Katja Pahkala profile picture
Katja
Pahkala
Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine (CAPC)
Professor, Head of Paavo Nurmi Centre

Contact

+358 40 578 6122
Kiinamyllynkatu 10
20520
Turku

Areas of expertise

Cardiovascular health
prevention
childhood
physical activity
diet
epidemiology
longitudinal studies

Biography

I have devoted my research career to examining early life determinants of cardiometabolic health with the ultimate aim to improve primordial prevention of cardiometabolic diseases.

Teaching

I have supervised 15 undergraduate studies and six doctoral studies. Currently I supervise six doctoral students and one undergraduate student.

Research

I am a long-standing senior researcher and the vice director of the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine (CAPC), and a member of the executive committee of the Centre for Population Health Research. I am also the vice principal investigator of the globally unique atherosclerosis prevention trial, the STRIP study (Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project), which commenced in 1989 and has extensively studied the 1062 participants since age 7 months to 26 years with repeated assessment of diet, lifestyle and versatile cardiometabolic health markers. I am also an active member of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, started in the late 1970´s. The study involves originally 3596 participants from different parts of Finland. As highlights of my career, in 2014 I received the Academy of Finland’s Postdoctoral Researcher grant, and in 2019 I was invited to receive A/Professorship in Preventive Medicine (tenure track), and I was also awarded the Academy of Finland’s Research Fellowship. In 2023, I achieved full-Professorship in Preventive Medicine. In 2024, I began as a Head of the Paavo Nurmi Centre, a centre of expertise in sports & exercise medicine.

Publications

Sort by:

A multi-layer functional genomic analysis to understand noncoding genetic variation in lipids (2022)

