Our research focuses on clinical pharmacology and pharmacometrics in anaesthesiology and pain medicine. We combine clinical studies with population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling, simulation, and other quantitative methods to understand variability in drug exposure and response.
Current research includes anaesthetic and analgesic pharmacology, acute pain therapeutics, opioids and adjuvant analgesics, individualized dosing, target-controlled infusion, and drug–drug interactions. We also investigate pharmacogenomic and other patient-specific determinants of drug response where these may support model-informed precision dosing.
Our aim is to connect clinically relevant questions with quantitative pharmacology and to develop approaches that support safer, more effective, and more individualized perioperative drug therapy.
Recent publications:
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Rantanen M, Launiainen T, Niemi M, Olkkola KT, Soukka H, Saari TI. Systematic evaluation of propofol population pharmacokinetic models and development of a literature-supported new meta-model for critically ill preterm and term neonates. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2026 Sep 4;227:107659. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2026.107659. PMID: 42697443.
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Rantanen M, Keski-Nisula J, Olkkola KT, Neuvonen PJ, Pesonen E, Suominen P, Saari TI. Population pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone in neonates and paediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2026 Aug 18;82(9):235. doi: 10.1007/s00228-026-04168-7. PMID: 42611079.
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Kuuskoski RA, Saari TI, Karvonen SI, Singh B, Tiainen SM, Rantanen MJM, Kallioinen-Sainio MJ, Hynninen VV, Uusalo PIJ, Löyttyniemi E, Peltoniemi MA; Collaborators of TTPcat Study Group. The Effect of Repeated Bilateral Deep Parasternal Intercostal Plane Catheter Boluses on Analgesia After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Anesth Analg. 2026 Aug 11. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000008211. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42579389.
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Saarikoski T, Saari TI, Backman JT, Neuvonen PJ, Scheinin M, Olkkola KT, Laine K. Effects of Celecoxib and Etoricoxib on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacological Effects of Orally Administered Tramadol: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2026;139(1):e70261. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.70261. PMID: 42272128.
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Väisänen P, Mäkelä S, Sirén S, Pohjanoksa K, Uusalo P, Scheinin M, Torniainen K, Saari TI. Stability of oxycodone solutions containing S-ketamine or dexmedetomidine. Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2026 May 13:ejhpharm-2025-004913. doi: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2025-004913. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42128623.