People_

Associate Professor Maarit Laaksonen

Associate Professor in Biostatistics
Sydney School of Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health

Email

maarit.laaksonen@sydney.edu.au

Websites

Maarit Laaksonen is a biostatistician with 20 years international research experience in the field of epidemiology and public health. Her main research focus is on the development of novel disease burden measures and their application to health data to inform priorities for reducing burden of disease. She currently holds a Cancer Institute NSW Career Development Fellowship and leads research evaluating the determinants of the future burden of cancer with the aim of improving cancer prevention, early detection and outcomes.

Research interests

Maarit is interested in carrying out research on several diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health disorders, and a wide range of risk factors relating to lifestyle, environment and genes. She has expertise in disease burden measures and the analysis of large linked primary and secondary health datasets aimed to inform prevention, treatment and costs of diseases.

Themes

Obesity, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, Neurosciences and Mental Health

Keywords

Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Public health, Quantitative psychology, Chronic disease

Approaches

Epidemiology, Risk Factors/Risk Assessment, Statistics/Research Design

Publications

By Type

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Book Chapters

Knekt, P., Laaksonen, M., et al (2012). The Helsinki psychotherapy study: Effectiveness, sufficiency, and suitability of short- and long-term psychotherapy. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Research: Evidence-Based Practice and Practice-Based Evidence, (pp. 71-94). NJ: Humana Press, Inc. [More Information]

