Pregnancy, delivery and reproductive timespan – significance to the health of the mother and the child
Research group information
Unit and faculty
Contact information
Research group leader
- Marja Vääräsmäki
Research group description
Our focus area comprises of epidemiological and clinical research from a reproduction perspective. We study how reproductive history, common pregnancy complications, and endocrine and chronic diseases predict maternal and child health throughout the life-course. Diseases and conditions of interest include especially gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and thyroid diseases. We are interested in studying the effect of these common conditions on the course of pregnancy and delivery and on the subsequent health of the child and the mother, with special interest in glucose tolerance, metabolic disorders and cardiometabolic outcomes.
The above-mentioned pregnancy complications affect vast proportions of all pregnancies and are associated with adverse cardiometabolic health effects across generations. Identifying the magnitude and the mechanisms of these adverse effects is crucial when working towards identifying potentially modifiable risk factors and possible prevention of the adverse effects.
Where are we headed
The aim is to recognize new risk factors for pregnancy complications and to identify how these complications affect the long-term health of the families. We participate in training of new researchers and currently host 5 PhD students, who are anticipated to graduate between 2025-2028. We aim to produce high-impact research and well-trained next generation researchers. The group has formed an active national network and also works intensively with international contacts, especially in the field of gestational diabetes and thyroid studies. Our studies are nationally, and internationally recognized and published results have already been implemented in clinical practice.
Our main collaborators
- Elizabeth Binder, MD, Professor, Max Planck Institute, Munich, Germany
- Toby Andrew, Imperial College, London, UK and University of Lille, France
- Philippe Froguel, Professor, University of Lille, France and Imperial College, UK
- Rachel Freathy, Associate Professor, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, UK
- Kari Anne Indredavik Evensen, Professor, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Satu Männistö, Docent, Nutritionist, Department of Public Health and Welfare, Population Health Unit, THL, Helsinki
- Pekka Ylöstalo, Professor, Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu
- Mika Nevalainen, MD, Docent, Department of Radiology, Oulu University Hospital
- Terhi Ruuska, Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence, Oulu University Hospital
- Julia Jäkel, Professor, Clinical and Developmental Psychology, University of Oulu
- Sylvain Sebert, Professor of Life-course Epidemiology, Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu
How to find us
marja.vaarasmaki[at]oulu.fi