Molecular Epidemiology

Our research focuses on the causes and consequences of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the identification of predictive biomarkers and lifestyle factors, and novel methods in disease surveillance.
We apply traditional and modern methods for causal inference in large observational datasets, some of which our team have developed based on high-throughput molecular methods. These data include metabolomics, metagenomics, genomics, proteomics, and imiomics. We have also performed large register linkages and collected COVID-19 data through an innovative national syndromic surveillance app.
We are an international, creative, and collaborative research environment with an ambition to make a positive impact on society. Our research is projected to lead to important new insights into disease mechanisms, which in turn can facilitate the development of new treatments for these diseases, as well as new biomarkers of disease for improved risk prediction and prognostics. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group has been striving to develop novel methods for monitoring the transmission of infectious disease agents and for establishing a systematic approach to vaccination safety to safeguard communities in future health crises.
Group members
Research projects
- Dietary meat intake in relation to cardiovascular disease: Understanding molecular mechanisms using plasma metabolome and proteome profiling
- Dog ownership and physical activity in SCAPIS Uppsala
- Evaluation of COVID-19 vaccination appointment letters on uptake across sociodemographics
- Genome-wide association study of the gut microbiome
- Gut microbiota and risk of cardiovascular disease
- Parental health and socioeconomic consequences of caring for children with type 1 diabetes
- Prediction of the gut microbiome from plasma metabolites
- The influence of host traits on the gut microbiome
- The role of gut microbiome, plasma metabolome, and proteome biomarkers in understanding alcohol-induced cardiovascular disease risk
- The Swedish Healthcare Guide 1177 and Symptoms reported through it may aid in surveillance and predict COVID-19 hospital admissions
- Transforming user narratives into vaccine safety signals: Advanced text analysis of syndromic app data in the UK and Sweden
Publications
Bereavement and type 1 diabetes in childhood: a register-based cohort study in Sweden
Part of Diabetologia, p. 549-556, 2025
- DOI for Bereavement and type 1 diabetes in childhood: a register-based cohort study in Sweden
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Part of EBioMedicine, 2025
- DOI for Cardio-metabolic-related plasma proteins reveal biological links between cardiovascular diseases and fragility fractures: a cohort and Mendelian randomisation investigation
- Download full text (pdf) of Cardio-metabolic-related plasma proteins reveal biological links between cardiovascular diseases and fragility fractures: a cohort and Mendelian randomisation investigation
Part of European Heart Journal, p. 147-157, 2025
- DOI for Cardiovascular events following coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination in adults: a nationwide Swedish study
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Part of Diabetologia, 2025
Part of International Journal of Cardiology, 2025
- DOI for Lipoproteins and lipoprotein lipid composition are associated with stages of dysglycemia and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis
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Meat intake in relation to composition and function of gut microbiota
Part of Clinical Nutrition, p. 124-133, 2025
- DOI for Meat intake in relation to composition and function of gut microbiota
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Part of Metabolism, 2025
- DOI for Plasma metabolite profiles of meat intake and their association with cardiovascular disease risk: A population-based study in Swedish cohorts
- Download full text (pdf) of Plasma metabolite profiles of meat intake and their association with cardiovascular disease risk: A population-based study in Swedish cohorts
The urinary microbiome in association with diabetes and diabetic kidney disease: A systematic review
Part of PLOS ONE, 2025
- DOI for The urinary microbiome in association with diabetes and diabetic kidney disease: A systematic review
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Part of Food & Nutrition Research, 2024
- DOI for A Swedish dietary guideline index, gut microbial α-diversity and prevalence of metabolic syndrome - observations in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS)
- Download full text (pdf) of A Swedish dietary guideline index, gut microbial α-diversity and prevalence of metabolic syndrome - observations in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS)
Part of EBioMedicine, 2024
- DOI for Accelerometer-based physical activity is associated with the gut microbiota in 8416 individuals in SCAPIS
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Analysis of plasma metabolomes from 11 309 subjects in five population-based cohorts
Part of Scientific Reports, p. 8933, 2024
- DOI for Analysis of plasma metabolomes from 11 309 subjects in five population-based cohorts
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Associations between epigenetic aging and diabetes mellitus in a Swedish longitudinal study.
Part of GeroScience, 2024
Cardiac biomarkers for detection of coronary artery disease in the community
Part of Scientific Reports, 2024
- DOI for Cardiac biomarkers for detection of coronary artery disease in the community
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Genetic drivers of heterogeneity in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology
Part of Nature, p. 347-357, 2024
- DOI for Genetic drivers of heterogeneity in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology
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Harnessing human microbiomes for disease prediction
Part of Trends in Microbiology, p. 707-719, 2024
Imprints on the gut microbiome: A study of sleep apnea, physical activity, and antibiotic use
2024
Integration of polygenic and gut metagenomic risk prediction for common diseases
Part of Nature Aging, p. 584-594, 2024
- DOI for Integration of polygenic and gut metagenomic risk prediction for common diseases
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Part of Diabetologia, p. 1828-1837, 2024
- DOI for Major cardiovascular events and death in parents of children with type 1 diabetes: a register-based matched cohort study in Sweden
- Download full text (pdf) of Major cardiovascular events and death in parents of children with type 1 diabetes: a register-based matched cohort study in Sweden
Markers of imminent myocardial infarction
Part of Nature Cardiovascular Research, p. 130-139, 2024
- DOI for Markers of imminent myocardial infarction
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Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Risk of All-Cause Mortality in Women
Part of JAMA Network Open, 2024
- DOI for Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Risk of All-Cause Mortality in Women
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Multi-modal single cell sequencing of B cells in primary Sjögren's Syndrome.
