Research Cohorts and Projects of the Laivuori group

Our research focuses on understanding the genetic and environmental factors influencing women’s health, particularly in gynecological and obstetrical conditions. The group is actively involved in several projects based on cohorts aimed at especially uncovering factors predisposing to pre-eclampsia and its associated comorbidities.

FINNCARE

Cardiovascular Risk Profiling Post-Pregnancy

FINNCARE is a registered, randomized and controlled intervention trial to explore the impact of pre-eclampsia on CVD progression in mothers and their children 8-12 years from delivery. It aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a 12-month web-based interactive lifestyle intervention to reduce blood pressure and the risk of CVD. Genetic risk profiles for CVD are evaluated to pinpoint the PE families with increased CVD risk, and to identify whether a particular subset of novel or previously identified genetic PE risk variants show excessive contribution to CVD risk.

Finnish Genetics of Pre-eclampsia Consortium Study

is a nationwide cohort established to uncovering genetic risk factors for pre-eclampsia. Participants include women with and without pre-eclampsia, their partners, and offspring, recruited from Finland’s five university hospitals. FINNPEC, currently including 2818 women, has contributed to several landmark genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of pre-eclampsia. FINNPEC participated in the InterPregGen, the International Pregnancy Genetics study funded by the EU 7th Framework Programme.

Prediction and Prevention of Pre-eclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

The PREDO cohort includes over 1,000 pregnant women with varying pre-eclampsia risk factors and nearly 3,700 women in the psychological study arm. Data collection spans maternal health, genetics, lifestyle, and psychological questionnaires. Blood and urine samples were gathered at multiple pregnancy stages, enabling comprehensive analyses of pre-eclampsia predictors and interventions.

PREG-CARDIO

Pregnancy Outcomes and Cardiovascular Risk

PREG-CARDIO, consisting of Finnish health registry data, examines long-term cardiovascular outcomes in women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders. PREG-CARDIO investigates whether pregnancy history predicts later-life cardiovascular disease or reflects early signs of genetic predisposition to adverse cardiac events or other aspects of women’s long-term health.

PREMIuM

Microbiota and Metabolism in Pre-eclampsia

In the PRE-eclamptic MIcrobiota and Metabolism (PREMIuM) project, we investigate the interplay between metabolites and microbiota in pre-eclampsia and non-pre-eclamptic pregnancies. PREMIuM is a cohort of 51 preeclamptic and 53 normotensive women who delivered in Tampere University Hospital during 2019-2022. By analyzing metabolites in maternal plasma, umbilical cord plasma, and meconium, alongside microbiota profiles from maternal feces, vagina, oral cavity, and newborn meconium, we aim to uncover how maternal bacteria influence fetal gut colonization and overall health.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Rare Diseases

MELAS

This project is a Finnish registry study of reproductive health of women with the most common mitochondrial mutation m.3243A>G causing Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episodes, MELAS. The cohort includes 83 women with the mutation detected in Finnish genetic laboratories between 2002-2022.

Relationship of pre-eclampsia and CVD, and the influence of maternal, paternal and offspring genotype and phenotype on maternal pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia has been suggested to contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and fetal and familial factors have been associated with both conditions. The aims of the academy project are to stratify the risk of CVDs in women with a history of pre-eclampsia using registry data, to study how genetic susceptibility to pre-eclampsia and CVD predict the course of pregnancy and later CVD in women, and to explore the contribution of paternal and offspring genes to maternal pre-eclampsia and later CVD morbidity in families.

PREMIuM – Exploring Maternal and Neonatal Microbiota in Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is characterized by metabolic changes in mothers and newborns. In the PREMIuM project, we investigate the interplay between metabolites and microbiota in pre-eclampsia and non-pre-eclamptic pregnancies. By analyzing metabolites in maternal plasma, umbilical cord plasma, and meconium, alongside microbiota profiles from maternal feces, vagina, oral cavity, and newborn meconium, we aim to uncover how maternal bacteria influence fetal gut colonization and overall health.

Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorders – Comparing Outcomes of Frozen Embryo Transfer Regimens

Frozen embryo transfers (FET) are a cornerstone of infertility treatment, but different uterine preparation regimens may impact maternal outcomes. This retrospective study examines the hormonal environments associated with these regimens and their effects on maternal hypertensive complications and neonatal outcomes. We also investigate how accurately such data can be obtained from the hospital records by data search and algorithms and aim to study the preciseness and effectivity of this approach.

MSOP-PRE – Early Prediction and Personalized Prevention of Metabolic Syndrome and Pre-eclampsia

Metabolic syndrome during pregnancy increases the risk of pre-eclampsia and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD). MSOP-PRE aims to define metabolic syndrome in pregnancy and develop improved personalized prediction models for pre-eclampsia by combining machine learning, genomics and laboratory measurements.  The goal is to create targeted prevention strategies for both pregnancy complications and later-life CVD.  MSOP-PRE is collaborative project in the European Research Area Network (ERA-NET) in the field of Personalised Medicine (ERA PerMed).

Pregnancy passport

It is important that pre-eclamptic women are aware soon after pregnancy of their potential to influence their own and their family’s future health. We were preparing the first Finnish Current Care Guideline on High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy and Pre-eclampsia, which supports healthcare professionals in advising these women after pregnancy on the risk of cardiovascular disease and its prevention. We will explore whether the follow-up form given to them when leaving the maternity hospital is considered useful, and whether the form has any impact on cardiovascular disease risk factors after the first year after delivery.

Reproductive health of women with MELAS

Pathogenic changes in the mitochondrial DNA cause diseases characterized by variable symptoms due to changes in the energy metabolism. This project focuses on reproductive health of women with the most common mitochondrial mutation m.3243A>G (Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episodes, MELAS)

Registry data from patient records and registers of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) are used to investigate patient’s fertility, pregnancy outcomes and maternal symptoms before, during and after pregnancies.