Journals

Tammi, R., Koskinen, S., Laaksonen, M., Heikkinen, S., Pitkäniemi, J., Pajari, A., Männistö, S., Kaartinen, N., Harald, K., Maukonen, M., et al (2024). Partial substitution of red meat or processed meat with plant-based foods and the risk of colorectal cancer. European Journal of Epidemiology. [More Information]
Lukic, M., Licaj, I., Laaksonen, M., Weiderpass, E., Borch, K., Rylander, C. (2023). The burden of colon cancer attributable to modifiable factors—The Norwegian Women and Cancer Study. International Journal of Cancer, 152(2), 195-202. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., Li, S., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Giles, G., Banks, E., Byles, J., Magliano, D., Shaw, J., Gill, T., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., Mitchell, P., et al (2023). The future burden of oesophageal and stomach cancers attributable to modifiable behaviours in Australia: a pooled cohort study. British Journal of Cancer, 128(6), 1052-1069. [More Information]
Perez-Concha, O., Goldstein, D., Harris, M., Laaksonen, M., Hanly, M., Suchy, S., Vajdic, C. (2023). Uptake of Team Care Arrangements for adults newly diagnosed with cancer. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 29(1), 20-29. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., MacInnis, R., Canfell, K., Shaw, J., Magliano, D., Banks, E., Giles, G., Byles, J., Gill, T., Mitchell, P., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., et al (2022). Thyroid cancers potentially preventable by reducing overweight and obesity in Australia: A pooled cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 150(8), 1281-1290. [More Information]
Weber, M., Sarich, P., Vaneckova, P., Wade, S., Egger, S., Ngo, P., Joshy, G., Goldsbury, D., Yap, S., Feletto, E., Vassallo, A., Laaksonen, M., Grogan, P., O'Connell, D., Canfell, K., et al (2021). Cancer incidence and cancer death in relation to tobacco smoking in a population-based Australian cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 149(5), 1076-1088. [More Information]
da Silva, M., Laaksonen, M., Lissner, L., Weiderpass, E., Rylander, C. (2021). Preventable fractions of cancer incidence attributable to 7-years weight gain in the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) study. Scientific Reports, 11(1). [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Banks, E., Byles, J., Giles, G., Magliano, D., Shaw, J., Hirani, V., Gill, T., Mitchell, P., Cumming, R., et al (2021). The Future Burden of Head and Neck Cancers Attributable to Modifiable Behaviors in Australia: A Pooled Cohort Study. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, 30(8), 1566-1574. [More Information]
Schaffer, A., Pearson, S., Perez-Concha, O., Dobbins, T., Ward, R., Leeuwen, M., Rhee, J., Laaksonen, M., Craigen, G., Vajdic, C. (2020). Diagnostic and health service pathways to diagnosis of cancer-registry notified cancer of unknown primary site (cup). PloS One, 15(3), e0230373. [More Information]
Feletto, E., Lew, J., Worthington, J., He, E., Caruana, M., Butler, K., Hui, H., Taylor, N., Banks, E., Barclay, K., Grogan, P., Kench, J., Taoube, L., Ward, R., Armstrong, B., Canfell, K., et al (2020). Pathways to a cancer-free future: A protocol for modelled evaluations to minimise the future burden of colorectal cancer in Australia. BMJ Open, 10(6), 1-9. [More Information]
Pitkäniemi, J., Heikkinen, S., Seppä, K., Ryynänen, H., Ylöstalo, T., Eriksson, J., Härkänen, T., Jousilahti, P., Knekt, P., et al, Laaksonen, M. (2020). Pooling of Finnish population-based health studies: Lifestyle risk factors of colorectal and lung cancer. Acta Oncologica, 59(11), 1338-1342. [More Information]
Tran, B., Vajdic, C., Webber, K., Laaksonen, M., Stavrou, E., Tiller, K., Suchy, S., Bosco, A., Harris, M., Lloyd, A., et al (2020). Self-reported health, lifestyle and social circumstances of Australian adult cancer survivors: A propensity score weighted cross-sectional study. Cancer Epidemiology, 67. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., MacInnis, R., Canfell, K., Giles, G., Hull, P., Shaw, J., Cumming, R., Gill, T., Banks, E., Mitchell, P., Hirani, V., et al (2020). The future burden of kidney and bladder cancers preventable by behavior modification in Australia: A pooled cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 146(3), 874-883. [More Information]
Vajdic, C., Perez-Concha, O., Dobbins, T., Ward, R., Schaffer, A., van Leeuwen, M., Rhee, J., Laaksonen, M., Craigen, G., Pearson, S. (2019). Demographic, social and lifestyle risk factors for cancer registry-notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). Cancer Epidemiology, 60, 156-161. [More Information]
Vajdic, C., Perez-Concha, O., Rhee, J., Dobbins, T., Ward, R., Schaffer, A., van Leeuwen, M., Laaksonen, M., Craigen, G., Pearson, S. (2019). Health-related predictors of cancer registry-notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). Cancer Epidemiology, 61, 1-7. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., Webster, A., McCaughan, G., Keogh, A., Grulich, A., Vajdic, C. (2019). Longitudinal immunosuppression data can minimize misclassification bias in solid organ transplantation cohorts. Clinical Transplantation, 33(2), 1-8. [More Information]
Arriaga, M., Vajdic, C., MacInnis, R., Canfell, K., Magliano, D., Shaw, J., Byles, J., Giles, G., Taylor, A., Gill, T., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., Mitchell, P., et al (2019). The burden of pancreatic cancer in Australia attributable to smoking. Medical Journal of Australia, 210(5), 213-220. [More Information]
Arriaga, M., Vajdic, C., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Banks, E., Byles, J., Magliano, D., Taylor, A., Mitchell, P., Giles, G., Cumming, R., Hirani, V., et al (2019). The preventable burden of breast cancers for premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Australia: A pooled cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 145(9), 2383-2394. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., Arriaga, M., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Byles, J., Banks, E., Shaw, J., Mitchell, P., Giles, G., Magliano, D., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., et al (2019). The preventable burden of endometrial and ovarian cancers in Australia: A pooled cohort study. Gynecologic Oncology, 153(3), 580-588. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Arriaga, M., Banks, E., Magliano, D., Giles, G., Cumming, R., Byles, J., Mitchell, P., Hirani, V., et al (2018). The future burden of lung cancer attributable to current modifiable behaviours: a pooled study of seven Australian cohorts. International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(6), 1772-1783. [More Information]
Vajdic, C., MacInnis, R., Canfell, K., Hull, P., Arriaga, M., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., Mitchell, P., Byles, J., Giles, G., Laaksonen, M., et al (2018). The Future Colorectal Cancer Burden Attributable to Modifiable Behaviours: A Pooled Cohort Study. JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 2(3), 1-9. [More Information]
Arriaga, M., Vajdic, C., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Hull, P., Magliano, D., Banks, E., Giles, G., Cumming, R., Byles, J., Hirani, V., Mitchell, P., et al (2017). The burden of cancer attributable to modifiable risk factors: The Australian cancer-PAF cohort consortium. BMJ Open, 7(6), 1-14. [More Information]
Na, R., Laaksonen, M., Grulich, A., Meagher, N., McCaughan, G., Keogh, A., Vajdic, C. (2016). High azathioprine dose and lip cancer risk in liver, heart, and lung transplant recipients: A population-based cohort study. Journal Of The American Academy Of Dermatology, 74(6), 1144-1152.e6. [More Information]
Na, R., Laaksonen, M., Grulich, A., Meagher, N., McCaughan, G., Keogh, A., Vajdic, C. (2016). Iatrogenic immunosuppression and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in solid organ transplantation: A population-based cohort study in Australia. British Journal of Haematology, 174(4), 550-562. [More Information]
van Leeuwen, M., Gurney, H., Turner, J., Turner, S., Pearson, S., Laaksonen, M., Harnett, P., Balakrishnar, B., Sabanathan, D., Vajdic, C. (2016). Patterns and trends in the incidence of paediatric and adult germ cell tumours in Australia, 1982-2011. Cancer Epidemiology, 43, 15-21. [More Information]
Ward, R., Laaksonen, M., Van Gool, K., Pearson, S., Daniels, B., Bastick, P., Norman, R., Hou, C., Haywood, P., Haas, M. (2015). Cost of cancer care for patients undergoing chemotherapy: The Elements of Cancer Care study. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 11(2), 178-186. [More Information]
Na, R., Laaksonen, M., Grulich, A., Webster, A., Meagher, N., McCaughan, G., Keogh, A., Vajdic, C. (2015). Longitudinal dose and type of immunosuppression in a national cohort of Australian liver, heart, and lung transplant recipients, 1984-2006. Clinical Transplantation, 29(11), 978-990. [More Information]
Abuhusain, H., Matin, A., Qiao, Q., Shen, H., Kain, N., Day, B., Stringer, B., Daniels, B., Laaksonen, M., Teo, C., et al (2013). A metabolic shift favoring sphingosine 1-phosphate at the expense of ceramide controls glioblastoma angiogenesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 288(52), 37355-37564. [More Information]

