ASHG 2026 · Tier 1 Academic

University of Helsinki at ASHG 2026

Name: ASHG 2026 Annual Meeting
Start: 2026-10-20
End: 2026-10-24
Location: Montréal

Helsinki, Finland

University of Helsinki at ASHG 2026 in Montréal: 9 presentations (8 posters, 1 platform talk); 8 research groups.

presentations on the program

research groups identified

sessions invited to or moderated

Reviewers’ Choice abstracts

Explore everyone at ASHG 2026 →

Organization	ASHG 2026 Attendance
University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland	6 PhD Students · 1 Postdoc · 1 Staff Scientist · 1 PI
Computational & Statistical Genomicscompstatgenlab.github.io Dry lab~8 people Develops statistical and computational methods for low-coverage whole-genome sequencing and SNP-array data. Applies them to biobanks to study disease genetics. 21 papers since 2024 › Parent-of-origin effects on complex traits in up to 236,781 individuals Nature, 2025 A Genomics England haplotype reference panel and imputation of UK Biobank Nature Genetics, 2024 A blended genome and exome sequencing method captures genetic variation in an unbiased, high-quality, and cost-effective manner bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5030162729 Funded by ERC, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions +2 more › ERC, ERC Starting Grant · active “Simone has been awarded a prestigious ERC Starting Grant.” Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Marie Curie Fellowship · active “Dr. Maarja Jõeloo has been awarded a prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship!” EMBO, EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant · active “Francesca receives an EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant” +1 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 9 platforms and techniques › Analyzes Low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (lcWGS), Whole-exome sequencing (WES), SNP arrays Techniques Structural-variant detection and interpretation, Haplotype phasing, Identity-by-descent analysis, Low-coverage imputation, Hidden Markov models and PBWT, Polygenic risk scores and rare-variant burden estimation Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “We are actively recruiting postdoctoral researchers and PhD students” Source: lab positions page	Talk Wed Oct 21 11:15 am Accurate maternal and paternal haplotype inference reveals new parent-of-origin effects in the Finnish population Mapping Genetic Relatedness at Biobank Scale: Uncovering Hidden Signal from Rare Variants to Parent-of-Origin Effects Collaborators: Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland Complex traitsGenome-wide association studyHaplotypeInheritance patterns Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice Scalable, Read-Informed Phasing of 490,640 UK Biobank Whole Genomes Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology Collaborators: Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Lausanne BioinformaticsComputational toolsGenetic variationHaplotype
Pietiläinen Grouphelsinki.fi/en/hilife-helsinki-institute-life-science/units/neuroscience-center/research-groups/genomics-human-brain-disorders Wet + dry lab~5 people Uses human iPSC-derived neuronal models, functional genomics and Finnish genetic and clinical datasets. Studies schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders, with close links to the Stanley Center. 19 papers since 2024 › Single-nucleus sequencing reveals enriched expression of genetic risk factors in extratelencephalic neurons sensitive to degeneration in ALS Nature Aging, 2024 X-chromosome inactivation in human iPSCs provides insight into X-regulated gene expression in autosomes Genome biology, 2024 Antipsychotic medications and sleep problems in patients with schizophrenia Schizophrenia Research, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5069057100 Funded by Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö, Jane ja Aatos Erkon säätiö › Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö, Juselius 2025-2028 Pietiläinen Olli · 2025-2027 “Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö @003701165704@ 01/05/2025 → 30/04/2027” Jane ja Aatos Erkon säätiö · 2024-2027 “Jane ja Aatos Erkon säätiö 01/01/2024 → 31/12/2027” Source: lab pages 16 platforms and techniques › Works with human iPSC-derived neuronal models, human iPS cell lines and differentiated neuronal cultures, microfluidic cell cultures, MEA recording, high-content imaging, FinnGen clinical register data, transcriptomic data from human iPSC-derived neuronal models, plasma proteomic data from patient samples Techniques functional genomics, gene editing, molecular cell biology, microfluidic cell cultures, co-cultures, 2D and 3D models, rodent neuronal and glial cell cultures, MEA recording Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm A composite polygenic risk score of four prominent psychiatric disorders outperforms individual scores for shared comorbidity prediction in a large undiagnosed cohort Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Broad Institute Polygenic risk scoreClinical historyPsychosocial issuesPsychiatric genetics Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice NRXN1 variants induce transcriptomic and electrophysiological changes in iPSC-derived neurons Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Karolinska Institutet, Aalto University +3 more NeurogeneticsRNA-seqSpatial transcriptomics
