 In epidemiology and health promotion so called North Karelia Project led by Pekka Puska produced internationally well-known results in preventing cardiovascular diseases.Later several environmental health projects mostly funded by the European Commission added to international understanding of toxic dioxins in food, and outdoor fine particulate matter as well as health problems due to indoor air.Finally, mainly in 1990s, genes involved in Finnish heritage of diseases were successfully identified in Leena Peltonen-Palotie's group.