American Journal of Human Genetics
Ramdas Shweta, Judd Jonathan, Graham Sarah E., Kanoni Stavroula, Wang Yuxuan, Surakka Ida, Wenz Brandon, Clarke Shoa L., Chesi Alessandra, Wells Andrew, Bhatti Konain Fatima, Vedantam Sailaja, Winkler Thomas W., Locke Adam E., Marouli Eirini, Zajac Greg J.M., Wu Kuan-Han H., Ntalla Ioanna, Hui Qin, Klarin Derek, Hilliard Austin T., Wang Zeyuan, Xue Chao, Thorleifsson Gudmar, Helgadottir Anna, Gudbjartsson Daniel F., Holm Hilma, Olafsson Isleifur, Hwang Mi Yeong, Han Sohee, Akiyama Masato, Sakaue Saori, Terao Chikashi, Kanai Masahiro, Zhou Wei, Brumpton Ben M., Rasheed Humaira, Havulinna Aki S., Veturi Yogasudha, Pacheco Jennifer Allen, Rosenthal Elisabeth A., Lingren Todd, QiPing Feng, Kullo Iftikhar J., Narita Akira, Takayama Jun, Martin Hilary C., Hunt Karen A., Trivedi Bhavi, Haessler Jeffrey, Giulianini Franco, Bradford Yuki, Miller Jason E., Campbell Archie, Lin Kuang, Millwood Iona Y., Rasheed Asif, Hindy George, Faul Jessica D., hao WeiZ, Weir David R., Turman Constance, Huang Hongyan, Graff Mariaelisa, Choudhury Ananyo, Sengupta Dhriti, Mahajan Anubha, Brown Michael R., Zhang Weihua, Yu Ketian, Schmidt Ellen M., Pandit Anita, Gustafsson Stefan, Yin Xianyong, Luan Jian’an, Zhao Jing-Hua, Matsuda Fumihiko, Jang Hye-Mi, Yoon Kyungheon, Medina-Gomez Carolina, Pitsillides Achilleas, Hottenga Jouke Jan, Wood Andrew R., Ji Yingji, Gao Zishan, Haworth Simon, Mitchell Ruth E., Chai Jin Fang, Aadahl Mette, Bjerregaard Anne A., Yao Jie, Manichaikul Ani, Lee Wen-Jane, Hsiung Chao Agnes, Warren Helen R., Ramirez Julia, Bork-Jensen Jette, Kårhus Line L., Goel Anuj, Sabater-Lleal Maria, Noordam Raymond, Mauro Pala, Matteo Floris, McDaid Aaron F., Marques-Vidal Pedro, Wielscher Matthias, Trompet Stella, Sattar Naveed, Møllehave Line T., Munz Matthias, Zeng Lingyao, Huang Jianfeng, Yang Bin, Poveda Alaitz, Kurbasic Azra, Schönherr Sebastian, Forer Lukas, Scholz Markus, Galesloot Tessel E., Bradfield Jonathan P., Ruotsalainen Sanni E., Daw E. Warwick, Zmuda Joseph M., Mitchell Jonathan S., Fuchsberger Christian, Christensen Henry, Brody Jennifer A., Le Phuong, Feitosa Mary F., Wojczynski Mary K., Hemerich Daiane, Preuss Michael, Mangino Massimo, Christofidou Paraskevi, Verweij Niek, Benjamins Jan W., Engmann Jorgen, Noah Tsao L., Verma Anurag, Slieker Roderick C., Lo Ken Sin, Zilhao Nuno R., Kleber Marcus E., Delgado Graciela E., Huo Shaofeng, Ikeda Daisuke D., Iha Hiroyuki, Yang Jian, Liu Jun, Demirkan Ayşe, Leonard Hampton L., Marten Jonathan, Emmel Carina, Schmidt Börge, Smyth Laura J., Cañadas-Garre Marisa, Wang Chaolong, Nakatochi Masahiro, Wong Andrew, Hutri-Kähönen Nina, Sim Xueling, Xia Rui, Huerta-Chagoya Alicia, Fernandez-Lopez Juan Carlos, Lyssenko Valeriya, Nongmaithem Suraj S., Sankareswaran Alagu, Irvin Marguerite R., Oldmeadow Christopher, Kim Han-Na, Ryu Seungho, Timmers Paul R.H.J., Arbeeva Liubov, Dorajoo Rajkumar, Lange Leslie A., Prasad Gauri, Lorés-Motta Laura, Pauper Marc, Long Jirong, Li Xiaohui, Theusch Elizabeth, Takeuchi Fumihiko, Spracklen Cassandra N., Loukola Anu, Bollepalli Sailalitha, Warner Sophie C., Wang Ya Xing, Wei Wen B., Nutile Teresa, Ruggiero Daniela, Sung Yun Ju, Chen Shufeng, Liu Fangchao, Yang Jingyun, Kentistou Katherine A., Banas Bernhard, Morgan Anna, Meidtner Karina, Bielak Lawrence F., Smith Jennifer A., Hebbar Prashantha, Farmaki Aliki-Eleni, Hofer Edith, Lin Maoxuan, Concas Maria Pina, Vaccargiu Simona, van der Most Peter J. , Pitkänen Niina, Cade Brian E., van der Laan Sander W., Chitrala Kumaraswamy Naidu, Weiss Stefan, Bentley Amy R., Doumatey Ayo P., Adeyemo Adebowale A., Lee Jong Young, Petersen Eva R.B., Nielsen Aneta A., Choi Hyeok Sun, Nethander Maria, Freitag-Wolf Sandra, Southam Lorraine, Rayner Nigel W., Wang Carol A., Lin Shih-Yi, Wang Jun-Sing, Couture Christian, Lyytikäinen Leo-Pekka, Nikus Kjell, Cuellar-Partida Gabriel, Vestergaard Henrik, Hidalgo Bertha, Giannakopoulou Olga, Cai Qiuyin, Obura Morgan O., van Setten Jessica, He Karen Y., Tang Hua, Terzikhan Natalie, Shin Jae Hun, Jackson Rebecca D., Reiner Alexander P., Martin Lisa Warsinger, Chen Zhengming, Li Liming, Kawaguchi Takahisa, Thiery Joachim, Bis Joshua C., Launer Lenore J., Li Huaixing, Nalls Mike A., Raitakari Olli T., Ichihara Sahoko, Wild Sarah H., Nelson Christopher P., Campbell Harry, Jäger Susanne, Nabika Toru, Al-Mulla Fahd, Niinikoski Harri, Braund Peter S., Kolcic Ivana, Kovacs Peter, Giardoglou Tota, Katsuya Tomohiro, de Kleijn Dominique, de Borst Gert J., Kim Eung Kweon, Adams Hieab H.H., Ikram M. Arfan, Zhu Xiaofeng, Asselbergs Folkert W., Kraaijeveld Adriaan O., Beulens Joline W.J., Shu Xiao-Ou, Rallidis