Olli Raitakari profile picture
Olli
Raitakari
Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine (CAPC)
InFLAMES Flagship
MD/PhD

Contact

+358 29 450 2304
Kiinamyllynkatu 10
20520
Turku

Areas of expertise

cardiovascular and metabolic diseases
risk factors
vascular epidemiology
genetic epidemiology
epidemiology
dietary intervention
cohort studies
follow-up studies

Biography

EDUCATION AND DEGREES
 
2001   Docent in Clinical Physiology
1997-1999  Postdoc training, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
1997   Docent in Epidemiology
1996   Specialist in Clinical Physiology 
1995   Doctorate, PhD
1989   Licentiate in Medicine, MD

CURRENT POSITIONS

2017-                 Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine, Director of the Research Centre of Applied and 
                          Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland                         

 

PAST POSITIONS

2012-2016                          Academy Professor, University of Turku

2007-2016                          Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine (part time), University of Turku

2007-2008                          Senior Scientist Grant, Academy of Finland

2004-2016                          Chief Physician, Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku
                                           University Hospital (leave of absence 2012-2016)

2002-2004                          Consultant in Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital

2002 (1 mo)                        Head of Nuclear Medicine Department, Turku University Hospital

2000-2003 (3 mo)               Head of Clinical Physiology Department, Turku University Hospital

2000-2005                          Senior Fellow Post, Academy of Finland

1998-2000                          Postdoctoral Research Post, Academy of Finland

1996-1997                          Consultant in Clinical Physiology, Turku University Hospital

1991-1996                          Positions as Resident in Clinical Chemistry, Nuclear Medicine, and Clinical 
                                           Physiology, Turku University Hospital

1988-1990                          Positions as General Practioner and Resident in Internal Medicine or Surgery


Research

Evidence suggest that many non-communicable disease outcomes have roots in childhood and may even stem of adverse ancestral exposures. Improved knowledge how various ancestral and early-life exposures lead to adult disease outcomes is essential in developing better preventive practices and policies that lead to improved public health. My mission has been to contribute to this knowledge-base by working in epidemiologic cohort studies with follow-up from childhood to adulthood. I am the Principal Investigator of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS), the largest study in Europe with a follow-up of cardiovascular risk factors from childhood to adulthood. I am also the Director of the STRIP Study, which is a leading long-term pediatric dietary intervention study testing the hypothesis that modifying the fat quality diet will have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk early in life. During the past years, I have organized several field studies in these cohorts, and introduced novel technologies, such as imaging studies, genetic epidemiology methods and metabolomics approaches in these unique population resources. Our research has contributed to the understanding of pre-clinical development of atherosclerosis in children and young adults, including the effects of diet, life-style, metabolic risk factors, psychological traits and psychosocial factors, inflammation, hormones and genetic markers. For example, by applying non-invasive imaging methods in the Young Finns Study, we have demonstrated that exposure to adverse lipids, elevated blood pressure and obesity in childhood is related to atherosclerosis development in adulthood (JAMA 2003). Subsequent work stemmed from this initial observation has led to numerous original publications that have shown in detail how exposure to a large range of aetiogenic factors early in life contribute to the development of cardio-metabolic outcomes in adulthood. For example, by pooling international i3C Consortium data, we have demonstrated that overweight or obese children who became non-obese by adulthood had similar risks of many cardio-metabolic adult outcomes as individuals who were never obese (NEJM 2011). Thus, the results of our studies have clearly demonstrated that individual’s exposure to various stressors in early life is contributing to his/her adult phenotype and disease risk. The results have had significant impact on preventive practices. As a concrete demonstration of the international recognition and impact of my team’s work, many of our studies are widely cited in all updated paediatric guidelines on cardiovascular prevention both in Europe and in US.

