal quickly, much quicker than wounds in other parts of the body. With a passion for cell biology, Dr. Häkkinen decided to dedicate his career to studying wound healing. 

Over the past few decades, researchers have uncovered clues as to why wounds in the mouth might heal at a faster pace. One possible reason is that connective tissue cells found in the mouth have distinct properties that promote wound healing.

Dr. Häkkinen’s laboratory uses preclinical models to determine if these cells could improve skin healing in other parts of the body, which could ultimately help people who suffer from chronic wounds or scarring, including seniors, people living with diabetes and burn patients.  

This research could also have a significant impact in the fight against fibrosis, a process where tissues overgrow because of chronic inflammation, leading to scar tissue that impairs organ function. Fibrosis can occur in any tissue or organ and most
commonly affects the lungs, skin, heart and kidneys. It is also a leading cause of death, with recent data suggesting it’s responsible for up to 45 per cent of deaths in the developed world.   

“A big shift in dental research is that we now rarely study just the mouth,” says Dr. Häkkinen. “Instead, we’re looking at how what happens in the mouth relates to the entire body. We know there’s a connection between general health and oral health and that many diseases are linked through similar mechanisms, like how arthritis, cardiovascular and periodontal diseases are all tied to inflammation. By studying the body as a whole rather than just focusing on the mouth, we can have a greater impact.” 

Much of Dr. Häkkinen’s work involves collaborating with different groups, including dermatologists, plastic surgeons and burn clinics. He has also found great success working with his colleagues in the Faculty of Dentistry. Currently, he is collaborating with Dr. Hannu Larjava to study how integrin proteins might protect against periodontal disease.  

“Dr. Larjava and I initially studied integrins from the lens of wound healing but realized they play a role in periodontal disease,” says Dr. Häkkinen. “Under Dr. Larjava’s leadership, we have a preclinical trial to develop a drug that could target this pathway as a potential treatment for the disease. This is a great example of how basic research can lead to unexpected discoveries.”