HUS year 2024: Networks and collaboration

Partners involved in developing research activities

The HUS Committee for Research, Education, Development and Innovation (TKKI) met five times in 2024. We also actively participated in national and regional TKKI networks and discussions.

EU networks are an important partner in research and development efforts

In 2024, we participated in several EU consortium project applications, of which 11 new projects were awarded funding.

We are also a partner in the preparation of a major new IHI initiative (Innovative Health Initiative) to build digital patient care solutions based on an already developed approach in collaboration with major international companies.

We are currently coordinating four other ongoing EU consortium projects (LONGCOVID, ENDOTARGET, ONCOVALUE, PHEMS) and are a partner in more than 30 ongoing EU projects. The benefits of EU project activities are also reflected in other research, development and innovation activities at HUS.

We investigated and provided background information regarding participation in the Nordic University Hospital Alliance network and the European University Hospital Alliance network from the perspective of research, development and training. We signed our participation in the Nordic University Hospital Alliance (NUHA) network in June 2024 and in the European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA) network in January 2025.

Helsinki Biobank became one of the world’s largest hospital biobanks

In 2024, the number of biobank consents and samples continued to increase: 235,000 people granted their biobank consent and 185,000 provided a sample. With these numbers, Helsinki Biobank became one of the largest hospital biobanks in the world.

In turn, the demand for biobank materials grew to a record level, and more than 200 biobank studies have already been started with material from Helsinki Biobank. 

In 2024, Helsinki Biobank was still involved in research on cancer treatment and prevention. In the iCAN project, jointly ran by the University of Helsinki and HUS, tissue samples from some 3,500 cancer patients have already harvested and analyzed to date, assisted by Helsinki Biobank.

The Rare3k study on rare diseases continued in 2024. The target disease studied in the research involved people with a potential hereditary form of epilepsy. In addition, releasing genetic findings related to hereditary growth disorders and macular degeneration was continued. The studies have been successful in ensuring a diagnosis of a rare disease to several people who have provided a sample to the Biobank.

Helsinki Biobank is piloting the release of information relevant to the donor’s health

In 2024, Helsinki Biobank completed the work it has coordinated regarding the development of a national biobank infrastructure. The project was carried out between 2017 and 2024, funded by Business Finland and international pharmaceutical companies as part of the FinnGen project. During the project, a process for biobank sample collection covering entire Finland was created, involving more than 500,000 DNA samples provided by Finnish donors and submitted for the FinnGen project.

As part of the further utilization of the results, Helsinki Biobank has released information back to approximately 200 biobank sample donors on their discovery that the sample has indicated a high risk susceptibility to breast cancer. With the consent of the donor, the information has also been forwarded to healthcare services for further procedures.

Helsinki Biobank is coordinating this national development work for a new proactive care pathway. The release of medically relevant research information and its forwarding to the healthcare services will also be continued in the screening for other significant genetic diseases.