Emma Raitoharju

Emma Raitoharju is an Academy Research Fellow in Biomedicine at Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology. Her research is deeply embedded in epigenetics, particularly DNA methylation and microRNA, with strong applications in cardiovascular disease, aging, and public health. She is a key contributor to the long-term Young Finns Study, leveraging decades of data to explore epigenetic aging and resilience.

Her research interests center on epigenetic mechanisms in disease development, with a focus on biological aging, vascular health, and gene expression regulation. She investigates how lifestyle factors such as sleep disturbances and shift work influence epigenetic aging, and how early-life resilience impacts long-term health trajectories. Her work bridges molecular biology with population-level health outcomes.

The recent trend in her publications reveals a strong focus on epigenetic biomarkers of aging and disease, particularly using longitudinal cohort data. Her studies integrate microRNA profiling, DNA methylation analysis, and clinical phenotypes to uncover mechanisms linking stress, aging, and cardiovascular risk. She frequently collaborates with leading Finnish researchers in genetics and epidemiology.

Emma Raitoharju actively contributes to scientific discourse through conference presentations, including talks on transgenerational stress effects and clinical trials. She has co-authored a doctoral thesis and contributed to significant datasets, such as the methylation profile of VTRNA2-1 across tissues and populations. While no formal students are listed, her collaborative output suggests mentorship within research teams. She has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text.

Her work is primarily conducted within the Young Finns Study research network, a collaborative, multidisciplinary team focused on cardiovascular and metabolic health across the lifespan. This team includes experts in epidemiology, genetics, psychology, and clinical medicine, enabling integrative research on complex health outcomes.