Publications

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Genetic insights into resting heart rate and its role in cardiovascular disease (2023)

Nature Communications
van de Vegte Y, Eppinga RN, van der Ende MY, Hagemeijer Y, Mahendran YV, Salfati EY, Smith AE, Tan V, Arking DV, Ntalla I, Appel EA, Schurmann C, Brody J, Rueedi R, Polasek O, Sveinbjornsson G, Lecoeur C, Ladenvall C, Zhao JH, Isaacs A, Wang LH, Luan JA, Hwang SJ, Mononen N, Auro K, Jackson AU, Bielak LF, Zeng LY, Shah NB, Nethander M, Campbell A, Rankinen T, Pechlivanis S, Qi L, Zhao W, Rizzi F, Tanaka T, Robino A, Cocca M, Lange L, Mueller-Nurasyid M, Roselli C, Zhang WH, Kleber ME, Guo XQ, Lin HE, Pavani F, Galesloot TE, Noordam R, Milaneschi Y, Schraut KE, den Hoed M, Degenhardt F, Trompet S, van den Berg ME, Pistis G, Tham YC, Weiss S, Sim XS, Li HM, van der Most PJ, Nolte IM, Lyytikäinen LP, Said MA, Witte DR, Iribarren C, Launer L, Ring SSM, de Vries PS, Sever P, Linneberg A, Bottinger EP, Padmanabhan S, Psaty BM, Sotoodehnia N, Kolcic I; DCCT/EDIC Research Group, Roshandel D, Paterson AD, Arnar DO, Gudbjartsson DF, Holm H, Balkau B, Silva CT, Newton-Cheh CH, Nikus K, Salo P, Mohlke KL, Peyser PA, Schunkert H, Lorentzon M, Lahti J, Rao DC, Cornelis MC, Faul JD, Smith JA, Stolarz-Skrzypek K, Bandinelli S, Concas MP, Sinagra G, Meitinger T, Waldenberger M, Sinner MF, Strauch K, Delgado GE, Taylor KD, Yao J, Foco L, Melander O, de Graaf J, de Mutsert R, de Geus EJC, Johansson A, Joshi PK, Lind L, Franke A, Macfarlane PW, Tarasov KV, Tan NCL, Felix SB, Tai ES, Quek DQ, Snieder H, Ormel J, Ingelsson M, Lindgren C, Morris AP, Raitakari OT, Hansen T, Assimes T, Gudnason V, Timpson NJ, Morrison AC, Munroe PB, Strachan DP, Grarup N, Loos RJF, Heckbert SR, Vollenweider P, Hayward C, Stefansson K, Froguel P, Groop L, Wareham NJ, van Duijn CM, Feitosa MF, O'Donnell CJ, Kähönen M, Perola M, Boehnke M, Kardia SLR, Erdmann J, Palmer CNA, Ohlsson C, Porteous DJ, Eriksson JG, Bouchard C, Moebus S, Kraft P, Weir DR, Cusi D, Ferrucci L, Ulivi S, Girotto G, Correa A, Kaeaeb S, Peters A, Chambers JC, Kooner JS, Maerz W, Rotter JI, Hicks AA, Smith JG, Kiemeney LALM, Mook-Kanamori DO, Penninx BWJH, Gyllensten U, Wilson JF, Burgess S, Sundstroem J, Lieb W, Jukema JW, Eijgelsheim M, Lakatta ELM, Cheng CY, Dörr M, Wong TY, Sabanayagam C, Oldehinkel AJ, Riese H, Lehtimäki T, Verweij N, van der Harst P
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

Effect of menopause and age on vascular impairment (2023)

Maturitas
Aittokallio Jenni, Saaresranta Tarja, Riskumäki Markus, Hautajärvi Tiina, Vahlberg Tero, Polo Olli, Heinonen Olli, Raitakari Olli, Kalleinen Nea
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

Mitochondrial genome-wide analysis of nuclear DNA methylation quantitative trait loci (2022)

Human Molecular Genetics
Laaksonen Jaakko, Mishra Pashupati P., Seppälä Ilkka, Raitoharju Emma, Marttila Saara, Mononen Nina, Lyytikäinen Leo-Pekka, Kleber Marcus E., Delgado Graciela E., Lepistö Maija, Almusa Henrikki, Ellonen Pekka, Lorkowski Stefan, März Winfried, Hutri-Kähönen Nina, Raitakari Olli, Kähönen Mika, Salonen Jukka T., Lehtimäki Terho
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