Part of Arthritis & Rheumatology, p. 255-267, 2024
- DOI for Multi-modal single cell sequencing of B cells in primary Sjögren's Syndrome.
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Part of Scientific Reports, 2024
- DOI for New connections of medication use and polypharmacy with the gut microbiota composition and functional potential in a large population
- Download full text (pdf) of New connections of medication use and polypharmacy with the gut microbiota composition and functional potential in a large population
Part of Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology, 2024
- DOI for Predicting COVID-19 hospitalizations: The importance of healthcare hotlines, test positivity rates and vaccination coverage
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Part of Kidney international reports, p. 1849-1859, 2024
- DOI for Prioritization of Kidney Cell Types Highlights Myofibroblast Cells in Regulating Human Blood Pressure
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Part of European Journal of Epidemiology, p. 35-49, 2024
- DOI for Pulmonary function and atherosclerosis in the general population: causal associations and clinical implications
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Part of Circulation, 2024
Risk factors for Charcot foot development in individuals with diabetes mellitus
Part of Diabetologia, p. 2702-2710, 2024
- DOI for Risk factors for Charcot foot development in individuals with diabetes mellitus
- Download full text (pdf) of Risk factors for Charcot foot development in individuals with diabetes mellitus
Part of European Journal of Public Health, p. 14-21, 2024
- DOI for Sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 testing rates: spatiotemporal patterns and impact of test accessibility in Sweden
- Download full text (pdf) of Sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 testing rates: spatiotemporal patterns and impact of test accessibility in Sweden
Part of Scientific Reports, 2024
- DOI for The association between novel urinary kidney damage biomarkers and coronary atherosclerosis in an apparently healthy population
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Part of G3, 2024
- DOI for The genetic architecture of dog ownership: large-scale genome-wide association study in 97,552 European-ancestry individuals
- Download full text (pdf) of The genetic architecture of dog ownership: large-scale genome-wide association study in 97,552 European-ancestry individuals
Part of Scientific Reports, 2024
- DOI for The interaction of genetics and physical activity in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction associated liver disease
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A machine learning based approach to identify carotid subclinical atherosclerosis endotypes
Part of Cardiovascular Research, p. 2594-2606, 2023
Part of PLOS ONE, 2023
- DOI for Adipokines and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: A two-sample multivariable Mendelian randomisation study
- Download full text (pdf) of Adipokines and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: A two-sample multivariable Mendelian randomisation study
Part of BMJ Open, 2023
- DOI for Association between obstructive sleep apnoea and cancer: a cross-sectional, population-based study of the DISCOVERY cohort
- Download full text (pdf) of Association between obstructive sleep apnoea and cancer: a cross-sectional, population-based study of the DISCOVERY cohort
Part of Revista Española de Cardiología, p. 86-93, 2023
Cardiovascular disease-linked plasma proteins are mainly associated with lung volume
Part of ERJ Open Research, 2023
- DOI for Cardiovascular disease-linked plasma proteins are mainly associated with lung volume
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Part of CURRENT RESEARCH IN TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, 2023
Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents' growth and development
Part of Nature, p. 874-883, 2023
- DOI for Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents' growth and development
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Does the kidney actually swell during an acute urinary tract obstruction?
Part of Acta Radiologica, p. 2820-2827, 2023
Part of Nature Human Behaviour, 2023
- DOI for Evidence from Finland and Sweden on the relationship between early-life diseases and lifetime childlessness in men and women
- Download full text (pdf) of Evidence from Finland and Sweden on the relationship between early-life diseases and lifetime childlessness in men and women
Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases A Mendelian Randomization Study
Part of American Society of Nephrology. Clinical Journal, p. 17-27, 2023
- DOI for Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases A Mendelian Randomization Study
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Part of Nature Genetics, p. 973-983, 2023
Guidelines for microbiome studies in renal physiology
Part of American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology, 2023
Part of Nature Genetics, p. 1448-+, 2023
- DOI for GWAS of random glucose in 476,326 individuals provide insights into diabetes pathophysiology, complications and treatment stratification
- Download full text (pdf) of GWAS of random glucose in 476,326 individuals provide insights into diabetes pathophysiology, complications and treatment stratification
Part of Nature Communications, 2023
- DOI for Identification of three bacterial species associated with increased appendicular lean mass: the HUNT study.
- Download full text (pdf) of Identification of three bacterial species associated with increased appendicular lean mass: the HUNT study.
Large-Scale Metabolomics and the Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease
Part of Journal of the American Heart Association, 2023
- DOI for Large-Scale Metabolomics and the Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease
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Loci for insulin processing and secretion provide insight into type 2 diabetes risk.
Part of American Journal of Human Genetics, p. 284-299, 2023
Part of Chest, p. 503-516, 2023
- DOI for OSA Is Associated With the Human Gut Microbiota Composition and Functional Potential in the Population-Based Swedish CardioPulmonary bioImage Study
- Download full text (pdf) of OSA Is Associated With the Human Gut Microbiota Composition and Functional Potential in the Population-Based Swedish CardioPulmonary bioImage Study
Part of Environment International, 2023
- DOI for Plasma levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cardiovascular disease - Results from two independent population-based cohorts and a meta-analysis
- Download full text (pdf) of Plasma levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cardiovascular disease - Results from two independent population-based cohorts and a meta-analysis
Part of Cardiovascular Diabetology, 2023
- DOI for Prevalence of atherosclerosis in individuals with prediabetes and diabetes compared to normoglycaemic individuals-a Swedish population-based study
- Download full text (pdf) of Prevalence of atherosclerosis in individuals with prediabetes and diabetes compared to normoglycaemic individuals-a Swedish population-based study