The new Act in 1982 paved way for its transformation from a practical microbiological and clinical chemistry laboratory towards a research institute specializing in public health and prevention of diseases.
It served the government as an expert organisation, performing internationally relevant research related to public health.
In epidemiology and health promotion so called North Karelia Project[5] led by Pekka Puska produced internationally well-known results in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
[8] Finally, mainly in 1990s, genes involved in Finnish heritage of diseases were successfully identified in Leena Peltonen-Palotie's group.
The most important funding agencies included the Academy of Finland, National Institutes of Health (USA), and the Framework Programs of the European Commission.