show 25 more

By Year

Expand all

2024

Tammi, R., Koskinen, S., Laaksonen, M., Heikkinen, S., Pitkäniemi, J., Pajari, A., Männistö, S., Kaartinen, N., Harald, K., Maukonen, M., et al (2024). Partial substitution of red meat or processed meat with plant-based foods and the risk of colorectal cancer. European Journal of Epidemiology. [More Information]

2023

Lukic, M., Licaj, I., Laaksonen, M., Weiderpass, E., Borch, K., Rylander, C. (2023). The burden of colon cancer attributable to modifiable factors—The Norwegian Women and Cancer Study. International Journal of Cancer, 152(2), 195-202. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., Li, S., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Giles, G., Banks, E., Byles, J., Magliano, D., Shaw, J., Gill, T., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., Mitchell, P., et al (2023). The future burden of oesophageal and stomach cancers attributable to modifiable behaviours in Australia: a pooled cohort study. British Journal of Cancer, 128(6), 1052-1069. [More Information]
Perez-Concha, O., Goldstein, D., Harris, M., Laaksonen, M., Hanly, M., Suchy, S., Vajdic, C. (2023). Uptake of Team Care Arrangements for adults newly diagnosed with cancer. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 29(1), 20-29. [More Information]

2022

Laaksonen, M., MacInnis, R., Canfell, K., Shaw, J., Magliano, D., Banks, E., Giles, G., Byles, J., Gill, T., Mitchell, P., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., et al (2022). Thyroid cancers potentially preventable by reducing overweight and obesity in Australia: A pooled cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 150(8), 1281-1290. [More Information]