A saturated map of common genetic variants associated with human height (2022)

Nature
Yengo Loïc, Vedantam Sailaja, Marouli Eirini, Sidorenko Julia, Bartell Eric, Sakaue Saori, Graff Marielisa, Eliasen Anders U., Jiang Yunxuan, Raghavan Sridharan, Miao Jenkai, Arias Joshua D., Graham Sarah E., Mukamel Ronen E., Spracklen Cassandra N., Yin Xianyong, Chen Shyh-Huei, Ferreira Teresa, Highland Heather H., Ji Yingjie, Karaderi Tugce, Lin Kuang, Lüll Kreete, Malden Deborah E., Medina-Gomez Carolina, Machado Moara, Moore Amy, Rüeger Sina, Sim Xueling, Vrieze Scott, Ahluwalia Tarunveer S., Akiyama Masato, Allison Matthew A., Alvarez Marcus, Andersen Mette K., Ani Alireza, Appadurai Vivek, Arbeeva Liubov, Bhaskar Seema, Bielak Lawrence F., Bollepalli Sailalitha, Bonnycastle Lori L., Bork-Jensen Jette, Bradfield Jonathan P., Bradford Yuki, Braund Peter S., Brody Jennifer A., Burgdorf Kristoffer S., Cade Brian E., Cai Hui, Cai Qiuyin, Campbell Archie, Cañadas-Garre Marisa, Catamo Eulalia, Chai Jin-Fang, Chai Xiaoran, Chang Li-Ching, Chang Yi-Cheng, Chen Chien-Hsiun, Chesi Alessandra, Choi Seung Hoan, Chung Ren-Hua, Cocca Massimiliano, Concas Maria Pina, Couture Christian, Cuellar-Partida Gabriel, Danning Rebecca, Daw E. Warwick, Degenhard Frauke, Delgado Graciela E., Delitala Alessandro, Demirkan Ayse, Deng Xuan, Devineni Poornima, Dietl Alexander, Dimitriou Maria, Dimitrov Latchezar, Dorajoo Rajkumar, Ekici Arif B., Engmann Jorgen E., Fairhurst-Hunter Zammy, Farmaki Aliki-Eleni, Faul Jessica D., Fernandez-Lopez Juan-Carlos, Forer Lukas, Francescatto Margherita, Freitag-Wolf Sandra, Fuchsberger Christian, Galesloot Tessel E., Gao Yan, Gao Zishan, Geller Frank, Giannakopoulou Olga, Giulianini Franco, Gjesing Anette P., Goel Anuj, Gordon Scott D., Gorski Mathias, Grove Jakob, Guo Xiuqing, Gustafsson Stefan, Haessler Jeffrey, Hansen Thomas F., Havulinna Aki S., Haworth Simon J., He Jing, Heard-Costa Nancy, Hebbar Prashantha, Hindy George, Ho Yuk-Lam A., Hofer Edith, Holliday Elizabeth, Horn Katrin, Hornsby Whitney E., Hottenga Jouke-Jan, Huang Hongyan, Huang Jie, Huerta-Chagoya Alicia, Huffman Jennifer E., Hung Yi-Jen, Huo Shaofeng, Hwang Mi Yeong, Iha Hiroyuki, Ikeda Daisuke D., Isono Masato, Jackson Anne U., Jäger Susanne, Jansen Iris E., Johansson Ingegerd, Jonas Jost B., Jonsson Anna, Jørgensen Torben, Kalafati Ioanna-Panagiota, Kanai Masahiro, Kanoni Stavroula, Kårhus Line L., Kasturiratne Anuradhani, Katsuya Tomohiro, Kawaguchi Takahisa, Kember Rachel L., Kentistou Katherine A., Kim Han-Na, Kim Young Jin, Kleber Marcus E., Knol Maria J., Kurbasic Azra, Lauzon Marie, Le Phuong, Lea Rodney, Lee Jong-Young, Leonard Hampton L., Li Shengchao A., Li Xiaohui, Li Xiaoyin, Liang Jingjing, Lin Honghuang, Lin Shih-Yi, Liu Jun, Liu Xueping, Lo Ken Sin, Long