Loukianos S., Pedersen Oluf, Hansen Torben, Mitchell Paul, Hewitt Alex W., Kähönen Mika, Pérusse Louis, Bouchard Claude, Tönjes Anke, Ida Chen Yii-Der, Pennell Craig E., Mori Trevor A., Lieb Wolfgang, Franke Andre, Ohlsson Claes, Mellström Dan, Cho Yoon Shin, Lee Hyejin, Yuan Jian-Min, Koh Woon-Puay, Rhee Sang Youl, Woo Jeong-Taek, Heid Iris M., Stark Klaus J., Zimmermann Martina E., Völzke Henry, Homuth Georg, Evans Michele K., Zonderman Alan B., Polasek Ozren, Pasterkamp Gerard, Hoefer Imo E., Redline Susan, Pahkala Katja, Oldehinkel Albertine J., Snieder Harold, Biino Ginevra, Schmidt Reinhold, Schmidt Helena, Bandinelli Stefania, Dedoussis George, Thanaraj Thangavel Alphonse , Peyser Patricia A., Kato Norihiro, Schulze Matthias B., Girotto Giorgia, Böger Carsten A., Jung Bettina, Joshi Peter K., Bennett David A., De Jager Philip L., Lu Xiangfeng, Mamakou Vasiliki, Brown Morris, Caulfield Mark J., Munroe Patricia B., Guo Xiuqing, Ciullo Marina, Jonas Jost B., Samani Nilesh J., Kaprio Jaakko, Pajukanta Päivi, Tusié-Luna Teresa, Aguilar-Salinas Carlos A., Adair Linda S., Bechayda Sonny Augustin, Silva H. Janakade, Wickremasinghe Ananda R., Krauss Ronald M., Wu Jer-Yuarn, Zheng Wei, den Hollander Anneke I., Bharadwaj Dwaipayan, Correa Adolfo, Wilson James G., Lind Lars, Heng Chew-Kiat, Nelson Amanda E., Golightly Yvonne M., Wilson James F., Penninx Brenda, Kim Hyung-Lae, Attia John, Scott Rodney J., Rao D.C., Arnett Donna K., Walker Mark, Scott Laura J., Koistinen Heikki A., Chandak Giriraj R., Mercader Josep M., Villalpando Clicerio Gonzalez, Orozco Lorena, Fornage Myriam, Tai E. Shyong, van Dam Rob M., Lehtimäki Terho, Chaturvedi Nish, Yokota Mitsuhiro, Liu Jianjun, Reilly Dermot F., McKnight Amy Jayne, Kee Frank, Jöckel Karl-Heinz, McCarthy Mark I., Palmer Colin N.A., Vitart Veronique, Hayward Caroline, Simonsick Eleanor, van Duijn Cornelia M., Jin Zi-Bing, Lu Fan, Hishigaki Haretsugu, Lin Xu, März Winfried, Gudnason Vilmundur, Tardif Jean-Claude, Lettre Guillaume, t Hart Leen M., Elders Petra J.M., Rader Daniel J., Damrauer Scott M., Kumari Meena, Kivimaki Mika, van der Harst Pim, Spector Tim D., Loos Ruth J.F., Province Michael A., Parra Esteban J., Cruz Miguel, Psaty Bruce M., Brandslund Ivan, Pramstaller Peter P., Rotimi Charles N., Christensen Kaare, Ripatti Samuli, Widén Elisabeth, Hakonarson Hakon, Grant Struan F.A., Kiemeney Lambertus, de Graaf Jacqueline, Loeffler Markus, Kronenberg Florian, Gu Dongfeng, Erdmann Jeanette, Schunkert Heribert, Franks Paul W., Linneberg Allan, Jukema J. Wouter, Khera Amit V., Männikkö Minna, Jarvelin Marjo-Riitta, Kutalik Zoltan, Francesco Cucca, Mook-Kanamori Dennis O., van Dijk Ko Willems, Watkins Hugh, Strachan David P., Grarup Niels, Sever Peter, Poulter Neil, Huey-Herng Sheu Wayne, Rotter Jerome I., Dantoft Thomas M., Karpe Fredrik, Neville Matt J., Timpson Nicholas J., Cheng Ching-Yu, Wong Tien-Yin, Khor Chiea Chuen, Li Hengtong, Sabanayagam Charumathi, Peters Annette, Gieger Christian, Hattersley Andrew T., Pedersen Nancy L., Magnusson Patrik K.E., Boomsma Dorret I., de Geus Eco J.C., Cupples L. Adrienne, van Meurs Joyce B.J., Ikram Arfan, Ghanbari Mohsen, Gordon-Larsen Penny, Huang Wei, Kim Young Jin, Tabara Yasuharu, Wareham Nicholas J., Langenberg Claudia, Zeggini Eleftheria, Tuomilehto Jaakko, Kuusisto Johanna, Laakso Markku, Ingelsson Erik, Abecasis Goncalo, Chambers John C., Kooner Jaspal S., de Vries Paul S., Morrison Alanna C., Hazelhurst Scott, Ramsay Michèle, North Kari E., Daviglus Martha, Kraft Peter, Martin Nicholas G., Whitfield John B., Abbas Shahid, Saleheen Danish, Walters Robin G., Holmes Michael V., Black Corri, Smith Blair H., Baras Aris, Justice Anne E., Buring Julie E., Ridker Paul M., Chasman Daniel I., Kooperberg Charles, Tamiya Gen, Yamamoto Masayuki, van Heel David A., Trembath Richard C., Wei Wei-Qi, Jarvik Gail P., Namjou Bahram, Hayes M. Geoffrey, Ritchie Marylyn D., Jousilahti Pekka, Salomaa Veikko, Hveem Kristian, Åsvold Bjørn Olav, Kubo Michiaki, Kamatani Yoichiro, Okada Yukinori, Murakami Yoshinori, Kim Bong-Jo, Thorsteinsdottir Unnur, Stefansson Kari, Zhang Jifeng, Chen Y. Eugene, Ho Yuk-Lam, Lynch Julie A., Tsao Philip S., Chang Kyong-Mi, Cho Kelly, O'Donnell Christopher J., Gaziano John M., Wilson Peter, Mohlke Karen L., Frayling Timothy M., Hirschhorn Joel N., Kathiresan Sekar, Boehnke Michael, Million Veterans Program, Global Lipids Genetics Consortium, Grant Struan, Natarajan Pradeep, Sun Yan V., Morris Andrew P., Deloukas Panos, Peloso Gina, Assimes Themistocles L., Willer Cristen J., Zhu Xiang, Brown Christopher D.
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

