Suvi Virtanen

Suvi Virtanen

Name: Virtanen, Suvi Mirjami
Year of birth: 1957
Job title: Research Professor
Tel: +358 29 5248729 
E-mail: firstname.lastname@thl.fi

Expertise

  • Maternal and child nutrition and growth and their significance in the development of type 1 diabetes in childhood
  • Maternal and child nutrition and growth in the development of allergic diseases and asthma in childhood
  • Maternal and child nutrition in the development of overweight and obesity in children
  • Nutritional epidemiological methods especially in infancy, childhood, pregnancy and laction
  • Nutritional recommendations

Primary duties

  • Responsible for nutrition in several national and international prospective cohort and intervention studies in the etiology of chronic childhood diseases (type 1 diabetes, allergies and asthma and obesity):  e.g., the Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) Study; the Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk (TRIGR); The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY),

Education

  • 1992 PhD (DMSc), University of Helsinki (Childhood diabetes)
  • 1988 MSc, University of Helsinki (Human nutrition)
  • 1983 MD, University of Helsinki (Medicine)

Docentships

  • 2001 Docent in epidemiology, University of Tampere 
  • 1994 Docent in nutrition, University of Helsinki

Other training

  • Professional degree in leadership (in Finnish: JET-koulutus), Haaga-Perho, 201

Work experience

  • Research Professor, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 1.5.2005-30.4.2009 (30%); 1.5.2009- (100%)
  • Head of the Nutrition Unit, THL, 21.2.2009-31.12.2017
  • Professor of epidemiology, University of Tampere, 1.8.2005-30.4.2009 (30% leave of absence)
  • Professor of Epidemiology, University of Tampere, School of Health Sciences: 1.5.2009-17.5.2010 (10%), 18.5.2010-31.12.2012 (5%); 1.1.2014-31.12.2015 (5%); 1.1.2016-31.12.2019 (10%)
  • Research Director (5%), University of Tampere, School of Health Sciences, 1.1.2013- 31.12.2013
  • Project Manager (2 hours/wk), Tampere University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, 1.8.2012-31.12.2015
  • Visiting researcher, Medical Statistic Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, 1.10.2003-30.4.2004 
  • Senior researcher (Academy Researcher), Academy of Finland, 1.8.2000-31.7.2005
  • Senior researcher, Medical Research Fund of Tampere University Hospital, 1.1.2000-30.6.2000
  • Epidemiologic consultant (4 hours/week), Department of Pediatrics, University of Tampere, 1.6.1999-31.5.2001
  • Visiting professor, Department on Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 1.6.1999-15.7.1999 
  • Acting professor of epidemiology, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, 11.8.1997-31.12.1999
  • Assistant professor of epidemiology, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, 1.4.1996-30.6.2005  (on leave due to other duties 11.8.1997-30.6.2000 and 1.8.2000-30.6.2005)
  • Postdoctoral training and research in nutritional epidemiology at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Wageningen Agricultural University and at the Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, the Netherlands, 1.8.1993-31.7.1994
  • Junior researcher, Academy of Finland, 1.8.1991-31.7.1995 (maternity leave 1992-93 and 1995-96)
  • Research fellow, Academy of Finland, 1.7.1986-31.7.1991

Linguistic skills

  • Finnish, native language; English, fluent; Swedish, level required for civil servants; Spanish, magna cum laude in matriculation exam in 1977

Current projects 

  • 2015- Effect of early diet and virus infections on immune regulation and the development islet autoimmunity -Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk (TRIGR Divia): role principal investigator
  • 2012- Early Dietary Intervention and later signs of beta-cell Autoimmunity: potential mechanisms (EDIA), responsible for nutrition study, member of the steering committee
  • 2012- Family Welfare Pilot Intervention Study (HYPE), project manager, consortium leader
  • 2009- 2012Interaction of genotype and environmental factors in the development of allergic diseases – multidisciplinary study (PrevAller, the Salve programme of the Academy of Finland), responsible for nutrition study
  • 2008- Member of the steering committee of the European cohort study on hygiene hypothesis in type 1 diabetes, asthma, allergic diseases and celiac disease (DIABIMMUNE), responsible for nutrition study
  • 2002- Cochair of the “Diet Committee” of The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) Study, responsible for dietary study in Finland
  • 1994- Responsible investigator of the dietary,  allergy and obesity components of "the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention" (DIPP) study
  • 1993-94 Postdoctoral training and research in nutritional epidemiology at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Wageningen Agricultural University and at the Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, the Netherlands
  • 1989- Nutrition Special Investigator and epidemiologist, member of International Executive Committee of "Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk" (TRIGR) (two pilot studies, study proper started in 2001), Chair of the “Nutritional Intervention Committee” 
  • 1986- Responsible investigator of the dietary part of the nation-wide "Childhood Diabetes in Finland" case-control and sibling cohort study on the etiology of IDDM

