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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Gene-educational attainment interactions in a multi-population genome-wide meta-analysis identify novel lipid loci (2023)

Frontiers in Genetics
de las Fuentes Lisa, Schwander Karen L. M., Brown Michael R., Bentley Amy R., Winkler Thomas W., Sung Yun Ju, Munroe Patricia B., Miller Clint L., Aschard Hugo, Aslibekyan Stella, Bartz Traci M., Bielak Lawrence F., Chai Jin Fang, Cheng Ching-Yu, Dorajoo Rajkumar, Feitosa Mary F., Guo Xiuqing, Hartwig Fernando P., Horimoto Andrea, Kolcic Ivana, Lim Elise, Liu Yongmei, Manning Alisa K., Marten Jonathan, Musani Solomon K., Noordam Raymond, Padmanabhan Sandosh, Rankinen Tuomo, Richard Melissa A., Ridker Paul M., Smith Albert V., Vojinovic Dina, Zonderman Alan B., Alver Maris, Boissel Mathilde, Christensen Kaare, Freedman Barry I., Gao Chuan, Giulianini Franco, Harris Sarah E., He Meian, Hsu Fang-Chi, Kuehnel Brigitte, Laguzzi Federica, Li Xiaoyin, Lyytikainen Leo-Pekka, Nolte Ilja M., Poveda Alaitz, Rauramaa Rainer, Riaz Muhammad, Robino Antonietta, Sofer Tamar, Takeuchi Fumihiko, Tayo Bamidele O., van der Most Peter J., Verweij Niek, Ware Erin B., Weiss Stefan, Wen Wanqing, Yanek Lisa R., Zhan Yiqiang, Amin Najaf, Arking Dan E., Ballantyne Christie, Boerwinkle Eric, Brody Jennifer A., Broeckel Ulrich, Campbell Archie, Canouil Mickael, Chai Xiaoran, Chen Yii-Der Ida, Chen Xu, Chitrala Kumaraswamy Naidu, Concas Maria Pina, de Faire Ulf, de Mutsert Renee, de Silva H. Janaka, de Vries Paul S., Do Ahn, Faul Jessica D., Fisher Virginia, Floyd James S., Forrester Terrence, Friedlander Yechiel, Girotto Giorgia, Gu C. Charles, Hallmans Goeran, Heikkinen Sami, Heng Chew-Kiat, Homuth Georg, Hunt Steven, Ikram M. Arfan, Jacobs David R. Jr., Kavousi Maryam, Khor Chiea Chuen, Kilpelainen Tuomas O., Koh Woon-Puay, Komulainen Pirjo, Langefeld Carl D., Liang Jingjing, Liu Kiang, Liu Jianjun, Lohman Kurt, Magi Reedik, Manichaikul Ani W., McKenzie Colin A., Meitinger Thomas, Milaneschi Yuri, Nauck Matthias, Nelson Christopher P., O'Connell Jeffrey R., Palmer Nicholette D., Pereira Alexandre C., Perls Thomas, Peters Annette, Polasek Ozren, Raitakari Olli T., Rice Kenneth, Rice Treva K., Rich Stephen S., Sabanayagam Charumathi, Schreiner Pamela J., Shu Xiao-Ou, Sidney Stephen, Sims Mario, Smith Jennifer A., Starr John M., Strauch Konstantin, Tai E. Shyong, Taylor Kent D., Tsai Michael Y., Uitterlinden Andre G., van Heemst Diana, Waldenberger Melanie, Wang Ya-Xing, Wei Wen-Bin, Wilson Gregory, Xuan Deng, Yao Jie, Yu Caizheng, Yuan Jian-Min, Zhao Wei, Becker Diane M., Bonnefond Amelie, Bowden Donald W., Cooper Richard S., Deary Ian J., Divers Jasmin, Esko Tonu, Franks Paul W., Froguel Philippe, Gieger Christian, Jonas Jost B., Kato Norihiro, Lakka Timo A., Leander Karin, Lehtimaki Terho, Magnusson Patrik K. E., North Kari E., Ntalla Ioanna, Penninx Brenda, Samani Nilesh J., Snieder Harold, Spedicati Beatrice, van der Harst Pim, Voelzke Henry, Wagenknecht Lynne E., Weir David R., Wojczynski Mary K., Wu Tangchun, Zheng Wei, Zhu Xiaofeng, Bouchard Claude, Chasman Daniel, Evans Michele, Fox Ervin R., Gudnason Vilmundur, Hayward Caroline, Horta Bernardo L., Kardia Sharon L. R., Krieger Jose Eduardo, Mook-Kanamori Dennis O., Peyser Patricia A., Province Michael M., Psaty Bruce M., Rudan Igor, Sim Xueling, Smith Blair H., van Dam Rob M., van Duijn Cornelia M., Wong Tien Yin, Arnett Donna K., Rao Dabeeru C., Gauderman James, Liu Ching-Ti, Morrison Alanna C., Rotter Jerome I., Fornage Myriam
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

OTTERS: a powerful TWAS framework leveraging summary-level reference data (2023)

Nature Communications
Dai Qile, Zhou Geyu, Zhao Hongyu, Võsa Urmo, Franke Lude, Battle Alexis, Teumer Alexander, Lehtimäki Terho, Raitakari Olli T., Esko Tõnu; Consortium eQTLGen; Epstein Michael P., Yang Jingjing
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä )

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))

Tracking of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity from Youth to Young Adulthood: Findings from the Prospective Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) (2023)

Journal of Pediatrics: X
Fraser Brooklyn J., Blizzard Leigh, Rovio Suvi P., Heinonen Olli J., Niinikoski Harri, Viikari Jorma S.A., Rönnemaa Tapani, Jula Antti, Raitakari Olli T., Magnussen Costan G., Pahkala Katja
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))