Doctoral Theses 2025

A researcher points at a computer screen displaying a data chart while discussing the results with a colleague in an office. Bookshelves and binders in the background suggest an academic or research workspace.

Seven doctoral students from the Genetics Research Program and three from the Public Health Research Program defended their doctoral theses.

Anna Abdollahi: Sleep habits of Finnish preschoolers: Associations with diet and weight. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki 8.2.2025. Supervisors: Maijaliisa Erkkola, Eva Roos, Ilona Merikanto.

Anni Antikainen: Genetics and metabolomics of cardiovascular disease in type 1 diabetes. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki 30.10.2025. Supervisors: Niina Sandholm, Per-Henrik Groop, Stefan Mutter. 

Rishi Banerjee: Novel disease mechanisms and effects of gene therapy in mouse models of neonatal mitochondrial complex III deficiency. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki 16.5.2025. Supervisors: Jukka Kallijärvi, Vineta Fellman. 

Marika Eriksson: Cerebral small vessel disease and stroke in type 1 diabetes – the impact of blood pressure, haptoglobin genotype, and diabetic retinopathy. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki 4.4.2025. Supervisors: Lena Thorn, Per-Henrik Groop, Juha Martola. 

Katarin Gorski: Insights into synaptic physiology from omics analyses in the early disease onset of CSTB-deficient mice modeling EPM1. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki 5.12.2025. Supervisors: Anna-Elina Lehesjoki, Brendan Battersby, Outi Kopra (deceased). 

Jani Haukka: Genetic and metabolomic factors of type 1 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki 17.6.2025. Supervisors: Per-Henrik Groop, Niina Sandholm. 

Saila Holopainen: Hypoxemic pulmonary diseases in dogs – Insights into clinical features, diagnostic imaging and genetics. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki 3.10.2025. Supervisors: Hannes Lohi, Minna Rajamäki. 

Anna-Maria Lahti: Social circumstances and social environment as determinants of physical and mental functioning in older age. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Jyväskylä 3.12.2025. Supervisors: Mikaela von Bonsdorff, Tuija Mikkola. 
 
Pauliina Repo: Genetic Predisposition to Uveal Melanoma in the Finnish Population. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki 23.5.2025. Supervisors: Tero T. Kivelä, Joni Turunen.

Ann-Louise Sirén: Quality of life in relation to person–environment fit and life course influences – Perspectives of senior housing residents in Finland. Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki 19.12.2025. Supervisor: Mikaela von Bonsdorff.