Genetics, lifestyle, and health - biobank study (BioRecall)
The project has developed a digital model for collecting information on health, lifestyle, and living environment, while also providing participants with personalized feedback.
Combining new survey data with existing genomic data, biobank register data, and biomarkers derived from blood samples enables multidisciplinary research into how genetic factors, lifestyles, and environmental exposures jointly influence health and disease risk.
The study is carried out in collaboration with the Central Finland Biobank, the Central Finland Wellbeing Services County, the University of Eastern Finland, and the Finnish Biobanks’ Cooperative (FINBB).
Project description
From a Pilot Study to Biobank-Wide Data Collection
The digital questionnaire was successfully piloted among individuals with type 2 diabetes in spring 2025. In 2026, data collection will be expanded to include all individuals registered in the Central Finland Biobank.
Currently, the biobank includes approximately 10% of the population of Central Finland. The long-term goal is to expand the biobank to 40,000 participants (join the biobank).
Survey invitations are sent to individuals who have a stored biospecimen and have given their consent to be contacted by the biobank.
Participation in the BioRecall Study
Eligible participants receive an invitation by email. The questionnaire is completed in the secure REDCap system, which is designed for the collection of sensitive data. If an email address is not available, a paper invitation and questionnaire are sent by post.
The questionnaire includes topics such as physical activity, diet, substance use, stress, sleep, work-related exposures, and features of the living environment.
Participants completing the digital questionnaire receive personalized feedback on their lifestyle choices in relation to national recommendations. In the pilot study, this feedback was reported to be a strong motivating factor for participation.
Use of the Data
The collected data can be used widely in scientific research and academic theses. In the future, participants may be invited to more detailed measurements or intervention studies based on their individual risk profiles. These profiles may include genetic risk, diagnoses, lifestyle factors, or combinations of these.
The data support the development of more personalized approaches to disease prevention and treatment.
Funding
BioRecall is part of the University of Jyväskylä’s profiling area Ageing, Environment and Functioning (ENVIS-AGE). The development of the research infrastructure is funded by the Research Council of Finland through the BBMRI.FI consortium, with funding awarded to the University of Jyväskylä and the Central Finland Wellbeing Services County. BBMRI.fi is the national biobanking research infrastructure formed by all ten public biobanks in Finland and coordinated by the Finnish Biobanks' Cooperative (FINBB).
The pilot phase of BioRecall was funded by JYU.Well.
BioRecall is part of a broader collaboration between the wellbeing services county and the University of Jyväskylä
Since 2023, the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä and the Central Finland Biobank have collaborated to offer research participants the opportunity to provide biobank consent or samples in all faculty-led projects. BioRecall is a natural continuation of this collaboration.
Future Perspectives
BioRecall is expected to expand into several independent research projects. Multiple funding applications, with a total value of approximately €20 million, are currently under evaluation.
Ongoing pilot studies are exploring opportunities to include data from wearable devices such as smart bracelets and watches. The use of citizen science approaches to further enrich the data is also being planned.
The long-term goal is to expand the collection of lifestyle and environmental data to all Finnish biobanks, enabling integration with national large-scale research initiatives such as FinnGen.