Data Science - Genetic Epidemiology Lab (DSGE Lab)dsgelab.org/team Dry lab~17 people Develops statistical and deep-learning models for EHR/registry, genetic, proteomic and single-cell transcriptomic data. Uses FinnGen and GenCOST for disease prediction, prevention and healthcare-cost genetics. 64 papers since 2024 › Genetic drivers and cellular selection of female mosaic X chromosome loss Nature, 2024 Family-GWAS reveals effects of environment and mating on genetic associations medRxiv, 2024 Evaluation of polygenic scoring methods in five biobanks shows larger variation between biobanks than methods and finds benefits of ensemble learning The American Journal of Human Genetics, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5073500794 Funded by ERC, NIH › ERC, Synergy Grant · active “Image: ERC-Synergy-Grant.png” NIH · active “Image: NIH-logo.jpg” Source: lab pages 13 platforms and techniques › Analyzes Electronic health records/national health registries, GWAS, QTL data, Whole-exome sequencing, Single-cell transcriptomics, Proteomics Techniques Statistical methods, Deep learning, Polygenic scores, Machine-learning models, Transformer-based models, Self-supervised foundation models, Graph representation learning Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Polygenic indices for educational attainment predict income via indirect paternal effects Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology Collaborators: VATT Institute for Economic Research, Tampere University +3 more Gene environment interactionGenetic epidemiologyLarge-scale biobanksPolygenic risk score
Kilpinen Grouphelsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/cellular-genetics-of-disease Wet + dry lab~13 people Uses human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal models and high-throughput profiling of single cells. Studies genetic variation in disease-relevant cell types. 4 papers since 2024 › INTS6 loss of function disrupts transcriptional regulation in mild intellectual disability bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), 2026 Joint profiling of cell morphology and gene expression during in vitro neurodevelopment eLife, 2025 Author Correction: Genomic basis for RNA alterations in cancer Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), 2025 Source: OpenAlex author A5082096083 Funded by MRC, Nordic EMBL +2 more › Nordic EMBL, Nordic EMBL Postdoctoral (NORPOD) Fellowship · active “I am a Nordic EMBL Postdoctoral (NORPOD) Fellow” HiPOD, HiPOD Fellow · active “Postdoctoral Researcher (HiPOD Fellow)” la Caixa, la Caixa Postgraduate Fellowship Programme · 2023-2025 “supported by the “la Caixa” Postgraduate Fellowship Programme” +1 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 10 platforms and techniques › Works with single-cell transcriptomics, scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, spatial transcriptomics, high-content imaging, bulk RNA-seq Techniques CRISPR-Cas9, human iPSC-derived neuronal models, single-cell multi-omics, pooled iPSC-based approaches Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “We are always looking for smart, enthusiastic people that wish to develop their own projects and drive exciting science.” Source: lab positions page	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice Single-cell atlas of stem cell-derived human neurons Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Open Targets, Wellcome Sanger Institute Single-cellTranscriptomeStem cellNeurogenetics
Lymphoma Biology and Survival Grouphelsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/lymphoma-biology-and-survival Wet lab~13 people Studies lymphoma using liquid biopsies, circulating tumour DNA, multiplex imaging and molecular profiling. Develops biomarkers and clinical trials for precision lymphoma treatment. 181 papers since 2024 › Epcoritamab monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (EPCORE NHL-1): a phase 2 cohort of a single-arm, multicentre study The Lancet Haematology, 2024 Ibrutinib combined with immunochemotherapy with or without autologous stem-cell transplantation versus immunochemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation in previously untreated patients with mantle cell lymphoma (TRIANGLE): a three-arm, randomised, open-label, phase 3 superiority trial of the European Mantle Cell Lymphoma Network The Lancet, 2024 Gut microbiome-derived bacterial extracellular vesicles in patients with solid tumours Journal of Advanced Research, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5051888634 Funded by Research Council of Finland, Cancer Society of Finland +2 more › Research Council of Finland “The study received funding from the Research Council of Finland” Cancer Society of Finland “The study received funding from the Cancer Society of Finland” iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship “the iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship” +1 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 9 platforms and techniques › Works with multiplex imaging, 1,400-protein profiling, gene expression profiling Techniques liquid biopsy, circulating tumour DNA, spatial analysis, molecular profiling, biomarker-driven lymphoma trials, genome-wide and functional approaches Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Temporal mutation and clonal dynamics in the circulating tumor DNA of relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphomas Cancer Collaborators: Helsinki University Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital +5 more Cell-free DNACancerRisk assessmentSomatic variants
