Central Finland biobank seeks more volunteers to reach 40,000 samples by year’s end

The Central Finland Biobank, jointly owned by the Central Finland Wellbeing Services County and the University of Jyväskylä, is calling for more volunteers to help expand its collection to 40,000 samples by the end of 2024, Yle reports. The initiative aims to combine genetic and lifestyle data to advance research on disease prevention and health promotion.

Currently, the biobank holds around 30,000 samples, primarily blood but also other tissue types, stored in liquid nitrogen freezers at Sairaala Nova in Jyväskylä. Volunteers are encouraged to participate through a lifestyle survey, which provides personalised feedback on habits like exercise and nutrition compared to national guidelines.

Elina Sillanpää, an associate professor at the University of Jyväskylä, describes the research as unique due to its integration of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle data. Unlike studies focusing on single risk factors, this approach examines how genetics and habits collectively influence diseases—particularly musculoskeletal disorders, which are prevalent in Central Finland.

“Diseases don’t develop because of just one factor,” Sillanpää noted, emphasising the need for long-term tracking of participants throughout their lives. The findings could inform local healthcare services and potentially expand nationwide if successful.

Volunteers like Kirsi Takkinen, who donated a sample during a routine blood test, may receive optional health-related insights from their samples, such as genetic mutations. “If my grandchildren could benefit from this research in the future, that motivates me,” Takkinen said. Biobank director Tiina Jokela stressed that participants choose whether to receive such information.

Finland has ten nationally registered biobanks. The Central Finland Biobank, established in 2015 with sample collection beginning in 2018, supports research in biology, medicine, and health sciences.