# Genetic, lifestyle and environmental influences on health: a Finnish biobank recall study protocol (BioRecall)

## TL;DR

This study aims to collect lifestyle and environmental data from Finnish biobank participants to better understand how genes and environment interact in type 2 diabetes.

## Contribution

The protocol introduces a method to enhance Finnish biobanks with detailed lifestyle and environmental data for gene–environment interaction studies.

## Key findings

- 1580 suitable participants with type 2 diabetes were identified for the pilot study.
- A secure online questionnaire will collect lifestyle, health, and environmental data.
- Data will be combined with genotypes and clinical outcomes for research.

## Abstract

Non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of premature mortality worldwide. Both genetic predispositions and environmental exposures affect disease risk. While biobanks have increased understanding of genetic predictors of these diseases, environmental influences are expected to have a greater impact on disease development. Individuals also create their own environments and lifestyles based on genetically regulated preferences, leading to gene–environment interactions that require large datasets to study. Finnish biobanks typically lack sufficient lifestyle and environmental data, which limits their use. We present a protocol for a biobank-recall study (BioRecall) to collect data on lifestyle and environmental exposures and combine these findings with genotypes, biological samples and clinical outcomes.

All previously genotyped donors from the Central Finland Biobank who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and have consented to recall will be invited to participate in the pilot study. The preliminary feasibility assessment reveals that there are 1580 suitable candidates. Participants will complete an electronic questionnaire on a secure online platform. The questionnaire includes validated questions on lifestyles, anthropometrics, weight loss history, health, symptoms, work characteristics, emotional states and residential environments. Postcode information will facilitate the addition of spatial environmental data. Genotype and related clinical data will be provided in the study in accordance with the Finnish Biobank Act and combined with questionnaire data.

The Human Sciences Ethics Committee of the University of Jyväskylä delivered a favourable statement regarding the study protocol (1671/13.00.04.00/2023). Central Finland Biobank approved the research plan (no: BB24-0333-A01). The data collected will be returned to the Central Finland Biobank for research purposes with the participants’ consent. Permission for data usage can then be applied through standard protocols of the Fingenious service (https://site.fingenious.fi/en/). If successful, the study will be expanded to other donors and Finnish biobanks.