Jirong, Lores-Motta Laura, Luan Jian’an, Lyssenko Valeriya, Lyytikäinen Leo-Pekka, Mahajan Anubha, Mamakou Vasiliki, Mangino Massimo, Manichaikul Ani, Marten Jonathan, Mattheisen Manuel, Mavarani Laven, McDaid Aaron F., Meidtner Karina, Melendez Tori L., Mercader Josep M., Milaneschi Yuri, Miller Jason E., Millwood Iona Y., Mishra Pashupati P., Mitchell Ruth E., Møllehave Line T., Morgan Anna, Mucha Soeren, Munz Matthias, Nakatochi Masahiro, Nelson Christopher P., Nethander Maria, Nho Chu Won, Nielsen Aneta A., Nolte Ilja M., Nongmaithem Suraj S., Noordam Raymond, Ntalla Ioanna, Nutile Teresa, Pandit Anita, Christofidou Paraskevi, Pärna Katri, Pauper Marc, Petersen Eva R. B., Petersen Liselotte V., Pitkänen Niina, Polašek Ozren, Poveda Alaitz, Preuss Michael H., Pyarajan Saiju, Raffield Laura M., Rakugi Hiromi, Ramirez Julia, Rasheed Asif, Raven Dennis, Rayner Nigel W., Riveros Carlos, Rohde Rebecca, Ruggiero Daniela, Ruotsalainen Sanni E., Ryan Kathleen A., Sabater-Lleal Maria, Saxena Richa, Scholz Markus, Sendamarai Anoop, Shen Botong, Shi Jingchunzi, Shin Jae Hun, Sidore Carlo, Sitlani Colleen M., Slieker Roderick C., Smit Roelof A. J., Smith Albert V., Smith Jennifer A., Smyth Laura J., Southam Lorraine, Steinthorsdottir Valgerdur, Sun Liang, Takeuchi Fumihiko, Tallapragada Divya Sri Priyanka, Taylor Kent D., Tayo Bamidele O., Tcheandjieu Catherine, Terzikhan Natalie, Tesolin Paola, Teumer Alexander, Theusch Elizabeth, Thompson Deborah J., Thorleifsson Gudmar, Timmers Paul R. H. J., Trompet Stella, Turman Constance, Vaccargiu Simona, van der Laan Sander W., van der Most Peter J., van Klinken Jan B., van Setten Jessica, Verma Shefali S., Verweij Niek, Veturi Yogasudha, Wang Carol A., Wang Chaolong, Wang Lihua, Wang Zhe, Warren Helen R., Wei Wen Bin, Wickremasinghe Ananda R., Wielscher Matthias, Wiggins Kerri L., Winsvold Bendik S., Wong Andrew, Wu Yang, Wuttke Matthias, Xia Rui, Xie Tian, Yamamoto Ken, Yang Jingyun, Yao Jie, Young Hannah, Yousri Noha A., Yu Lei, Zeng Lingyao, Zhang Weihua, Zhang Xinyuan, Zhao Jing-Hua, Zhao Wei, Zhou Wei, Zimmermann Martina E., Zoledziewska Magdalena, Adair Linda S., Adams Hieab H. H., Aguilar-Salinas Carlos A., Al-Mulla Fahd, Arnett Donna K., Asselbergs Folkert W., Åsvold Bjørn Olav, Attia John, Banas Bernhard, Bandinelli Stefania, Bennett David A., Bergler Tobias, Bharadwaj Dwaipayan, Biino Ginevra, Bisgaard Hans, Boerwinkle Eric, Böger Carsten A., Bønnelykke Klaus, Boomsma Dorret I., Børglum Anders D., Borja Judith B., Bouchard Claude, Bowden Donald W., Brandslund Ivan, Brumpton Ben, Buring Julie E., Caulfield Mark J., Chambers John C., Chandak Giriraj R., Chanock Stephen J., Chaturvedi Nish, Chen Yii-Der Ida, Chen Zhengming, Cheng Ching-Yu, Christophersen Ingrid E., Ciullo Marina, Cole John