Advancing Personalized Medicine for Rare Diseases: Genetic Insights from the Finnish population isolate

Description of the granted funding

Rare diseases are a heterogeneous group of diseases, affecting 5% of the population. Of these, around 80% have a genetic origin. Many individuals with rare diseases remain undiagnosed or receive an accurate diagnosis only after years of delay. Our research focuses on rare genetic diseases, particularly those associated with intellectual disability and hereditary visual impairment. Our aim is to identify novel genes and genetic defects in patients whose rare diseases have remained undiagnosed in clinical settings, enabling accurate diagnosis, genetic counseling, and appropriate treatment. We investigate the clinical characteristics and natural history of rare diseases to better predict disease progression and guide surveillance and therapeutic strategies. We also aim to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying these conditions, providing insights into their pathophysiology and facilitating the development of targeted therapies.
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Starting year

2025

End year

2029

Granted funding

Elisa Rahikkala Orcid -palvelun logo
239 922 €

Funder

Research Council of Finland

Funding instrument

Clinical researcher

Decision maker

Scientific Council for Biosciences, Health and the Environment
16.06.2025

Other information

Funding decision number

368449

Research fields

Kliiniset lääketieteet

Identified topics

genes, genetics