People

Pregnancy and Genes Research Group people
Hannele Laivuori

MD, Ph.D., Group Leader

I am an adjunct professor in medical genetics and specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and clinical genetics. My research interests are genetics, molecular mechanisms, risk factors and later life implications of common pregnancy disorders.

hannele.laivuori@helsinki.fi 

Tiina Jääskeläinen

PhD, adj. professor, senior researcher and university lecturer

I received my PhD in clinical nutrition at the University of Eastern Finland in 2010. The research focused on obesity predisposing genes and lifestyle factors. In the current group as a postdoctoral fellow I work with the InterPregGen project which is the first large-scale international effort to identify maternal and fetal susceptibility genes for pre-eclampsia.

tiina.j.jaaskelainen@helsinki.fi

Pia Villa

MD, Graduate Student

I am an MD and specialised in obstetrics and gynecology in University of Helsinki.  I have been working in the PREDO project since it started. I am interested in pregnancy disorders and fetal medicine with  special focus on the prediction and prevention pre-eclampsia.

pia.villa@helsinki.fi

Anni Kivelä

I hold a Master of Science in nutrition and am a registered nurse, contributing to the FINNCARE study since 2020, where my main focus has been counseling families with a history of pre-eclampsia in a web-based lifestyle intervention. I am currently pursuing a PhD, focusing on how pre-eclampsia impacts women’s long-term health, with a particular emphasis on promoting cardiovascular health in the years following childbirth.

Eija Kortelainen

Research Nurse

I am a trained midwife. As the group’s research nurse I am responsible for our clinical databases and assist in the group’s research projects.

eija.kortelainen@helsinki.fi

Former group members

Inkeri Lokki, Tea Kaartokallio, Jenni Heikkinen-Eloranta, Sanna Suomalainen-König, Miira Klemetti, Katja Murtoniemi, Jenni Lahtinen, Susanna Mehtälä, Pradeep Eranti, Elina Huovari, Leena Järvinen, Ulla Korpela, Aija Lähdesmäki, Paula Maanselkä, Kerttu Majander, Christina Salmén, Anette Sirviö, Siddhesh Utge