W., Collins Francis S., Cooper Richard S., Cruz Miguel, Cucca Francesco, Cupples L. Adrienne, Cutler Michael J., Damrauer Scott M., Dantoft Thomas M., de Borst Gert J., de Groot Lisette C. P. G. M., De Jager Philip L., de Kleijn Dominique P. V., de Silva H. Janaka, Dedoussis George V., den Hollander Anneke I., Du Shufa, Easton Douglas F., Elders Petra J. M., Eliassen A. Heather, Ellinor Patrick T., Elmståhl Sölve, Erdmann Jeanette, Evans Michele K., Fatkin Diane, Feenstra Bjarke, Feitosa Mary F., Ferrucci Luigi, Ford Ian, Fornage Myriam, Franke Andre, Franks Paul W., Freedman Barry I., Gasparini Paolo, Gieger Christian, Girotto Giorgia, Goddard Michael E., Golightly Yvonne M., Gonzalez-Villalpando Clicerio, Gordon-Larsen Penny, Grallert Harald, Grant Struan F. A., Grarup Niels, Griffiths Lyn, Gudnason Vilmundur, Haiman Christopher, Hakonarson Hakon, Hansen Torben, Hartman Catharina A., Hattersley Andrew T., Hayward Caroline, Heckbert Susan R., Heng Chew-Kiat, Hengstenberg Christian, Hewitt Alex W., Hishigaki Haretsugu, Hoyng Carel B., Huang Paul L., Huang Wei, Hunt Steven C., Hveem Kristian, Hyppönen Elina, Iacono William G., Ichihara Sahoko, Ikram M. Arfan, Isasi Carmen R., Jackson Rebecca D., Jarvelin Marjo-Riitta, Jin Zi-Bing, Jöckel Karl-Heinz, Joshi Peter K., Jousilahti Pekka, Jukema J. Wouter, Kähönen Mika, Kamatani Yoichiro, Kang Kui Dong, Kaprio Jaakko, Kardia Sharon L. R., Karpe Fredrik, Kato Norihiro, Kee Frank, Kessler Thorsten, Khera Amit V., Khor Chiea Chuen, Kiemeney Lambertus A. L. M., Kim Bong-Jo, Kim Eung Kweon, Kim Hyung-Lae, Kirchhof Paulus, Kivimaki Mika, Koh Woon-Puay, Koistinen Heikki A., Kolovou Genovefa D., Kooner Jaspal S., Kooperberg Charles, Köttgen Anna, Kovacs Peter, Kraaijeveld Adriaan, Kraft Peter, Krauss Ronald M., Kumari Meena, Kutalik Zoltan, Laakso Markku, Lange Leslie A., Langenberg Claudia, Launer Lenore J., Le Marchand Loic, Lee Hyejin, Lee Nanette R., Lehtimäki Terho, Li Huaixing, Li Liming, Lieb Wolfgang, Lin Xu, Lind Lars, Linneberg Allan, Liu Ching-Ti, Liu Jianjun, Loeffler Markus, London Barry, Lubitz Steven A., Lye Stephen J., Mackey David A., Mägi Reedik, Magnusson Patrik K. E., Marcus Gregory M., Vidal Pedro Marques, Martin Nicholas G., März Winfried, Matsuda Fumihiko, McGarrah Robert W., McGue Matt, McKnight Amy Jayne, Medland Sarah E., Mellström Dan, Metspalu Andres, Mitchell Braxton D., Mitchell Paul, Mook-Kanamori Dennis O., Morris Andrew D., Mucci Lorelei A., Munroe Patricia B., Nalls Mike A., Nazarian Saman, Nelson Amanda E., Neville Matt J., Newton-Cheh Christopher, Nielsen Christopher S., Nöthen Markus M., Ohlsson Claes, Oldehinkel Albertine J., Orozco Lorena, Pahkala Katja, Pajukanta Päivi, Palmer Colin N. A., Parra Esteban J., Pattaro Cristian, Pedersen Oluf, Pennell Craig E., Penninx