Terveyden ja Hyvinvoinnin Laitos (EPIET)

Contact person

Cristina Gonzalez-Perez 

Tel. +358 29 52 4 8033

Description of the institute

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is an independent state-owned research and expert institute dedicated to promoting the health, welfare, and safety of the population. Established by Finnish law, THL conducts research and provides expertise to prevent diseases and social problems, develop the welfare society, and support the health and social care systems.

In addition, THL serves as a statistical authority, maintains key health and welfare registers, provides state-mandated social and forensic medicine services, and oversees national information management in social and health care.

The infectious disease activities are organised into the Department of Public Health, which is responsible for developing and implementing national monitoring of health and welfare, preparing for and combating national and cross-border health threats, and acting as a specialist in planetary health.

The national infectious disease registry (NIDR) was established in 1995. The municipalities of the 21 wellbeing service counties have the legal authority and responsibility to carry out outbreak investigations while THL provides expertise to local authorities in epidemiologic investigations, implementing infectious disease control measures and reference microbiology laboratory services using advanced molecular typing methods. THL is the national contact point for WHO International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), WHO national reference laboratory for influenza, measles and polio, and participates in several EU funded research projects. THL collaborates actively with the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The Department of Public Health oversees supervision, evaluation, guidance, and strategic development of the national vaccination programme. The department also purchases and delivers vaccines used in the national programme. The research activities range from statutory vaccine specific coverage, impact, immune protection and safety evaluation to large scale phase III-IV studies on impact of new vaccines and mathematical and health economic modelling to predict the outcome of different programmatic choices. The Finnish National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) operates under THL.

THL has extensive collaborative links with:

• Public health research, in partnership with central and university hospitals

• Finnish Food Safety Authority and Zoonosis Centre

• University of Helsinki (Faculties of Social Sciences, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine)

• Universities of Kuopio, Tampere, and Oulu (Schools of Public Health)

• International Master's and Doctoral programmes in epidemiology and vaccinology at the University of Tampere

These partnership supports multidisciplinary research, training, and public health initiatives.

Training opportunities

At THL, EPIET fellows are given considerable autonomy and support to design and execute projects tailored to their areas of interest. The fellows receive comprehensive field epidemiology training within a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment that includes medical doctors, veterinarians, public health nurses, public health microbiologists, and epidemiologists. This collaborative atmosphere fosters an exchange of expertise and promotes cross-sector learning. EPIET fellows also engage in close collaboration with fellows from the EUPHEM programme.

Training opportunities may include:

• Surveillance and research on infectious diseases using data from the National infectious disease registry (NIDR)

• Food- and waterborne outbreak investigations, including structured outbreak surveillance

• Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance

• Development and enhancement of public health surveillance systems

• Molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases and opportunities to work in THL laboratories under expert supervision

• Vaccine safety monitoring, including signal verification of adverse events and development of vaccination registers

• Serological surveys to evaluate and improve the national immunisation programme

• Mathematical modelling and cost-effectiveness analyses of infectious disease spread and control

• Teaching opportunities in master’s and doctoral programmes in epidemiology, public health, and other academic courses or workshops.

International assignments are encouraged.

Training supervision

Training supervision

EPIET fellows are assigned to the Prevention of Health Threats Unit within the Department of Public Health. They work under the direct supervision of Cristina Gonzalez-Perez, with additional support from project supervisors selected based on subject matter expertise. The supervisory team consists of experienced staff, including several EPIET and EUPHEM alumni. At THL, EPIET and EUPHEM fellows collaborate closely, and regular joint bi-weekly meetings provide a platform for fellows and their project supervisors to discuss ongoing projects, exchange insights, and track progress. 

Language requirements

English is widely spoken at THL and in major urban centres. The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. Conversational skills in these languages are appreciated, but not required. During field investigations, the fellow will work alongside a Finnish colleague to facilitate communication as needed.

Training history

A total of 30 fellows have been trained at THL, summarised below by cohort year:

• EU-track EPIET fellows hosted at THL: 20 (1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021,2022, 2023, 2024)

• MS-track EPIET fellows hosted at THL: 3 (2007, 2008, 2020)

• EU-track EUPHEM fellows hosted at THL: 7 (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024)

Currently, eight EPIET and EUPHEM alumni are working at THL.