Ollikainen Grouphelsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/epigenetics-of-complex-diseases-traits/people Wet + dry lab~7 people Studies DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNA in Finnish Twin Cohort twins. Uses these data for obesity, aging, substance use and risk prediction. 44 papers since 2024 › Metabolic syndrome and epigenetic aging: a twin study International Journal of Obesity, 2024 Suboptimal dietary patterns are associated with accelerated biological aging in young adulthood: A study with twins Clinical Nutrition, 2024 Exploring machine learning strategies for predicting cardiovascular disease risk factors from multi-omic data BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5043098809 Funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Council of Finland +1 more › European training program not stated, EpiTrain · 2013- “EpiTrain; Status Active; Effective start/end date 01/03/2013 → …” National Institutes of Health (NIH), NIH/Rutgers University · 2022-2025 “National Institutes of Health (NIH) OFM: €739,333.00; Effective start/end date 19/01/2022 → 31/05/2025” Research Council of Finland, Centre of Excellence in Complex Disease Genetics · 2023-2025 “Project: Research Council of Finland: Centre of Exellence; Effective start/end date 01/01/2023 → 31/12/2025” Source: lab pages 10 platforms and techniques › Analyzes DNA methylation, Histone modifications, MicroRNA, Metabolomics, Proteomics Techniques Discordant MZ twin-pair study design, Twin modelling, Quantitative genetic models, EpiSmokEr smoking-status estimation, Epidemiological analyses Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Chronological and Biological Aging as Predictors of Mitochondrial DNA Abundance: Evidence from the Finnish Twin Cohort Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology Collaborators: University of Jyväskylä BioinformaticsEpigeneticsMethylationMitochondria
Palotie Grouphelsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/genomics-of-neurological-and-neuropsychiatric-disorders/people Dry lab~27 people Uses genome information, digital health care data, GWAS, sequencing and DNA microarray genotyping. Studies migraine, schizophrenia, epilepsy and cardiovascular traits in Finnish cohorts and FinnGen. 118 papers since 2024 › Proteomic aging clock predicts mortality and risk of common age-related diseases in diverse populations Nature Medicine, 2024 Author Correction: A genomic mutational constraint map using variation in 76,156 human genomes Nature, 2024 Distinct and shared genetic architectures of gestational diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes Nature Genetics, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5085708490 Funded by Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö, Business Finland › Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö, SUPER · 01/05/2026 → 30/04/2027 “Tila \| Käynnissä Todellinen alku/loppupvm \| 01/05/2026 → 30/04/2027 Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö” Business Finland, FinnGen · active “The project is contributed by Business Finland (The Finnish innovation fund)” Source: lab pages 8 platforms and techniques › Analyzes GWAS genotyping, Exome sequencing, Whole-genome sequencing, DNA microarray genotyping Techniques Genome-wide association studies, Family-structure analysis, Polygenic risk analysis, Longitudinal health-register analysis Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm Sex differences in the genetic architecture of common diseases are rare and often driven by phenotypic artefacts Molecular Effects of Genetic Variation Collaborators: Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Broad Institute Genome-wide association studyLarge-scale biobanksStatistical geneticsComplex diseases
HUS Physiology, Genetics and Preanalyticsresearchportal.helsinki.fi/en/organisations/hus-physiology-genetics-and-preanalytics Wet lab Runs genome studies, PET-CT, EEG, ENMG and bone mineral densitometry. Supports diagnosis, treatment follow-up and screening at HUS. 12 platforms and techniques › Runs Genome studies, PET-CT, EEG, ENMG, Bone mineral densitometry, Radionuclide functional imaging Techniques Genetic disease diagnostics, Family inheritance studies, Genetic counselling, Brain mapping, Intraoperative neuromonitoring, Transcranial magnetic stimulation Source: lab pages No funding stated · No openings posted	Moderator Wed Oct 21 1:30 pm Decoding Genetic Risk Across Ancestry and Sex in Polygenic Disorders

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