HEDIMED: Human Exposomic Determinants of Immune Mediated Diseases

The project is based on a data and biological samples from cohorts constituting the largest clinical resource in this field including 350.000 pregnant women, 28.000 children prospectively followed from birth and 6.600 children from cross-sectional studies. HEDIMED focuses on type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, allergies and asthma. Exposomic disease determinants and the underlying biological pathways will be identified by comprehensive characterization of both external and internal exposomic factors, and using advanced omics and multiplex technologies combined with cutting–edge data mining technologies. Particular emphasis is put on intrauterine and early childhood exposures since the disease process is known to start early. HEDIMED also include cell and organ culture models to help the identification of causal associations. The project period is 2020-2024. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 864764 HEDIMED.

News from 2022:
We have published a description of the study, finalized all the necessary infrastructure with ethical permissions, data protection impact assessments, agreements and HEDIMED platform for data storage analysis and visualization. Analyses are underway, and we have secured funding for a postdoc to work with us at Oslo University hospital, primarily on studies of celiac disease.

Publications 2022:
Laiho JE, Laitinen OH, Malkamäki J, Puustinen L, Sinkkonen A, Pärkkä J, Hyöty H, the HEDIMED Investigator Group (incl. LC Stene). Exposomic determinants of immune-mediated diseases. Environmental Epidemiology. 2022;6(3):e212. doi: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000212. PMID: 35702504.

Stene LC, Haynes A. Trending now: modelling global epidemiology of type 1 diabetes. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022 10(12):828-829. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00306-0. PMID: 36372071. (solicited commentary on Ward et al. DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00276-5)

Rantala AK, Tapia G, Magnus MC, Stene LC, Jaakkola JJK, Størdal K, Karlstad Ø, Nystad W. Maternal antibiotic use and infections during pregnancy and offspring asthma: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study and a nationwide register cohort. Eur J Epidemiol 2022 37(9):983-992. doi: 10.1007/s10654-022-00897-y. PMID: 35939140.

Primary Investigator: Lars C. Stene (Norwegian site; the consortium coordinator/PI is Heikki Hyöty; Tampere)

Co-investigators/participants:  
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) is one of 22 partner institutions, and contributes with our two ongoing cohort studies MIDIA and MoBa/PAGE (described as separate projects). Among the collaborating scientist at ODRC are:
German Tapia
Nicolai A. Lund-Blix
Geir Joner
Torild Skrivarhaug
Benedicte A. Lie
Marte K. Viken
Ketil Størdal

Extrenal collaborators:
The consortium consists of 22 partner institutions in 11 countries, and is led by Prof. Heikki Hyöty at University of Tampere. See project website for list of partners https://www.hedimed.eu/.