Professional memberships

  • Member of the Finrisk Study Steering Committee 2011-
  • Member of the FinHealth study Steering Committee 2015-
  • For memberships of other research groups please see Current projects.
  • Finnish National Nutrition Council, Member
  • Scientific Council in the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Member 2011-  
  • The Diabetes Research Foundation, Member of the scientific committee 2011-2014, chair 2012-14
  • Member of the working group (set up by Ministry of Social Affairs and Health) to monitor and develop mass catering services 2012-14, 2015-2017
  • Member of the strategic working group on the prevention of inequality during childhood, National  Institute for Health and Welfare, 2012-
  • Member of the strategic working group on obesity, National  Institute for Health and Welfare, 2012-
  • Chair of the national working group on Dietary recommendations for pregnant and lactating women and children, nominated by National Institute for Health and Welfare, 2012-2015
  • The state of Finnish scientific research report by the Academy of Finland / member of the Food and Nutrition Sciences evaluation workshop 2012
  • Evaluation of the Norwegian Action Plan for Nutrition, 2012, member of the WHO expert group 
  • Journal of Social Medicine (Sosiaalilääketieteellinen Aikakauslehti) 2/2012: Sociodemographic differences in nutrition and eating habits. Editors: Maijaliisa Erkkola, Eva Roos ja Suvi Virtanen.  
  • Scientific Council in the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Member 2011-  
  • Expert statement on the competence of professor Sari Mäkelä to professorship of Biomedicine, 2011
  • Member of the Finrisk Study Steering Committee 2011-
  • Finnish National Nutrition Council, Member 2008-11, 2011-14 and 2014-2017
  • Planning group for the CIMO Scholarship (Russia – Ukraine winter school program), Member 2007-11
  • Finnish National committee for promotion of breastfeeding, Member 2007-08 and 2009-10
  • Council of Postgraduate Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tampere, Deputy Member 1997-98, 2005-07 and Member 2007-10
  • PhD thesis review of Jaana Laitinen (Univ. of Kuopio 1994), Hanna Lagström (Univ. of Turku 1998), Markareetta Törnwall (Univ. of Helsinki 2000), Anne Louheranta (Univ. of Kuopio 2002), Janne Pitkäniemi (Univ. of Helsinki 2008), Sini Lohi (Univ. of Tampere 2010)
  • Work Group for the Dietary Recommendations for subjects with diabetes of the Finnish Diabetic Association, Chair 2006-08
  •  International Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology (IPPE), Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Leader 1997-99 and 2005-09
  • Doctoral Programs in Public Health postgraduate school (DPPH), Member of the Board, 1998-2001, 2005-2009
  • Evaluation of the Finnish Information Centre for Register Research (ReTki) in STAKES together with Dr. Veijo Notkola, 2005
  • Committee of Child and Adolescent Health Monitoring, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Member 2003-
  • The expert group”Nutritional risk assessment”of the Finnish National Public Health Institute, Member 2003-06
  • Board of the Finnish Epidemiological Society, Member 2003-04
  • Member of the review panel for research grants of the Academy of Finland, 2000, 2001, 2003
  • Docentship reviews of Mika Gissler (Univ. of Oulu 2001), Jaana Laitinen (Univ. of Oulu 2002)
  • Board of the Finnish Social Science Data Archive, University of Tampere, Member 1999-2001
  • Opponent to University of Helsinki on the PhD thesis of Satu Männistö, 1999  to University of Eastern Finland on the PhD thesis of Aino-Maija Eloranta, 2004
  • Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Deputy Director 1998-2001
  • Sosiaalilääketieteellinen Aikakauslehti (Journal of Social Medicine), Member of the Editorial Board, 1997-2014
  • Management group of the Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Member 1996-99
  • EU Tempus Program “Management of Change in Public Health” in Lithuania, Member (professional partner), 1996-99
  • Faculty council of Faculty of Medicine, University of Tampere, Deputy Member 1996-98
  • Reviews to the National Research Council for Agriculture and Forestry, Academy of Finland, 1994
  • Board of the Finnish Society for Nutrition Research, Member and Secretary 1991-92
  • Ethics Research Committee in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Member 1989-92
  • Peer-reviews to scientific journals: Brit J Nutr, Diabetes, Diab Metab, Diabetologia, Eur J Clin Nutr, Horm Metab Res, J Pediatr Endocrin and Metabol, Nutr & Metabol, Pediatric Diabetes, Pediatrics, PLoS ONE, Res Rev, Scand J Public Health, Sosiaalilääketieteellinen Aikakauslehti (Journal of Social Medicine), Suomen Lääkärilehti (Finnish Medical Journal) 

Publications

Total number of publications (according to the classification used by the Ministry of Education and Culture): 373.