Brenda W. J. H., Perusse Louis, Peters Annette, Peyser Patricia A., Porteous David J., Posthuma Danielle, Power Chris, Pramstaller Peter P., Province Michael A., Qi Qibin, Qu Jia, Rader Daniel J., Raitakari Olli T., Ralhan Sarju, Rallidis Loukianos S., Rao Dabeeru C., Redline Susan, Reilly Dermot F., Reiner Alexander P., Rhee Sang Youl, Ridker Paul M., Rienstra Michiel, Ripatti Samuli, Ritchie Marylyn D., Roden Dan M., Rosendaal Frits R., Rotter Jerome I., Rudan Igor, Rutters Femke, Sabanayagam Charumathi, Saleheen Danish, Salomaa Veikko, Samani Nilesh J., Sanghera Dharambir K., Sattar Naveed, Schmidt Börge, Schmidt Helena, Schmidt Reinhold, Schulze Matthias B., Schunkert Heribert, Scott Laura J., Scott Rodney J., Sever Peter, Shiroma Eric J., Shoemaker M. Benjamin, Shu Xiao-Ou, Simonsick Eleanor M., Sims Mario, Singh Jai Rup, Singleton Andrew B., Sinner Moritz F., Smith J. Gustav, Snieder Harold, Spector Tim D., Stampfer Meir J., Stark Klaus J., Strachan David P., Hart Leen M. ‘t, Tabara Yasuharu, Tang Hua, Tardif Jean-Claude, Thanaraj Thangavel A., Timpson Nicholas J., Tönjes Anke, Tremblay Angelo, Tuomi Tiinamaija, Tuomilehto Jaakko, Tusié-Luna Maria-Teresa, Uitterlinden Andre G., van Dam Rob M., van der Harst Pim, Van der Velde Nathalie, van Duijn Cornelia M., van Schoor Natasja M., Vitart Veronique, Völker Uwe, Vollenweider Peter, Völzke Henry, Wacher-Rodarte Niels H., Walker Mark, Wang Ya Xing, Wareham Nicholas J., Watanabe Richard M., Watkins Hugh, Weir David R., Werge Thomas M., Widen Elisabeth, Wilkens Lynne R., Willemsen Gonneke, Willett Walter C., Wilson James F., Wong Tien-Yin, Woo Jeong-Taek, Wright Alan F., Wu Jer-Yuarn, Xu Huichun, Yajnik Chittaranjan S., Yokota Mitsuhiro, Yuan Jian-Min, Zeggini Eleftheria, Zemel Babette S., Zheng Wei, Zhu Xiaofeng, Zmuda Joseph M., Zonderman Alan B., Zwart John-Anker, 23andMe Research Team, VA Million Veteran Program, DiscovEHR (DiscovEHR and MyCode Community Health Initiative), eMERGE (Electronic Medical Records and Genomics Network), Lifelines Cohort Study, The PRACTICAL Consortium, Understanding Society Scientific Group, Chasman Daniel I., Cho Yoon Shin, Heid Iris M., McCarthy Mark I., Ng Maggie C. Y., O’Donnell Christopher J., Rivadeneira Fernando, Thorsteinsdottir Unnur, Sun Yan V., Tai E. Shyong, Boehnke Michael, Deloukas Panos, Justice Anne E., Lindgren Cecilia M., Loos Ruth J. F., Mohlke Karen L., North Kari E., Stefansson Kari, Walters Robin G., Winkler Thomas W., Young Kristin L., Loh Po-Ru, Yang Jian, Esko Tõnu, Assimes Themistocles L., Auton Adam, Abecasis Goncalo R., Willer Cristen J., Locke Adam E., Berndt Sonja I., Lettre Guillaume, Frayling Timothy M., Okada Yukinori, Wood Andrew R., Visscher Peter M., Hirschhorn Joel N.
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä )