FUSION Study
The Finland-United States Investigation of NIDDM Genetics (FUSION) study was launched in 1994 to investigate the genetic basis of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related traits, including glucose, insulin, and lipid levels, and obesity. The FUSION research collection contains DNA samples and data from almost 15 000 Finnish participants, thus providing an ideal basis for genetic studies. The carefully selected participants, the amount of collected and determined data as well as the possibility to follow the health of participants from national health registers, makes this collection one of the most significant research collections of type 2 diabetes worldwide.
The FUSION research collection consists of a core family collection of ca. 500 families (FUSION1: 1994-95) in which the participants (~2000) had met specific selection criteria:
The family was selected for the study if:
- the proband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 35 and 60 years of age
- the proband had one or more full siblings diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at any age
- there was no history of type 1 diabetes in first-degree relatives
- at least one parent was apparently nondiabetic, with preference given to families with living parents or parents who had lived a long life without known diabetes.
In the second phase of the study (FUSION 2: 1996-1998), FUSION was expanded by almost 3000 new participants by recruiting 300 new families and adding more family members of the FUSION 1 probands.
New participants have also been recruited by informed consent from previously collected Finnish research cohorts; Action LADA, Health 2000, FINRISK 2002 and 2007, and Diabetes in Savitaipale. Also, large population-based studies, collected in 2004 and 2007 to evaluate the effectiveness of the type 2 diabetes prevention program in Finland (D2D 2004 and D2D 2007) have been included into the FUSION study material.
FUSBIOPS-sub-study (2009-2013) concentrated on expression analyses of the muscle and adipose tissue samples collected from ca. 500 previous and new participants. Participants were adults with normal or impaired glucose tolerance, or with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes without antihyperglygemic medication. This sub-study also contains fibroblast cell lines and skin biopsies that can be used for production of cell lines.
Samples and data available in THL Biobank
DNA sample is available for research from all participants included in the FUSION study and fibroblasts (+ skin biopsies) from a subset of FUSBIOPS participants. For more detailed information, please see the 'THL Biobank Sample availability table'.
FUSION data that will be gradually available through the biobank includes physical measurements of the donor (weight, height, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, pulse), information about lifestyle (e.g. smoking, alcohol use, nutrition), self-reported information about diseases and medication, as well as biological measurements from the samples (e.g. fasting glucose, C-peptide, GAD antibodies, lipids). Detailed list of attributes available in the biobank can soon be found in the variable description files. Meanwhile ask more information from the biobank admin team (admin.biobank (at) thl.fi).
Additional information
If you are interested in sample collections focusing on diabetes research, see also THL Diabetes Studies and Botnia Study in THL Biobank.
THL Diabetes Studies
Botnia Study
Access to samples and data
Availability queries and application process to access THL Biobank resources
Contact
admin.biobank (at) thl.fi
- Samples and data from almost 15 000 donors collected during 1994-2013
- Focus on genetic factors of type 2 diabetes
- The core collection contains families with minimum of two siblings with type 2 diabetes and with no known family history of type 1 diabetes
- Contains DNA from all donors and fibroblasts from a subset