Number of peer-reviewed original and review articles:  261.

Links to publicationsLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab

Ten most important scienfific origal articles

  • Hyppönen E, Läärä E, Reunanen A, Järvelin MR, Virtanen SM. Intake of vitamin D and risk of type 1 diabetes: a birth-cohort study. Lancet 2001;358:1500-3.
  • Knip M, Virtanen SM, Seppä K, Ilonen J, Savilahti E, Vaarala O, Reunanen A, Teramo K, Hämäläinen AM, Paronen J, Dosch HM, Hakulinen T, Åkerblom HK. Dietary intervention in infancy and later signs of beta-cell autoimmunity. New England Journal of Medicine 2010;363;1900-8. 
  • Virtanen SM, Nevalainen J, Kronberg-Kippilä C, Ahonen S, Tapanainen H, Uusitalo L, Takkinen HM, Niinistö S, Ovaskainen ML, Kenward MG, Veijola R, Ilonen J, Simell O, Knip M. Food consumption and advanced β-cell autoimmunity in young children with HLA-conferred susceptibility to type 1 diabetes: a nested case-control design. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2012;95:471-8.
  • Nwaru BI, Takkinen HM, Niemelä O, Kaila M, Erkkola M, Ahonen S, Haapala A-M, Kenward MG, Pekkanen J, Lahesmaa R, Kere J, Simell O, Veijola R, Ilonen J, Hyöty H, Knip M, Virtanen SM. Timing of infant feeding in relation to childhood asthma and allergic diseases. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2013;131:78-86.
  • Nwaru BI, Takkinen HM, Kaila M, Erkkola M, Ahonen S, Pekkanen J, Simell O, Veijola R, Ilonen J, Hyöty H, Knip M, Virtanen SM. Food diversity in infancy and the risk of childhood asthma and allergies. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2014;133:1084-91.
  • Knip M, Åkerblom HK, Becker D, Dosch HM, Dupre J, Fraser W, Howard N, Ilonen J, Krischer JP, Kordonouri O, Lawson ML, Palmer JP, Savilahti E, Vaarala O, Virtanen SM, TRIGR Study Group. Hydrolyzed infant formula and early β-cell autoimmunity: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 2014;311:2279-87.
  • Virtanen SM, Takkinen HM, Nwaru BI, Kaila M, Ahonen S, Nevalainen J, Niinistö S, Siljander H, Simell O, Ilonen J, Hyöty H, Veijola R, Knip M. Microbial exposure in infancy and subsequent appearance of type 1 diabetes mellitus-associated autoantibodies: a cohort study. JAMA Pediatrics 2014;168:755-63.
  • Lumia M, Luukkainen P, Takkinen HM, Kaila M, Nwaru BI, Nevalainen J, Salminen I, Uusitalo L, Niinistö S, Tuokkola J, Niemelä O, Haapala AM, Ilonen J, Simell O, Knip M, Veijola R, Virtanen SM. Cow's milk allergy and the association between fatty acids and childhood asthma risk. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2014;134:488-90.
  • Kostic AD, Gevers D, Siljander H, Vatanen T, Hyötyläinen T, Hämäläinen AM, Peet A, Tillmann V, Pöhö P, Mattila I, Lähdesmäki H, Franzosa EA, Vaarala O, de Goffau M, Harmsen H, Ilonen J,Virtanen SM, Clish CB, Orešič M, Huttenhower C, Knip M; DIABIMMUNE Study Group, Xavier RJ. The dynamics of the human infant gut microbiome in development and in progression toward type 1 diabetes. Cell Host & Microbe 2015;17:260-73.
  • Uusitalo U, Liu X, Yang J, Aronsson CA, Hummel S, Butterworth M, Lernmark Å, Rewers M, Hagopian W, She JX, Simell O, Toppari J, Ziegler AG, Akolkar B, Krischer J,  Norris JM, Virtanen SM, TEDDY Study Group. Association of early exposure of probiotics and islet autoimmunity in the TEDDY Study. JAMA Pediatrics 2015 (in press)

 

 

 

 

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