Risk Factor Profile in Youth, Genetic Risk, and Adulthood Cognitive Function: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2022)

Neuroepidemiology
Wu Feitong, Ahola-Olli Ari, Pahkala Katja, Hakala Juuso O, Juonala Markus, Salo Pia, Lehtimäki Terho, Hutri-Kähönen Nina, Kähönen Mika, Laitinen Tomi, Tossavainen Päivi, Taittonen Leena, Jokinen Eero, Viikari Jorma SA, Magnussen Costan G, Raitakari Olli T, Rovio Suvi P
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

Association between Number of Siblings and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Childhood and in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2021)

Journal of Pediatrics
Pihlman Jukka, Magnussen Costan G., Rovio Suvi P., Pahkala Katja, Jokinen Eero, Laitinen Tomi P., Hutri-Kähönen Nina, Tossavainen Päivi, Taittonen Leena, Kähönen Mika, Viikari Jorma S.A., Raitakari Olli T., Juonala Markus, Nuotio Joel
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

Physical inactivity from youth to adulthood and adult cardiometabolic risk profile (2021)

Preventive Medicine
Kallio Petri, Pahkala Katja, Heinonen Olli J., Tammelin Tuija H., Pälve Kristiina, Hirvensalo Mirja, Juonala Markus, Loo Britt-Marie, Magnussen Costan G., Rovio Suvi, Helajärvi Harri, Laitinen Tomi P., Jokinen Eero, Tossavainen Päivi, Hutri-Kähönen Nina, Viikari Jorma, Raitakari Olli T.
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

The Timing and Sequence of Cardiovascular Health Decline (2021)

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Pool Lindsay R., Krefman Amy E., Labarthe Darwin R., Greenland Philip, Juonala Markus, Kähönen Mika, Lehtimäki Terho, Day Rena Sue, Bazzano Lydia A., Van Horn Linda, Liu Lei, Fernandez-Alonso Camilo, Webber Larry S., Pahkala Katja, Laitinen Tomi T., Raitakari Olli T., Lloyd-Jones Donald M., Allen Norrina B.
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))