Imperial College London | United Kingdom
Professor Marjo-Riitta Järvelin is an internationally recognized scientist in lifecourse epidemiology, currently serving as Professor and Chair at Imperial College London. Her exceptional contributions span the design and management of the Northern Finland Birth Cohorts (NFBCs), pioneering large-scale longitudinal studies that have shaped global understanding of how prenatal and early-life exposures affect health outcomes across the lifespan. She has authored 1013 publications, many in high-impact journals such as Nature, Science, and NEJM, achieving over 149,230 citations and an h-index greater than 160 (Scopus) with a D-index of 185 (as of May 2025). Ranked 261st in medicine globally and among the top 32 female scientists worldwide, her work has driven groundbreaking discoveries including the role of the FTO gene in obesity, genetic determinants of metabolic and cardiovascular risks, and long-term effects of maternal smoking. Her leadership has been instrumental in EU and NIH-funded projects, advancing novel methodologies like the Bayesian Lifecourse Structural Equation Model (BLSEM). In addition to research excellence, she has supervised 37 PhDs, mentored next-generation scientists, and contributed significantly to translational science and policy. Professor Järvelin’s scholarly impact, global collaborations, and outstanding citation metrics firmly establish her as a leading candidate for the Best Researcher Award