Investigating the shared etiology of childhood leukemia and type 1 diabetes
The COLDIA research group, based at Tampere University, focuses on investigating the co-occurrence of childhood acute leukemia and type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents. Both are severe pediatric conditions with notably high incidence rates in Finland, yet their underlying causes remain largely unknown.
The group’s research builds on the hypothesis that these diseases may share common risk factors—such as early-life exposure or avoidance to common pathogens—that can lead to immune dysregulation. By clarifying the exact environmental and biological reasons for this co-occurrence, the team aims to provide critical insights into the etiology of both diseases and ultimately pave the way for new preventive healthcare measures.
To achieve these goals, the research group utilizes rigorous register-based epidemiological methodologies and large-scale data integration. Their work relies on a comprehensive double case-control structure encompassing decades of nationwide health data sourced from the Finnish Cancer Registry, Kela, and other national institutions.
Furthermore, by collaborating with major health data and biobank initiatives like FinRegistry and FinnGen, the team conducts vast exploratory analyses to identify shared single nucleotide variant (SNV) profiles and broader epidemiological associations between childhood leukemia and autoimmune conditions. Through this population-level approach, the group’s findings aim to unravel the complex mechanisms linking immune system development to pediatric cancers and metabolic disorders.
Contact information
Atte Nikkilä, Principal Investigator
atte.nikkila@tuni.fi