2021

Weber, M., Sarich, P., Vaneckova, P., Wade, S., Egger, S., Ngo, P., Joshy, G., Goldsbury, D., Yap, S., Feletto, E., Vassallo, A., Laaksonen, M., Grogan, P., O'Connell, D., Canfell, K., et al (2021). Cancer incidence and cancer death in relation to tobacco smoking in a population-based Australian cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 149(5), 1076-1088. [More Information]
da Silva, M., Laaksonen, M., Lissner, L., Weiderpass, E., Rylander, C. (2021). Preventable fractions of cancer incidence attributable to 7-years weight gain in the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) study. Scientific Reports, 11(1). [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Banks, E., Byles, J., Giles, G., Magliano, D., Shaw, J., Hirani, V., Gill, T., Mitchell, P., Cumming, R., et al (2021). The Future Burden of Head and Neck Cancers Attributable to Modifiable Behaviors in Australia: A Pooled Cohort Study. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, 30(8), 1566-1574. [More Information]

2020

Schaffer, A., Pearson, S., Perez-Concha, O., Dobbins, T., Ward, R., Leeuwen, M., Rhee, J., Laaksonen, M., Craigen, G., Vajdic, C. (2020). Diagnostic and health service pathways to diagnosis of cancer-registry notified cancer of unknown primary site (cup). PloS One, 15(3), e0230373. [More Information]
Feletto, E., Lew, J., Worthington, J., He, E., Caruana, M., Butler, K., Hui, H., Taylor, N., Banks, E., Barclay, K., Grogan, P., Kench, J., Taoube, L., Ward, R., Armstrong, B., Canfell, K., et al (2020). Pathways to a cancer-free future: A protocol for modelled evaluations to minimise the future burden of colorectal cancer in Australia. BMJ Open, 10(6), 1-9. [More Information]
Pitkäniemi, J., Heikkinen, S., Seppä, K., Ryynänen, H., Ylöstalo, T., Eriksson, J., Härkänen, T., Jousilahti, P., Knekt, P., et al, Laaksonen, M. (2020). Pooling of Finnish population-based health studies: Lifestyle risk factors of colorectal and lung cancer. Acta Oncologica, 59(11), 1338-1342. [More Information]
Tran, B., Vajdic, C., Webber, K., Laaksonen, M., Stavrou, E., Tiller, K., Suchy, S., Bosco, A., Harris, M., Lloyd, A., et al (2020). Self-reported health, lifestyle and social circumstances of Australian adult cancer survivors: A propensity score weighted cross-sectional study. Cancer Epidemiology, 67. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., MacInnis, R., Canfell, K., Giles, G., Hull, P., Shaw, J., Cumming, R., Gill, T., Banks, E., Mitchell, P., Hirani, V., et al (2020). The future burden of kidney and bladder cancers preventable by behavior modification in Australia: A pooled cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 146(3), 874-883. [More Information]

show 2 more

2019

Vajdic, C., Perez-Concha, O., Dobbins, T., Ward, R., Schaffer, A., van Leeuwen, M., Rhee, J., Laaksonen, M., Craigen, G., Pearson, S. (2019). Demographic, social and lifestyle risk factors for cancer registry-notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). Cancer Epidemiology, 60, 156-161. [More Information]
Vajdic, C., Perez-Concha, O., Rhee, J., Dobbins, T., Ward, R., Schaffer, A., van Leeuwen, M., Laaksonen, M., Craigen, G., Pearson, S. (2019). Health-related predictors of cancer registry-notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). Cancer Epidemiology, 61, 1-7. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., Webster, A., McCaughan, G., Keogh, A., Grulich, A., Vajdic, C. (2019). Longitudinal immunosuppression data can minimize misclassification bias in solid organ transplantation cohorts. Clinical Transplantation, 33(2), 1-8. [More Information]
Arriaga, M., Vajdic, C., MacInnis, R., Canfell, K., Magliano, D., Shaw, J., Byles, J., Giles, G., Taylor, A., Gill, T., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., Mitchell, P., et al (2019). The burden of pancreatic cancer in Australia attributable to smoking. Medical Journal of Australia, 210(5), 213-220. [More Information]
Arriaga, M., Vajdic, C., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Banks, E., Byles, J., Magliano, D., Taylor, A., Mitchell, P., Giles, G., Cumming, R., Hirani, V., et al (2019). The preventable burden of breast cancers for premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Australia: A pooled cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 145(9), 2383-2394. [More Information]
Laaksonen, M., Arriaga, M., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Byles, J., Banks, E., Shaw, J., Mitchell, P., Giles, G., Magliano, D., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., et al (2019). The preventable burden of endometrial and ovarian cancers in Australia: A pooled cohort study. Gynecologic Oncology, 153(3), 580-588. [More Information]

show 3 more

2018

Laaksonen, M., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Arriaga, M., Banks, E., Magliano, D., Giles, G., Cumming, R., Byles, J., Mitchell, P., Hirani, V., et al (2018). The future burden of lung cancer attributable to current modifiable behaviours: a pooled study of seven Australian cohorts. International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(6), 1772-1783. [More Information]
Vajdic, C., MacInnis, R., Canfell, K., Hull, P., Arriaga, M., Hirani, V., Cumming, R., Mitchell, P., Byles, J., Giles, G., Laaksonen, M., et al (2018). The Future Colorectal Cancer Burden Attributable to Modifiable Behaviours: A Pooled Cohort Study. JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 2(3), 1-9. [More Information]

2017

Arriaga, M., Vajdic, C., Canfell, K., MacInnis, R., Hull, P., Magliano, D., Banks, E., Giles, G., Cumming, R., Byles, J., Hirani, V., Mitchell, P., et al (2017). The burden of cancer attributable to modifiable risk factors: The Australian cancer-PAF cohort consortium. BMJ Open, 7(6), 1-14. [More Information]

2016

Na, R., Laaksonen, M., Grulich, A., Meagher, N., McCaughan, G., Keogh, A., Vajdic, C. (2016). High azathioprine dose and lip cancer risk in liver, heart, and lung transplant recipients: A population-based cohort study. Journal Of The American Academy Of Dermatology, 74(6), 1144-1152.e6. [More Information]
Na, R., Laaksonen, M., Grulich, A., Meagher, N., McCaughan, G., Keogh, A., Vajdic, C. (2016). Iatrogenic immunosuppression and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in solid organ transplantation: A population-based cohort study in Australia. British Journal of Haematology, 174(4), 550-562. [More Information]
van Leeuwen, M., Gurney, H., Turner, J., Turner, S., Pearson, S., Laaksonen, M., Harnett, P., Balakrishnar, B., Sabanathan, D., Vajdic, C. (2016). Patterns and trends in the incidence of paediatric and adult germ cell tumours in Australia, 1982-2011. Cancer Epidemiology, 43, 15-21. [More Information]

2015

Ward, R., Laaksonen, M., Van Gool, K., Pearson, S., Daniels, B., Bastick, P., Norman, R., Hou, C., Haywood, P., Haas, M. (2015). Cost of cancer care for patients undergoing chemotherapy: The Elements of Cancer Care study. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 11(2), 178-186. [More Information]
Na, R., Laaksonen, M., Grulich, A., Webster, A., Meagher, N., McCaughan, G., Keogh, A., Vajdic, C. (2015). Longitudinal dose and type of immunosuppression in a national cohort of Australian liver, heart, and lung transplant recipients, 1984-2006. Clinical Transplantation, 29(11), 978-990. [More Information]

2013

Abuhusain, H., Matin, A., Qiao, Q., Shen, H., Kain, N., Day, B., Stringer, B., Daniels, B., Laaksonen, M., Teo, C., et al (2013). A metabolic shift favoring sphingosine 1-phosphate at the expense of ceramide controls glioblastoma angiogenesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 288(52), 37355-37564. [More Information]

2012

Knekt, P., Laaksonen, M., et al (2012). The Helsinki psychotherapy study: Effectiveness, sufficiency, and suitability of short- and long-term psychotherapy. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Research: Evidence-Based Practice and Practice-Based Evidence, (pp. 71-94). NJ: Humana Press, Inc. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2023

Population-level relevance of preventable risk factors on the burden of cancer, MacInnis R, Laaksonen M, Vajdic C, Pickett C, Sinclair C, Smith-Warner S, Wang M, Yaun S, World Cancer Research Fund/Research Support
FMH Start-up Scheme, Laaksonen M, Faculty of Medicine and Health/New Academic Staff Funding

2021

Improving cancer prevention, early detection and outcomes through novel applications of cancer burden methods to large linked health data, Laaksonen M, Cancer Institute NSW/Career Development Fellowship